Children's Bible Ministry of Connecticut, USA
The Pearl of Great Price
Pearls, sometimes called the Queen
of Gems, have been known and used as jewelry for more than six thousand years.
Although classified as gems pearls are not actually minerals. They are made from living
things, namely, mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.).
Pearls
are the abnormal growth from a mollusk trying to protect itself from the irritation of a
particle of sand or shell. Bothered by this foreign particle the mollusk begins to coat it
with layer upon layer of a substance called nacre. Thus a pearl is formed and begins to
grow.
The pearl
is thus the only jewel formed by an injury to a living thing. Pearls, unlike, other
gems, must be left undivided and uncut to keep their value.
Cleopatra of Egypt is said to have given
Marc Antony of Rome the most expensive banquet in history. In a glass of vinegar on an
empty plate she crushed and dissolved a large pearl and drank it. She offered him the same
drink, which he refused. The suggested cost of the two pearls by today's standard was more
than nine million dollars ($9,000,000)!
...the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all
that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46
God speaks of His Body, the Church, made up of all
those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their only God and Saviour from
sin. Here it is likened to a pearl of great price. The Lord
Jesus emptied Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross
(Philippians 2). He gave His very life to purchase a people out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation (Revelation 5:9). Thus the Church, His Body, is formed
by way of an injury to the Son of God. He begins to build His Church, not all at once, but
in layers, over centuries of time, starting with the apostles and right up to today. We
who have believed are the outermost layer of His Church. When His Pearl is complete He
will take it to Himself--Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious
church. . .
The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy Bride.
With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died.
--Samuel J. Stone
What a blessed privilege to belong to the ever living,
ever loving Lord!
Have you placed your whole trust in Him and Him alone
for your soul's salvation?
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for
there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
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