MIDWEEK LENT 2                February 24, 2026          Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

 

Zechariah 11:7-13 (EHV)

“WHAT IS HE WORTH TO YOU?”

 

Brothers and sisters, we are making value judgments all the time. For some a prime cut of steak perfectly prepared is worth it so they will gladly drop a hundred dollars at a fine restaurant to enjoy the experience while others will say food is food. I know what my body does with it. Chews it up and exits it. McDonalds is good enough for me. For some the experience of a concert or performance or an NBA basketball game is so worth it they will pay extra money and gladly give the extra time to travel, find parking and get as close to front row as possible to see their desired event while some will say, “That’s not worth it. I prefer the comfort of my own home and easy access to food and bathrooms for my entertainment.” It’s just a matter what it’s worth to you.

          As we continue our Lenten worship we look at another prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah. As we heard last Wednesday Zechariah is known as the Holy Week prophet. God used Zechariah’s ministry to give the signs and markers people would need to identify the true Messiah, especially the signs that happened during Holy Week. I think you’ll be able to figure out how this prophecy points to Jesus!

 

Zechariah 11:7-13 (EHV) “So I shepherded the flock which is to be slaughtered, especially the most afflicted of the flock. I took two staffs for myself. One I called Favor and the other Union. Then I shepherded the flock. ⁸ I removed three shepherds in one month. I grew very impatient with the flock, and they really detested me. ⁹ So I said, “I will not shepherd you. Whatever is dying, let it die. Whatever is being destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.” ¹⁰ I took my staff, Favor, and I broke it in two, to cancel my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. ¹¹ So it was cancelled on that day, and the most miserable of the flock, who were watching me, knew that this was the word of the Lord. ¹² Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, pay me my wages. But if it does not, withhold them.” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages. ¹³ Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter, this magnificent price at which they valued me.” So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I threw them into the House of the Lord, to the potter.”

 

          Old Testament Messianic prophecy often had a close up or immediate fulfillment and a faraway, about Jesus fulfillment. This is true for Zechariah 11. The prophet Zechariah served as a shepherd or pastor to the people. The two staffs he took symbolized the covenant God had made with them. Favor. God loved them. He was a friend to them. Union. God desired to be in unity with his people. As Zechariah did his shepherding and pastoring he had to fire 3 bad shepherds, bad pastors. A good reminder for all pastors. If you are unfaithful your congregation may not fire you, but God will! But it wasn’t just some of the pastors who were bad, the people were too. They did not value the Lord and His word so they were spiritually sick and dying. Zechariah grew impatient with the people and the people detested him as their pastor. So he quit. He broke the shepherd’s staffs that symbolized their oneness. He asked for his pay. They gave him 30 pieces of silver. When Naaman the leper came to the Lord for physical healing he brought 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold. When the people of Zechariah’s time thought about the eternal salvation giving Lord and His word they offered 30 pieces of silver. That’s what the Lord was worth to them. And just in case you think God does not understand speech and the sardonic nature of sarcasm, listen again to His response, “Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter, this magnificent price at which they valued me.” So I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I threw them into the House of the Lord, to the potter.”

          And that takes us to the faraway fulfillment that happened with our Lord Jesus. 30 pieces of silver. Do you remember where that showed up in Holy Week? 30 pieces of silver was what the chief priests offered to Judas to betray Jesus. That is how much their Messiah was worth to them. 30 pieces of silver. 30 pieces of silver that’s how much Judas accepted to betray his friend and His Messiah. 30 pieces of silver. That’s all Jesus was worth to them. But remember the purpose of prophecy. It is there to help all believers in the true God know that Jesus really is the Savior. What happened to that 30 pieces of sliver so valuable to Judas and the chief priests? Judas tried to return it and threw it in the house of the Lord. The chief priests used it to but the Potters field! God’s awfully good and controlling things, isn’t He?

 

“WHAT IS HE WORTH TO YOU?”

 

          But let’s return to the main point. What is He worth to you? Jesus that is. We make value judgments all the time. Would you betray him for 30 pieces of silver? How about for a million dollars? I know your answer: “I would never sell out or give up my Savior for any amount of money!” But is it possible that we have already valued Him at far less? Sadly, the history of the people who have identified themselves as the people of God has often showed that Jesus and His saving word and work are not worth that much. Have you ever traded Jesus for the acceptance of your peers? Have you swapped time with the Teacher for extra hours of entertainment or sleep? What’s he worth to you if you can always find time for play but rarely find time for prayer? Or when “me time” takes priority over “he time”? What do our bank statements and appointment calendars reveal about Jesus’ value to us?

          When Pastor Zechariah felt undervalued, he quit. It reminds me of what the Lord told us in Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will give an account. Obey them, so that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no benefit to you.” If you make the lives of your pastors, principal and teachers miserable with endless nitpicking and constant complaining so their joy in serving is sucked away and serving becomes a groan, it will not benefit you. They may just quit, like Zechariah. But now look at Jesus. What is His response to people who value video games, sports and entertainment over Him? Who can’t wait to binge the next season of some poorly written tv show but would not even consider binging Bible? Who complain and moan and nitpick about His plans and treatment of us as though we 1^st world Americans actually have it rough? Does He quit? No, Jesus didn’t and won’t! He looked at you and me in our weakness and smiled. His response to our misplaced values was to value us more. “Christian, I will go to that cross and I will stay there until I have paid your debt in full. I will do this because the thought of having you with me in heaven fills my heart with joy!” That is your Jesus. So, what is He worth to you? Amen.