Salvator Mundi: Savior of the World

Intro: When Christ Was Sold

In 1649, a Scottish nobleman was executed by Oliver Cromwell during the British Civil War. Some of his possessions were taken to the Netherlands to be sold. Among these possessions was a painting. Historical records show that this painting passed from one Noble person to another, from one nation to another. In one instance, it was valued at 30 pounds, and in another 45 pounds.

It was an obscure painting, supposedly a copy of the original—painted by none other than Leonardo da Vinci. The painting was known as the Salvator Mundi, which was thought to be lost.

In 2005, the Salvator Mundi appears again in an auction with a value estimated between $1,200 and $1,800. It ended up selling for only $1,175.

Over the next six years, art historians and restoration experts concluded that this was no copy. It was actually the original; a work by the same man who painted the Mona Lisa. In 2013, the Salvator Mundi sold for $75 million. A few years later, it was sold again for $127.5 million.

In 2017, the painting "Salvator Mundi" was sold for a record-breaking $450,312,500, making it the most expensive artwork ever sold. To this day, no other piece of art has sold for even close to this amount.

So, what was on this painting?

We understand that it’s a Leonardo original—but what makes this painting so special?

The Latin title “salvator mundi” translates into English as "savior of the world." Da Vinci's work depicts none other than the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ.

Now here's where it gets interesting. Of all possibilities, the painting was purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, a Muslim.

The layers of irony in the sale of this artwork are striking. Firstly, the most valuable painting in the world is a portrait of Jesus—the man who said, “lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth.” This is ironic.

Irony and coincidence are commonly mistaken for one another. Coincidence occurs when something unexpected happens; irony is when what happens is the opposite of what we expected.

There are no true coincidences—only moments of divine irony. It's deeply ironic that a world which often rejects Jesus as Lord would pay $450 million for his image.

Adding another layer of irony, the painting was purchased by a man who is in rebellion against the Christ depicted in the artwork. The very global auction that established this record price, and the buyer himself, are rebels against the Lord that the painting claims to represent.

Perhaps this angle on the story surprises you. Consider this: a chairman of the auction house was quoted saying that the painting depicts "the most iconic figure in the world by the most important artist of all time." Maybe we’re tempted to point to this and think, "See how powerful the name of Jesus is and how valued He is in the world."

Truly, the name of Jesus is mighty and He is the priceless pearl of Heaven; next to His worth and value, all the riches of the world pale in comparison…

But, as Christians, does this event not stir something within us?

Isn't there a hint of irony that saddens us?

The entire world watched this auction, captivated by the staggering dollar amounts, yet missed the Lord of life?

Does it not evoke a bit of righteous indignation to see our Lord “sold to the highest bidder,” so to speak?

We want the world to realize that this painting isn’t worth anything. It has no real power or value.

This painting can burn, it can be stolen, it could be proven to be a fake at a later time.

All its value comes from man alone, and will mean nothing when the Godman comes in glory. He’s the one who is worthy.

We want him—the real Jesus, amen? We want the world to recognize the real Jesus.

More importantly, we want to “buy” the real Jesus. Not a painting, not a copy, not a fake. The real deal.

This is what our text today is all about—the real Jesus—the pearl of great price, who makes $450 million into just a lot of paper.

The Text

Matthew 13:45–46 ESV

“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.

Orienting

Today, my sermon begins at the end. It begins with the answer to the question: "Who is the pearl of great value?"

Jesus and his finished work—his very own righteousness, given to us—is the pearl of great value. He’s the treasure in the field that we stumble upon in the Gospel.

And when the Spirit of God breathes new life into a person, and they see the Gospel for what it truly is, they will without fail begin the process of “selling everything they have.” It will be the only thing that makes sense.

This is because the Gospel dresses us down in full measure. It strips us of any pride we might have.

To see the great debt of our sin paid for with the blood of Jesus exposes all our riches and all our righteousness as filthy rags.

Why? Because it was those things; our offenses—our riches, our unrighteousness—that nailed him to the cross.

“Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers”

It is an awakening of the soul, a sudden and sharp realization that our pride and wealth are but mirages in the face of the true pearl of great value, Jesus Christ. Which treasure do we want, our earthly goods that can rot, or Jesus Christ, the eternal king?

Jim Elliot quoted Matthew Henry when he said: “he is no fool who parts with what he can’t keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

The Gospel treasure that we find is this: “when you trust in Christ, you are able to buy what you could never earn by selling what you could never keep—and what was only working disaster for you.”

This is what that joyful response of the men is rooted in, that in Christ, we have real treasure that endures eternally.

This truth is so priceless and so unexpected to a sin-sick soul, that when we discover it, we cannot but rush to sell everything.

We cannot help but give every part of our life to him. Would we hold anything back from him, who loved us and gave himself for us?

