John 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Here we are at the end of the year, just three more days until New Year’s Eve. I have been thinking about how to end this year’s blogs, about endings, about seeing the end coming. Then it occurred to me that Christ saw the end coming. But what end?

We live on this side of the Cross and our expected end is much different than this expected end which Jesus Christ was speaking about. He knew, with the certainty that only God could have, what would come in this new era, after His resurrection.

As we approach the end of this year we look forward to this next year being just like this one. The dates change but because we are in Christ nothing of any real significance is going to change for us. The biggest change has already happened for those of us in Christ.

What came to an end during those three days?

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

The light of the world was no longer in the world. Those who walked with Jesus were cast into a darkness that the rest of the world could not imagine. Those three days were the darkest in history and only a few knew it to be true.

Up until these few found Jesus life had been a terrible struggle. Some were waiting on the Messiah, some were not. Some only sought an end to the struggles of life and the Romans. In Christ they found a way that was easy to see God and have a real deep and personal relationship with Him. It was effortless.

Then He was gone and came those three dark days.

Matthew 13:45-46 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.

Let us break down this similitude into its component parts to better understand Kingdom life.

First let us look at merchant. Strongs G1713 emporos, denotes a person on a journey (a sojourner), a passenger on a vessel (on board) () added by me, not in BLB.org

This sojourner is seeking, looking for, has not found yet, on board, these pearls.

Job 28:18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

He is searching for that one pearl of wisdom that is the gate to enter into the Kingdom.

Now he has found that one pearl. Does he take it? No, that would be stealing. He wants to possess it for himself, a personal possession. So he sells all that he has to have this pearl gate into the Kingdom. He is willing to forsake everything for this precious pearl. What does that sound like, as we are talking similitudes?

Genesis 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

In the marriage vows we forsake all to obtain a wife, a bride, our betrothed.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The pearl of wisdom to enter into the Kingdom is to forsake everything to win Christ as your betrothed. To join with Him in this life and forsaking everything to be with Him.

Do you love Him with all of your heart?