If you had to guess, what would you say is the most valuable thing in the world by weight?

If you’re a cook, you might pick costly foods like beluga caviar or white truffles. Or perhaps the spice saffron, which can go for thousands of dollars per pound.

If you’re a jewellery lover, your mind might go to precious metals like silver, gold or platinum. You’d know that gold has been revered since ancient times, and sometimes goes for thousands of dollars per ounce.

You’d be getting warmer if you worked in industry and knew that some substances used in things like catalytic converters are very costly indeed. Rhodium and palladium are even more valuable than gold.

These would all be good guesses, but not even close.

What about diamonds as the most valuable thing on earth by weight? Very rare coloured diamonds such as the red can be valued at millions of dollars per gram.

If you’re a scientist, you might get closer by guessing plutonium, used to fuel nuclear reactors. Or you might figure you’ve hit the jackpot by picking antimatter, which might power spaceships one day.

This substance requires inconceivable amounts of energy to generate. It’s estimated that antimatter costs tens of billions or even trillions of dollars per gram.

But there’s one thing on earth more valuable than even that…

The precious blood of Jesus.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

We don’t know exactly how much blood Jesus shed when He was on the Cross. The average human body contains around 10 pints/5 litres of blood. We’re not sure what portion of that amount Christ lost during the beatings and scourging leading up to Calvary and during the Crucifixion itself.

But it was enough to save countless millions of people from their sins.

Scripture tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Jesus shed his own blood to purchase the forgiveness we all require to be able to spend eternity with a holy God.

The cost to Him was inconceivable.

Though sinless Himself, Jesus willingly took on the sins of humanity and paid the penalty owing for them. This innocent man suffered immense physical pain and humiliation at the Cross, but worse than that was the feeling of separation from His Father. He cried out in agony:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Jesus paid an incalculable price, but for Him it was worth it.

After He had risen from the dead, look what His precious blood had bought for us: forgiveness of our sins, reconciliation with God, and eternity in Heaven.

There’s nothing on earth more valuable than even one drop of Jesus’ blood.

And here’s the amazing thing:

What cost Him the earth He offers to you for free.

Will you take Him up on it?

© 2021 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.