Increase In Values 8/25/46
Scripture: Luke 20: 19-26
Text: Luke 20: 24; “Show me a penny.”
On an economic level, we are acutely aware of a continuing readjustment in values. Real property and consumer goods are increasing sharply in value, while the dollars we exchange for them correspondingly decrease in value. Because many people need housing so desperately, certain houses will now sell for twice what they were supposed to be worth three years ago. The price of automobiles (when they can be had!) advances considerably in the legitimate market and very sharply in the so-called “black market.” Whoever holds the family purse strings and watches the food budget knows that it is costing us more to eat today than it cost us a year ago, and much more than it cost 5 years ago.
In terms of our government’s dollar-standard, values are on the increase - driven upward by the scarcity of much that is wanted and needed on the one hand, and by the present ability of many to pay more for scarce items on the other hand, and by the fact that not enough people have the self-imposed will to hold the line, to see that it is held.
For the present, the prospect is pleasing to some and alarming to many, depending on whether one has much to sell or needs much to be bought. Any true prosperity would seem to require that the two positions be brought closer together.
It is not my purpose to discuss further the present inflationary increase in commodity values, though the Christian ethic has an application to every area of human activity. Rather, I want to speak of increase in another kind of real values.
Hobart McKeehan calls attention to a story of the English scholar, Dr. T. R. Glover. Dr. Glover was for many years public orator at Cambridge University, a classical scholar, friendly with people, a Christian writer and preacher. At the London Club 20 years ago, Dr. Glover told a story of a visit he had made to a museum renowned, among other things, for its collection of rare ancient coins. His host was a man of great learning, who was particularly at home in the field of archaeology. Before his guest, the host picked up and held and named one old coin after another, speaking briefly of its time and history.
Here was a coin of Vespasain, father of the Titus who destroyed Jerusalem. Here was a coin of Augustus, whose decree it was that all the world should be taxed. Here was the philosopher, Marcus Aurelius. One after another, an ancient coin in the hand of the learned man yielded a vivid bit of human experience out of real human history.
Presently, said Dr. Glover, the archaeologist picked up a coin with the remark: “This is the most valuable coin in the whole collection.” Why was it so valuable? It was not as old as many other coins of the collection. It weighed less than many of them. It was not in better condition than the others.
Its value was for a different reason altogether. One it was an image and a superscription which read: “Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus.” The coin belonged to a 23 year reign that began in AD 14 and ended in AD 37. Dr. Glover, telling London Club members about his museum visit, went on the tell how casual was the reason for coin’s value. This was a Roman coin of a day when Rome controlled the Mediterranean area. To the southeast, at the end of the Mediterranean sea, there was a quarrel among a group of Jews - not all the Jews, but some of them. Faction disagreed with faction. Zealots advocated, and occasionally attempted open revolt against the Roman power. Others were appeasers of Rome. Some wanted no trouble with the Romans because their own lot had been made quite comfortable. But, for a moment in history, they got together to face one who seemed to accuse them all in their worldly schemings. If he were a Jew also, he was certainly not wanted by them as a friend. And so they prepared a few tricky questions, any answer to which they believed would land him in trouble, either with his Jewish people, or with their Roman governors.
The prize question, by which they hoped to stump or trap him, was an old one then, and still used today: Should a man’s supreme loyalty be to God or to the state? Specifically, ought a conscientious Jew, they asked, pay tribute to Caesar? That should stump him! If he said yes, the pious Jews who hated Roman government would howl their disapproval and the upstart teacher would be discredited and his influence lost. If he said no, a word to the nearest Roman official, whispered or shouted, would put the man out of circulation as a rebel.
Now you recall the details of the story as told simply in the book of Luke. “Show me a penny,” said the Nazarene, and they showed him what was presumably a silver penny of the emperor of that time. It was the common legal tender. It was not presentable at the Jewish temple where only a special coin, quite smooth and with no image on it, was pure enough to be presented as an offering. (Hence the legitimate and profitable business there of the money changers.) But it was the coin one must carry for all common purchases and for payment of taxes, etc. As the coin lay, easily seen in the palm of a hand, he asked a question of his own: “Whose is this image and superscription?” With pious propriety, they answered, “Caesar’s.” And then he gave his answer: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that be God’s.” The answer was not only a swift mounting above their clever trap. It was perfect advice - then and now - to Caesar, his image on the coin; to God, his image in the soul.
