Focus
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful 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 (NKJ)
Ever wonder why Jesus, while talking to His disciples, Jews, talked about pearls? You know, pearls come from mollusks. Mollusks are unclean to Jews. It was the Gentiles who were pearl merchants. The Gentiles adorned kings with pearls. Of course, His disciples knew this about the Gentiles. I am sure they did not realize at the telling of that parable that Gentiles would also adorn Jesus our King in His Kingdom. After considering this about pearls I went on a pearl quest finding many symbolic illustrations.
Pearls are known for their iridescent display of lustrous rainbow-like colors. Rainbow’s lead one to think of Noah and God’s promise to Noah when He placed a rainbow in the sky. The pearl’s surface is composed of a compound of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate has different forms. One common form is found in the antacid bottle of your medicine cabinet at home. The compound of the pearl is a crystalline lattice structure of translucent layers of calcium carbonate around the core. Remember the core we will come back to that later. The mineral aragonite keeps the pearl out of the antacid bottle. Aragonite has a crystallographic feature where areas of the crystal mirror each other, twinning. Talk about unity. Can you imagine how lustrous the Church would be if it truly mirrored Jesus? One completing the other - completing the other. The aragonite crystal has three planes of unequal length that intersect at 90 degrees to each other. Did three remind you of anything? It did me, God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. The lustrous display of colors in a pearl are produced when light is reflected, refracted, and diffracted off the surface of the pearl. These action words apply to the Bride of Christ, His Church.
The Bride reflects, echoes, or mirrors, the Bridegroom, Jesus (II Corinthians 3:18). If reflection is mirroring Jesus, then what can be said about refraction and diffraction? Refraction is a change in direction. When one changes his will to follow God’s will that is a change in direction. Diffraction occurs when obstacles are encountered. God sent the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus to be our helper. When we encounter obstacles the Holy Spirit gives us strength to overcome them. Let’s review. Luster is created by reflection, mirroring Jesus, refraction, a change from self to God, and diffraction, overcoming obstacles with the Holy Spirit.
The compound, calcium carbonate, is both organic and inorganic. Carbon compounds are biological or organic. Minerals are inorganic. The Bride of Christ is made up of people, people are life forms made up of carbon. The Bride is organic. I can hear the sigh of relief from all of the “green-aware” folks. If the Church is organic then the inorganic sources must be God, the Holy Spirit, and the risen Savior, Jesus.
Naturally occurring pearls start when there is an obstruction that gets inside the mollusk and irritates the soft tissue threatening the life of the mollusk. Are you thinking what I am thinking? The obstruction to the Heavenly Kingdom is sin. The mollusk produces protective layers upon layers around the obstruction to preserve the life of the mollusk. Jesus provided His Church with protection, His Word (Ephesians 6:16-17). In order for The Word, Jesus, to create a protective layer from obstruction around us we must acknowledge who He is. Confess and profess the name of Jesus. Have faith in Him and be faithful to him. Learn to mirror Jesus by reading scripture daily, praying, praising, and thanking Him for His protection.
The luster of the pearl is only revealed when the mollusk dies and the shell is opened revealing its beauty. Remember at the beginning of this text the mention of mollusks being unclean? Jesus, our perfect Lord and Savior, became unclean through bearing the sin of the whole world on the cross of Calvary. Jesus purchased His Pearl with His life (Acts 20:28). In darkness His body lay in the tomb like the oyster in its shell (Luke 23:50-53). When Jesus was resurrected the tomb was opened (Matthew 28:5-7). Jesus revealed His pearl, the Church, His Bride, His lustrous love through His life, death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 1:3). Jesus, the light of heaven, forever shines on her, His lustrous love, reflecting, refracting, and diffracting His light, the Pearl of Great Price, the Church, adorning Jesus, The King.
Jesus did not say what color the pearl was but I am sure it was white, aren’t you (Revelation 7:15)? The amount of time a pearl is cultured dramatically increases the depth of the nacre or luster. You may have seen the phrase, “Be patient, God is not finished with me yet.” God is patient with us but sometimes we forget to be patient with ourselves and with others. Let the word of God culture you. Be lustrous. Adorn the King.
Activity
Wear pearls. Make a pearl bracelet, pin, or necklace. During your prayers be reminded of Jesus giving all He had to purchase the pearl of great price, His Church. In your daily life be mindful of reflecting, refracting, and diffracting His light. Let the word of God culture you by reading scripture every day.
Around the Holidays you can find inexpensive pearl finished ornaments. Use a permanent marker to write scriptures on the ornament. You might consider one ornament for each of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) or you might want to focus on God’s promises in scripture. Make an ornament from pearl beads. My Mom has a beautiful snow flake made from various pearl, silver, and crystal beads. The snow flake reminds me of light reflecting as the sun sparkles off the ice crystals in the snow.
Another suggestion is to write the names of devout people in the Church on pearlescent paper. Pray for God’s blessings on them because of their example of unity and dedication to service in God’s Kingdom.
Example Prayer
Begin the prayer with thanksgiving, “Thank you for The Pearl, your Lustrous Love, your Bride, your Church. Thank you for the price you paid. Thank you for bringing us out of darkness into your light. Thank you for your Spirit who protects us against obstacles and equips us to overcome them. Thank you for taking time to culture me.”
Continue with praise, “Your love is overwhelming. Your creation is wondrously designed. Your promises are certain. Your Spirit equips me. Your light guides me, reveals me, and awakens me.”
Petition the Lord on your behalf, “Father, make me a pearl worthy to adorn the King. Take this core and layer it with you continuously to make me strong, resilient, and lustrous in your Kingdom. Let me reflect, refract, and diffract your light. Culture me through your Word. Let me mirror Jesus.”
Make requests on behalf of others, “Let the Church have unity. Let the Church mirror Jesus in His perfect love. Pour out your Spirit on your Church to equip them to overcome obstacles in the name of Jesus and for your glory. May all who seek you find you and be changed by you. May all who seek you be equipped, lustrous, strong, and resilient.”
Confirm your faith, “Father, because you were extravagant in sending your son Jesus to purchase the entire field for the pearl of great price, I expect your loving favor on this petition. Because of your promises I believe you will do even more than I ask (Ephesians 3:20). Because of your patience and great wisdom I trust your perfect timing and your excellent way.”
Close your prayer, “In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Follow-up Activity
When you pray throughout the week, use the pearl as a reminder of God’s promises. Be reminded of mirroring Jesus. Pray for unity in the Church. Praise God for His church purchased through Jesus’ death on the cross. Thank Him for bringing us out of darkness into His light. Thank Him for the Spirit who equips us to overcome obstacles. Share the lustrous love of Jesus with others.
Materials
Beads – pearl, metallic, crystal, various colors, and various sizes. Or, pearl ornaments.
Wire
Wire tools, cutters and needle nose
Silver cord or ribbon
Permanent markers
Scissors
Music - create an atmosphere for reflection and prayer during the activity, Gateway Worship CD, “My Beloved”
Resource
Book: Attending the Bride of Christ, by Martha Lawley
Wikipedia – aragonite mineral, calcium carbonate, orthorhombic, nacre, pearl
