“Dying Happy”
[Jesus said,] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46)
Look closely at what Jesus says in these parables. He tells us about a man who discovers something he wants with all his heart—a hidden treasure, a pearl of great value. So what does he do? He sells everything he has and buys the thing he loves.
And then what? Remember, he has already sold everything he has. He has nothing left to live on—not a bite of bread, not a dollar in his pocket. And there’s no chance he’s going to go sell the thing he’s just spent his whole life on! Give up the treasure just to feed himself? Give up the pearl? Never.
He’s going to die. And he’s going to die happy.
And that’s no surprise, because Jesus is talking about Himself in these stories. Jesus is the One who found a treasure in a field—who found us, the ones He loved so much!—and He gave up everything, even His own life, to get us. He is the One who treasures us like the most beautiful pearl on earth, and now that He has got us, He refuses to let us go.
And so He died, nailed up on that cross. And He died happy, because that was how He could get us and keep us for Himself forever.
Thanks be to God, Jesus rose from the dead—so that now He can have us and we can have Him, forever. Not even death will come between us now. Jesus will raise us also from death when He returns to take us to be with Him forever. And there He will be our treasure and we will be His, and we will be happy.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord Jesus, You Yourself are my treasure. Thank You for treasuring me. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
What do you treasure most of all the things that belong to you?
Is there anything you would consider dying for?
What does it mean to you to realize that Jesus treasures you?
