Key events in today’s reading:

• Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
• Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman (Matthew 9:18-23)
• Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (Matthew 10)
• Jesus Predicts the Resurrection (Matthew 12:38-50)
• Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-36)

Believe it or not, one of my favorite shows on all of television is the Antique Road Show. For those of you who have never heard of this show, because you are obviously cooler than me, let me explain its basic premise. This show sets up shop in convention centers around the nation and invites people to bring their stuff. People show up in droves bringing with them grandma’s old desk or an old lamp they found in the attic. The premise is simple. Appraisers pick out some of the junk and tell us how it’s not really junk at all, but really priceless treasures. Basically, it’s reality TV, antique shop style.

Now, in order to redeem my self-image a little, I would never set foot in an antique store, so why in the world would I enjoy this show? I’m rarely interested in the stuff people show up with, but there is this one part in the show that catches me every time. Inevitably, after the appraiser tells us about the piece, he asks the owner, “So, do you have any idea what its worth?” Sometimes they’re brave enough to tell what they paid for it, most of the time they simply shrug their shoulders and say “I have no idea.” It really doesn’t matter, because all of America is waiting to hear, not what the owner thinks about it, but what the appraiser has to say.

For instance, I was watching one time when this couple brought in a rather plain looking blanket. It was large, pretty worn, with broad navy and pink stripes. The appraiser was ecstatic. He was almost in tears as he explained that this was a Navajo chief’s robe. He described the way it was made, the materials that were used, and all sorts of other information that I don’t remember. What I remember is the question, “How much do you think this blanket is worth?” The old couple, well into their 70’s said they thought it was probably worth a couple of thousand dollars. The appraiser smiled as he told them that their blanket, which they used in the winter as an extra layer on their own bed, was worth between $350,000 to $500,000. Furthermore, it was of such quality and rarity that it was indeed a national treasure. At that point, it was the most valuable piece ever shown on the show.

Now, that is captivating television, whether is makes me a nerd or not. I love a good treasure hunt. The idea that an old couple could be sleeping under an old blanket that they don’t even really like but is worth half a million dollars – you just can’t beat that. From movies about pirates’ buried treasure to antique shopping, we love to discover things, especially things of value. Jesus touched on this desire when teaching the disciples privately one day saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; 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; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Following Jesus might not seem like much in the face of all the other kinds of things people value these days. It’s not as flashy as fame. It doesn’t capture national news coverage like political power. It sure doesn’t wow like money in the bank. Still, when the final appraiser evaluates our lives, we’ll discover, life with Christ is worth more than all the treasures of this life combined.

For tomorrow:

• Cover to Cover: Matthew 15:27-26:29
• Key Passage: Matthew 16:13-28
• Verse of the Day: Matthew 16:16