PART 1: THE PEARL
THE PERFECTION OF THE PEARL
Is there anything in this world that you would give everything that you had for? I asked myself this question and thought of many things actually. I would sell all I had for almost any Van Gogh painting or a Rembrandt or other famous piece of art. Why? Because I could then sell the painting and buy back all my stuff with many millions of dollars leftover. That thing for which I would sell all for would simply be something worth far more than what I already had. All men in the world understand this way of thinking. It makes sense to give up certain goods to buy something worth far more than what they are giving up. We have a phrase for that, “Getting a deal!”
The merchant in this parable has found such a deal. He has found one pearl of great price and has sold all to have the pearl. What is it about this pearl that makes it so valuable? Let it be understood very clearly that this Pearl is Jesus Christ and Eternal life through Him.
Which is it? Is Jesus is the one pearl of great price? Or, is Eternal Life the one pearl of great price? Yes! To have Jesus Christ, that is to know Jesus Christ with saving knowledge, is to have eternal life.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent. (John 17:3)”
“And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in the Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (I John 5:11-12).”
“Jesus said, I am the way the truth and the life… (John 14:6)”
The pearl is Jesus Christ and eternal life in Him for life and truth come from him alone. No man has eternal life and does not have Jesus Christ. No man has Jesus Christ and does not have eternal life. To have the one is by definition to have the other for Jesus Christ is eternal life.
We now understand that this pearl is Jesus Christ and eternal life in Him. But we come to another question – what is it about Jesus Christ that would lead the merchant in the Kingdom of Heaven to sell all and be found with Christ?
Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Is Jesus your greatest treasure?” Or, “Do you consider Jesus your greatest treasure?” Usually the man who says he believes in Jesus Christ will say “yes”. And that is very good. But how often do we consider and meditate on the treasure that is Jesus Christ? Why is He the Christian’s greatest treasure? What is it about this Christ that He would be called in this parable the one pearl of great price? With the picture of the perfect pearl in mind – is not Jesus the greatest and most valuable treasure because of one word, his perfection?
Ben Stahl, Elder