Now the coin in the museum collection was the most valuable simply because it was presumably of the same issue as that to which Jesus pointed in that memorable instance. It was that touch of Jesus that raised the value of a whole issue of Roman coins!
Suppose that it were possible to prove that that particular coin in that museum were the same coin produced in that group when Jesus said: “Show me a penny.” What might be its commercial value now? How much would that museum, or the Vatican, or some wealthy fancier bid for possession of it?
And for reasons of sentiment, how many people, assuming that Jesus once touched the coin with his own hand, would want to touch it? or kiss it? or bow while it might be carried past in some processional? And all because Jesus had touched it!
The touch of Jesus sent up the value of a whole issue of coins. Who knows how high might soar the value of a single coin in that issue if its identity could be established?
Well; enough of that kind of imagination - except to point out that the touch of our Lord does bring values out and up. It does enhance material values. When they have any choice at all in the purchase of a home, for instance, people will take material consideration of a location near a church of their choice.
But material value is a mere incident to the touch of Jesus. That touch brings increased values far more important. It puts the impress of the spiritual upon the material so that all may become sacred. The touch of Jesus raises the value of life by bringing freedom to the soul. Lifted from the imprisonment of things, one touched by Jesus becomes at home in the values of the spirit, where truth and good will and freedom are known and enjoyed.
Michaelangelo once produced a sculptured group known in the art gallery as “The Prisoners.” The figures do not appear completed. The sculptor did enough work on them to give one a glimpse of human figures emerging from the marble mass, and stopped at that point in the work. The figures seem to be struggling to free themselves; to emerge into finished personalities. But the struggle is vain. For they need the touch of the sculptor’s love and genius to bring them release. Without that, they stay partially imprisoned as they are.
It is a picture of people - of personalities in bondage - potential and promising, but imprisoned. It is a symbol of men and women whose capacities are kept down and held back until the touch of a Savior liberates them and brings them to full life. It takes the touch of Jesus to bring liberation from sin and sorrow, from fear and frustration. And this is what Jesus’ touch does.
And the touch of this Master clarifies our vision. Do you remember the story of Jesus and a blind man at Bethsaida? How he touched the man’s eyes and the man saw- but not at first clearly or completely? And Jesus touched him again, after which he saw clearly.
The story suggests our own need of repeated contact with Jesus. Many a person has felt the quickening power of Christ’s touch. They have seen, not completely or clearly; but they have seen what they never saw before. But the touch has not been repeated! They have not stayed with him! And they have remained in the uncertain haze of an incomplete commitment.
We suffer the loss of the original radiance of our faith if we do not return again and again to his presence. Our first contact was genuine, but we have not continued in communion; and so we remain half loyal, partially seeing. If modern Christians are less happy, it is because they are incomplete, missing the triumphant faith and freedom of those who faithfully return again and again to the Master’s presence and touch. This is a sound reason for coming regularly and faithfully into the house and among the household of his faith.
There are concerns and arts that contribute greatly to the making of life - good music, the painting of masters, beautiful architecture, and others. And the Master’s touch has enhanced the richness of them all. With that touch upon his imagination, firing his soul, many an air has been composed with an immortal quality. Many a canvass becomes a veritable bit of the gospel. Many a building stands a thing of beauty divine for generations to come. Some of the literature of the race is lighted with lasting influence because of that touch. Fine things of mind and heart, both in creation and appreciation, are made finer yet by the touch of Jesus.
That touch enhances the arts of healing. Who breathes from his lips and soul “In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength;” [Isaiah 30: 15]; “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” [Psalm 23: 1] wins half the battle for his physician. For the body does respond to the touch of the Great Physician.
Finally, remember that the touch of Christ changes people completely for the better. The “nobodies” of the early church, touched by a living Christ, “lifted the gates of empires off their hinges.” A bigoted, blood-thirsty, hateful Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle. Cowards have become heroes; drunkards, men of sobriety; sinners, men of rightness; the loser of self, a lover of souls; the fickle and vacillating man, a veritable rock.
Not alone to a Roman penny, but to everything and everyone the touch of Jesus brings an inestimable increase in value, both to God and man. A poet [Sidney Layright] says, “He wakes desires you never may forget. He shows you stars you never saw before.” As Paul puts it: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” [II Corinthians 5: 17].
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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, August 25, 1946 (Union Service)