Jesus Is Precious

Peter used the word "precious" to describe Jesus three times in just four verses. He is precious to believers, but it is a great joy to think of all the ways He is precious. Let the list contained in this sermon provoke you to think of some of your own. He is beyond description and ineffably sublime. Amen.

Introduction:

Before we come to the Lord’s Table, let us bask in Peter’s description above of Jesus being precious.
In this context, Peter by inspiration used the word three times, from Isaiah (I Pet 2:4-8 Isaiah 28:16).
Precious. Of great price; having a high value; costly. Of great moral or spiritual worth; held in high esteem. Bible has precious ointment and stones (Matt 26:7; Mark 14:3; I Cor 3:12; Rev 17:4; 21:19).
We use the word most commonly for precious metals (primarily gold and silver), but Peter used it as far superior to corruptible gold and silver for the redeeming blood of Jesus to save us (I Pet 1:18-19).
Things precious … thrill our minds, enflame our hearts, move our lips, and open our ears to hear more.
Peter also used it for faith and promises (I Pet 1:7; II Pet 1:1,4); Paul used it only once (I Cor 3:12).
Three questions: Is Jesus precious to you? Should he be precious at communion? How is He precious?

Jesus is precious … for leaving heaven’s glory to be born as a wild ass’s colt in a barn and put in a manger.

Jesus is precious … for not calling the righteous, but rather calling vile sinners like you and me, to repent.

Jesus is precious … for setting His face to go to Jerusalem though He knew what would happen to Him.

Jesus is precious … for taking a towel after supper to wash the dirty feet of those who would desert Him.

Jesus is precious … for facing Calvary for us though causing Him to sweat as it were great drops of blood.

Jesus is precious … for going to meet the angry and violent mob knowing what would happen that night.

Jesus is precious … for being forsaken by all His closest disciples and friends in His greatest hour of need.

Jesus is precious … for allowing betrayal by a devilish traitor with a kiss and yet referring to him as friend.

Jesus is precious … for not calling twelve legions of fierce and fiery angels to rescue Him from the Jews.

Jesus is precious … for keeping total silence before His accusers though He could have confounded them.

Jesus is precious … for wearing a purple robe of mockery to purchase our robes of perfect righteousness.

Jesus is precious … for being led as a lamb to the slaughter without opening His mouth like all others do.

Jesus is precious … for wearing a mocking crown of thorns He had created as Eden’s punishment for sin.

Jesus is precious … for being falsely accused by liars yet refusing to defend His own righteous reputation.

Jesus is precious … for being blindfolded, struck in the face, and mocked by soldiers he knew perfectly.

Jesus is precious … for being rejected in place of Barabbas a real criminal though being innocent himself.

Jesus is precious … for baring His back to Roman scourging so that by His bloody stripes we are healed.

Jesus is precious … for looking at Peter with convicting mercy after the disciple denied Him three times.

Jesus is precious … for carrying His heavy cross up Calvary until they had to call on Simon to help Him.

Jesus is precious … for allowing cruel men to drive nails through His hands and His feet without murmur.

Jesus is precious … for being cursed by hanging on a tree to save us from the curse of the law we earned.

Jesus is precious … for enduring awful forsaking by the God and Father He loved with our sins on Him.

Jesus is precious … for drinking the bitter cup and dregs of God’s holy wrath against our many iniquities.

Jesus is precious … for praying, ‘Father, forgive them,’ for enemies that mocked and gambled for clothes.

Jesus is precious … for enduring the cross and despising the shame of hanging naked to cover our sins.

Jesus is precious … for the kindest words to a thief that had been cursing him but then asked for salvation.

Jesus is precious … for voluntarily giving up His spirit into God’s hands even though forsaken by Him.

Jesus is precious … for parting the veil of the temple from top to bottom to secure our free access to God.

Jesus is precious … for submitting to death and burial in a cold tomb to earn and show our resurrection.

Jesus is precious … for showing absolute obedience to the Father’s will from Gethsemane to the very end.

Jesus is precious … for after His resurrection gently forgiving His disciples and friends that forsook Him.

Jesus is precious … for ascending up to heaven and taking the book of our salvation from Almighty God.

Jesus is precious … for pouring out the Spirit on us at Pentecost and now daily interceding for us forever.

Conclusion:

Jesus is truly only precious to those that believe, and they were ordained to that belief (Acts 13:48).
God made the difference of how His Son is viewed by election and appointment (I Peter 1:2; 2:7-10).
As we come to communion, let us bask in Peter’s use of precious for Jesus, which we have filled out.
Our little exercise is not nearly exhaustive, so you have opportunity to think on it and add your own.
Three questions: Is Jesus precious to you? Should he be precious at communion? How is He precious?

For Further Study:

2026-09-21T17:02:41-04:00