Was It Worth It?

Mark 16

When you think of everything Jesus went through in His crucifixion – you are left with the question: Was it worth it?

All of the degradation, all of the brutality, all of the shameful scorn and torture, could anyone say – especially now that He is dead – that what He had accomplished in His ministry was worth what He had to go through in His death?

I suppose you could ask the man with the withered hand. Was the healing of your hand worth the suffering Jesus went through? Perhaps you could ask the Centurian’s servant. Was your healing from near-death worthy of Jesus’ coming?

To the widow at Nain, or the demon-possessed man at Gadara: Was what Jesus experienced on the cross worth it to you that your son may be raised from the dead, or that the demons may be driven from your body?

For the disciples, can you imagine how they must have wondered if it had been worth it all? Giving up their whole lives, family, friends, work – everything – to follow this wonderful man of God Who was God, (in their eyes and hearts?) Now He was dead. And not just dead, but shamed in death. Degraded in death. Humiliated in death to such an extent it must have also humiliated His followers. Could it be they were ashamed of His death as much as they were horrified by it?

Was it worth this to be a follower of Christ?

What could be done about His humiliation but to anoint His body, which had lain in a borrowed tomb covered by a burial cloth – one final humiliation, (though done lovingly so.)

But now imagine finding the massive stone rolled away…and an empty tomb…and the sight of the angel…and the statement: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. Go and tell His disciples.”

Your head spins at the news…which is quite overwhelming…and as you head back down the path walking slowly at first…and now running, suddenly it dawns on you as it has dawned on every single person who has seen the risen Christ. Yes! Yes! It was worth it all!

-Pastor Bill