Issue 713 – Purple Posies – April 13, 2022
Yesterday, Kathy and I took our first exploratory walk in Downes Bowl, Abbotsford. There are several kilometres of interlocking trails and a 55m drop in elevation from the surrounding landscape to the bowl bottom.
The bowl has a mix of old-growth forest, ferns, mosses and wetlands. In places, it reminded me of some of the sets I have seen from various Robin Hood movies over the years. I expect the trails will be busy in hot weather as the shade will keep the ambient air temperature lower than the area above the bowl.
As we walked, I noted several varieties of purplish colour flowers. Kathy and I debated the exact shades and if some might not be more blue or pink than purple. Thinking of the colour purple got me meditating on ancient royal robes.
Purple dye was one of, if not the, most expensive pigments to make. In the ancient near east, purple dye was made from an extract from the murex shellfish. The shades varied from reds to blues and some purple.
The high cost of the dye ensured that only the extremely wealthy could afford it, making it a colour well suited for regal, royal finery.
No doubt King Herod wore royal purple robes, at least some of the time, as did the other rulers of his day.
Ironically, the greatest king of all, the ruler of the universe, Jesus, wore no such robes. Humbly born to working-class parents, such things were not part of his earthly wardrobe. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords wore swaddling clothes when he was born and the garments of the ordinary working-class throughout his earthly life.
Jesus wore no crowns other than a crown of thorns driven into his head by mocking Roman soldiers. He wore a scarlet (or purple) robe for a short period forced on him by those same mocking soldiers. They made fun of Him without realizing the one who could save them was the butt of their jokes. How ironic!
The high priests of Israel wore ceremonial robes of deep blue or purple, setting them apart from the common folk. Yet, the true eternal High priest had none.
The King of Glory could have come and rightfully worn the most magnificent robes and jewelry ever created. When Jesus came as the suffering servant, He humbled Himself in every way.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
The most entitled one who ever existed humbled Himself to set the captives free and redeem the lost. Jesus set aside His glory for the love of the unloveable.
We need to remember His humility when we start to complain about our rights and privileges somehow being violated. The Lord we serve willing gave up His to accomplish His mission.
How much more should we be willing to give up ours?
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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