PAID IN FULL

On March 13th 2006 I read the obituary of Richard Wawro the Scottish artist and autistic savant. He gained acclaim for his landscapes and seascapes created through the unusual medium of wax oil crayons. People like Lady Thatcher and the late Pope, John Paul II, bought his work. Richard Wawro was said to be one of only 25 recognised prodigious savants in the world. The comment that particularly caught my eye was: Richard took great pride in his talent. At the completion of each picture, he would take it to his father for approval. Parental compliments were followed by a mini-celebration, father and son joining hands in a kind of high-five.

When I first moved from Brockley to Bury St Edmunds my next door neighbour was Mr Ray Hudson. He had a small but beautiful back garden. Most days during the summer he would take his ailing wife outside to inspect his handiwork. She would express her keenest pleasure in all her husband’s horticultural achievements. When Ray’s wife died from emphysema he took no further interest in his garden — it became an unkempt wilderness.

The behaviour of Richard Wawro and Ray Hudson illustrates how important it is to have our work approved by those whose opinion we value. A schoolteacher is acutely aware of how much pupils depend upon their efforts being recognised and applauded.

Jesus completed the work his Father sent him to do on the cross. He offered himself as a sacrifice for humanities’ sins at Calvary. The apostle Peter wrote: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; by his wounds you have been healed. 1Pet2v24. But the effectiveness of Christ’s work depended entirely upon God’s approval.

The gospel record indicates clearly that Jesus passed the test. What he did on mankind’s behalf was accepted. After suffering for 6 hours Jesus was made aware that his work had been completed to God’s entire satisfaction. Jesus asked for a drink and was given a sponge soaked in cheap wine to suck. This allowed him to announce in a loud shout of triumph: "It is finished." Man’s debt to God had been paid in full.

I am reminded of Joe Gargery in ‘Great Expectation. He was the simple but amiable blacksmith who brought up his wife’s younger brother, Pip, as his own son. Pip was the young man with great expectations. An unknown sponsor paid for him to have an expensive education and Pip grew apart from Joe.

Sadly, Pip behaved very foolishly, got into debt and was on the brink of being thrown into prison when he fell ill. It was Joe who came to the rescue and nursed him back to health. When Pip was almost fully recovered Joe slipped away leaving a letter for his young friend to read. In Pip’s own words:

Enclosed in the letter was a receipt for the debt and costs on which I had been arrested. Down to that moment I had vainly supposed that my creditor had withdrawn or suspended proceedings until I should be quite recovered. I had never dreamed of Joe's having paid the money; but Joe had paid it, and the receipt was in his name.

I love that - the receipt was in his name - it reminds me of Jesus who paid the price to release me from my debt to God. The receipt is in his name and on it is written: 'Paid in full'.

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