He saved us from hell and seated us in heaven: how will he then fail to bring us all the way home?

With that kind of ironclad confidence, the Christian can let go of all earthly treasure and cling to Christ; the Christian can sell it all to buy the field.

Both parables are capturing essentially the same thing: that Life in Christ is actually that—our whole life in Christ and for Christ. He’s now our “all in all.”

He is the priceless one of heaven, eternally begotten of the Father, and the Son of his love.

It is by turning from our sin and trusting in Christ’s death and resurrection that we are saved. And it is by treasuring him above all else that we experience the greatest joy.

This is the telos, or final goal, of life on earth—to have joyfully sold everything and purchased the field. This was what my last sermon here was about.

But let’s go back to the beginning. To before the field or pearl was found.

The Search

You and I are searching for something, and whether we realize it or not, Christ is what we’re searching for.

Each day, you and I wake up and engage in countless activities, all in search of something.

Consider this: We wake up and go to work. Why? To make a living. And why is that? To sustain that living. But let's delve deeper—why do we live at all? This third question cuts to the core of our existence.

Imagine gathering up all of our thoughts, words, and deeds, and, like oil and canvas, they are then used to paint a picture.

The image on that canvas reveals whom or what we live for—it answers the fundamental question of what we’re truly searching after.

If someone goes about their business seeking only what is in their best interest at every juncture, you know what that painting will look like. It will look like the person.

If someone goes about their business seeking to honor Christ, and to image him in their lives, the painting will look very different—by God’s grace, it will look like Christ. It will look like someone being conformed to his image.

But the point is that we’re seeking something, and we’re imaging something. There is no middle ground.

There is no empty painting.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found…”

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.”

Both are searching, both are choosing; there is no standing still.

This is the wanderlust of Adam’s curse—we go from field to field, booth to booth, searching for maximum satisfaction.

The man searching is us, and all the common fields and pearls are the things of the world that aren’t Christ.

These things can never satisfy, but they constantly market themselves that way.

Proverbs 9 refers to this as the conflict between wisdom and foolishness. You remember the invitation, “Whoever is simple, turn in here.”

Lady Wisdom has built her house and prepared the feast, and offers it all to her guests.

Lady Folly “sits at the door of her house,” and offers “stolen bread” and “stolen water,” and those who turn in there “are dead.”

The reality of this fallen world is that we are surrounded by spiritual anglerfish.

1 John 2:16 ESV

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Paul captures this same reality in Colossians 3:2:

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

With all this said, humanity can then be separated into two categories.

There are two distinct types of paintings: one of an earthly creature seeking earthly things, and another of a heavenly creature seeking heavenly things.

Jesus knows better than anyone what is truly in the heart of man. And he knows better than anyone how attracted we are to the things of the world.

We are merchants, constantly in search of fine pearls. We want the finest pearls we can get.

Whether we know it or not, Christ is the Priceless pearl of heaven—and it is him that our souls are searching for.

Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until we find our rest in you.”

You might be thinking, “Woah, hold on a minute. No one seeks after God. No not one.”

And you are entirely correct. No one seeks after God, but they refuse to seek him like a son refuses to seek his father. Though he spits in his face, spends his inheritance, and tries to change his gender, he is still his spitting image. He cannot help but image his father.

We see this all the time. Even the most hardened of unbelievers cannot help but express the image of God.

Richard Dawkins recently described himself as a “cultural Christian”; that is, someone who appreciates Christian values, but rejects the Christ.

Joe Rogan, the most popular podcast in the world, I think, said, “We need Jesus.” We need what his followers do for the world, but not him.

So we see this paradoxical rejection of God, where unbelievers spit in God’s face while using all his stuff.

Apart from grace, no one seeks God because no one wants God. They want the world he created, on their own terms, and outside his rule and authority.

[—]

However, there remains a deeper element. We’ve talked about the search all humanity is engaged in, but we need to consider why there is a search in the first place.

This search is looking to fix a problem.

The Void

At the center of the human heart is a void of infinite size. It is of infinite size because an infinite God once dwelt there. When we’re born, we inherit Adam’s sin, and this vivisected heart, as well.

It is a gaping wound in our innermost being into which we pour every kind of idolatry.

Because this void is infinitely large, nothing we dump into it from this world can fill it.

Psalm 5:9 ESV

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

At the center of the human heart is a void of infinite size that can never be filled, and will one day swallow us as well.

We instinctually know this. The vast majority of modern, abnormal psychology can be reduced to this one simple truth: that we are sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Proverbs 28:1 (ESV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues…

Romans 1:21 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The Savior

We are all looking for salvation from that void.

Everyone’s looking for a savior.

We’re all searching for the finest pearl we can find, with hopes that it will buy our redemption.

And when we die, we want that final painting of our life to be beautiful, hoping that it will exempt us from punishment.

