RPG Adults
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: ITS MEANING
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Matthew 13:45-46
Memory verse: Matthew 13:45
“…the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a merchant man,
seeking goodly pearls…”
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: ITS MEANING
Cultured pearls did not exist until AD 1893. Kokichi Mikimoto is credited with introducing cultured pearls. By 1935, 350 pearl farms in Japan produced more than 10 million cultured pearls a year. Pearl prices plummeted.
However, natural pearls have become more desirable than ever before. Some of these beautiful natural pearl necklaces sell for millions today. Natural pearls are found in oysters in open seas.
Pearls are formed when an irritant or particle gets inside the oyster. This natural process of an irritant entering a tightly closed oyster is rare. The pearl farmer plants an irritant inside the mussels in his farm. Once the irritant is inside, the defence mechanism within the oyster or mussel kicks in. A layer of nacre (lustre white substance) envelopes the irritant. Thousands of layers of nacre wrap around the irritant and a pearl is formed. Akoya pearls take between 10 to 14 months to grow to 9 mm. Tahitian pearls take between 18 to 24 months to grow to 10 mm. Australian South Sea pearls take 2 to 3 years to grow to 15 mm. Mussels are used for cultured pearls. In the case of natural pearls, pearl hunters risk their lives by diving up to 100 feet to find goodly pearls. They do not know whether an irritant has managed to get inside one of these oysters. If so, how long is the process for pearl formation so that the pearl will be shiny white and of a good size when opened? It is said that pearl hunters may find only 3 or 4 goodly pearls in one tonne (1,000 kg) of oysters!
The merchant man in this parable was a pearl expert. He already possessed many goodly pearls. However, he knew in his heart there was a pearl of great price out there. He would not stop seeking until he found it. Once he found it, he would sell all he had to purchase it.
Finally, he found it! So, he sold everything and bought it! The pearl of great price is the Gospel of Christ. He “sold” (i.e. surrendered) everything to “buy” it (i.e. receive Christ)!
THOUGHT: Have I surrendered my all to receive Christ?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, save me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.