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The Pearl of Great Price

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 47.

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The Pearl of Great Price

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE
“Again, 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.” Matt. 13: 45, 46.
CHRIST'S love for the church will be celebrated in song by the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5: 9, 10.
The “pearl of great price” represents the human family, and Christ is the purchaser. Eph. 5: 25 declares that Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it;” and 1 Cor. 6: 20 says, “Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's;” while in Mal. 3: 17 we read, “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” The love of Christ is an everlasting love. He has not only loved his people well enough to die for them, but he has ordered and is ordering the events of human history with a view to the church's perfection. The bride of the Lamb will come to the marriage supper through much tribulation; but when presented there, she will be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. The redeemed will be gathered from the east, west, north, and south; from all generations; from all tribes, kindreds, and tongues; from all ranks, stations, and ages; from among the living, and from among the dead.
The mission of the Saviour was to “seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19: 10. What was the purchase price? “For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5: 8. Christ secured the treasure by the sacrifice of himself; and when his people are given to him, “he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” The great mission of the gospel is to take out of the nations a people for Jehovah. Jehovah pitied man, and has made ample provision for his redemption.
It was this wonderful display of God's love to rebellious, sinful man that called forth David's exclamation in Ps. 8: 3, 4; “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” John, lost in wonder, exclaimed: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3: 1, 2.
The sacrifice Christ made in becoming man's Redeemer may in a measure be understood when contrasting his original glorious condition, surrounded by sinless beings, and his humiliation. Christ allowed himself to be made “lower than the angels.” The Lord of angels received their adoring homage, and yet, passing by the nature of angels, he stooped to an inferior relation. No wonder that the angels are amazed. “Which things the angels desire to look into.” His temporary inferiority to angels allied him to men. He was “the man Christ Jesus,” born of a poor virgin, who, by lineage, was connected with exhausted earthly royalty, so that his birthplace was not a palace, but a stable. He was a despised Nazarene. This incarnate humiliation was a mystery. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3: 16.
Although Christ was “the brightness of his [the Father's] glory, and the express image of his person,” yet to men he was a root out of dry ground, without any form or comeliness. He was a servant of men. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20: 28. Who can read his betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and burial without being deeply impressed with the sacrifice he made in securing what he considered the pearl of great price. It was to him more than all else. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12: 2. This sacrifice was prefigured by type and shadow through all the preceding centuries, and was the theme of inspired song and prophetic announcement.
Divinity, thus allied to humanity, saves and redeems man. Through everlasting ages, the inspiring rapturous theme of the ransomed will be, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 1: 5, 6.
Moline, Ill.