But we know in our heart of hearts that the void will eat it all, and us with it.

There is no other savior than Christ.

Only the infinite love of the infinite God can fill that void!

There is no finer pearl than the Son of God.

And the only truly beautiful face is his.

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The same God who spoke the universe into existence reveals himself in the face of Jesus Christ.

And when we come to the Lord in faith, despairing of ourselves, trusting in his finished work, three things happen in the heavenly places:

The infinite Spirit of God flows into your soul and fills the void, never to be empty again because God in his fullness lives there now.

You are then pulled from the darkness and brought to Christ on his throne, never to be taken away.

The Father’s gavel falls, and its crack is heard throughout the celestial courtroom. He has executed eternal judgment on your soul. And his judgment is this: “Justified! Holy and blameless! My child forevermore!”

From this moment on, the rest of our lives is a process of working out this invincible salvation we have been given.

Nothing can destroy what the Father has given you.

“No power of hell or scheme of man, could ever pluck me from his hand, till he returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”

Every day after this is what the parables describe as “going and joyfully selling everything.”

The entire ecosystem and economy of life is transformed by the Gospel.

Every area of life is now pointed upwards, rather than inwards.

Every part of life can be sold with joy, rather than gripped in fear.

This is because, in Christ, we have found our heart’s desire.

Psalm 73:25–26 ESV

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The Satisfied Soul

God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever.

All of Him can be desired by all of you.

Because the void that once drained you of all strength is now filled with his Spirit.

Genesis 1:1–3 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

This same Spirit now lives in you.

As darkness was over the face of the uncreated world, so darkness lived in the void of your soul.

But as God spoke and illuminated the cosmos, so God also spoke the word of your salvation.

The same power in creation was present at your recreation.

You are no longer in the flesh—but in the Spirit, and are being led by him today, whether you feel it or not.

Romans 8:14 ESV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

God is the strength of your heart, now, not you.

The void that swallowed every fine pearl you threw in it has been filled, forever. You now lack for nothing, because you now have everything: you have God.

And he has completed every incompleteness in you. You now know the meaning of life. You know who made you and what he made you for: to glorify him and enjoy him forever.

Let me translate that for you: everything your soul longs for—to love and be loved, have pleasure and joy, and to never die—is given to you in Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price. And he rejoices to give it to you—he sings his love over us:

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

God rejoices over you with gladness, and rejoices over you with loud singing.

Psalm 89:15 LSB

How blessed are the people who know the loud shout of joy! O Yahweh, they walk in the light of Your face.

This is what every human heart is looking for. It’s the only thing that can fill the void.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through him. Only the Father can satisfy your empty soul, and only Jesus can bring you to the Father.

Conclusion

We end now with application: what am I supposed to do with this? How shall I then live?

I’ve come to Jesus, I’ve placed my trust in him. I’ve done as the merchant did and sold all I had—all my righteousness and hope of saving myself—what now?

Well, what does anyone who becomes richer than their wildest dreams do?

They start spending it like crazy.

—

And this applies to every Christian, regardless of how long they’ve been one, because the riches never run out—we just stop spending it. We miss those old pearls we once had..

So start spending your infinite inheritance now. Break open the vaults of treasure.

God himself is available to you.

Seek him in prayer, not as a child doing a chore, but as a child clinging to their father. Believe that your prayers matter to God, and that they actually do something—most importantly, they do something to you.

Prayer is a preview to the eternal, face-to-face conversation we will have with our Lord in heaven. So leave nothing unsaid now, that you’ll have more to say in heaven.

Seek him at his table, where your very soul will be fed by his body and blood.

Seek him when things go well in your life, and seek him when they fall apart.

Seek him in his Word, which was spoken for you. If you feel distant to God, then do what is needed to repair any other relationship—talk to him in prayer, and listen to him in his Word.

Seek him in his church, where the Spirit of his Christ is moving.

“Well, that sounds legalistic. It can’t be as simple as that.”

It’s as legalistic and as simple as spending boat loads of cash. Yes, it takes some work, but believe this: only goodness and mercy wait for you on the other side, for it is Christ himself who is at work within you.

And it is Christ himself who has invited you to build his kingdom.

His mercies are new every morning, and though we stumble every day, we are stumbling irresistibly towards that kingdom.

Our daily prayer ought to be, “Lord, help me to be faithful today. Cause me to seek you with all I have, making me more like Christ.”

As this happens, the totality of life will appear differently to you. If you’ve bought the field, then walk the field. If you’ve bought the pearl, then show off the pearl.

Hear the phrase, “what we do in life echoes in eternity,” and let that excite you.

Let all things become an occasion to contribute to your painting, another stroke in the name of the kingdom.

And on that final day, when Christ returns with the armies of heaven, he will raise us to new life: a gallery of paintings that look just like him; Salvator Mundi, the savior of the world.