Depiction of the Phoenix
The Sermon on the Phoenix
Christian Origin
The Sermon on the Phoenix
Christian Origin
“Good after noon everyone,” started Pastor White as he rested his hands on either side of the podium, “I will be continuing my series on creatures of the Ancient World and their correlation to Christ with the Legend of the Phoenix.
“The Phoenix is unique and unparalleled by any other creature. It gets its name from its purplish-red color, and lives exactly 500 years. When it sees it has grown old, though there is no one to tell it this time, it is by instinct that it knows, it begins to prepare for its own death. It creates a coffin for itself out of frankincense and myrrh. On the very day of the end of its 500 years, the bird, turning its body toward the rays of the sun and flapping its wings, sets itself on fire and burns itself up. On the ninth day after its death, from the liquid of its body, a worm emerges, and, as the worm gradually matures, the Phoenix eventually assumes its old form to begin its next 500 years.”
"Now wait one darn minute, Pastor!” interrupted the local hot-head, Jeb (short for Jebediah), on cue. “What in tarn hill does this have to do with Church? I mean ain’t no bird gonna live no five-hunard years! Now d’ya really ‘spect us'ta believe this?”
“I am glad you asked Brother Jeb.” Pastor White always depended on the weekly interruptions, and learned quickly to use them to his advantage. “I was just getting to that. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhibits the character of this bird, who says, ‘I have the power to lay down my life and take it up again.’ This is the same Christ who filled his wings with the odors of the Old and New Testaments, and who offered himself on the altar of the cross to suffer for us and on the third day rise again. The symbolism of the bird then teaches us to believe in the resurrection of Christ.
“The Phoenix, without anyone to tell it to do it or without any assurance of his resurrection, makes its coffin, fills it with spices, gets inside and dies. How much more should you put off your old coffin, and take on your new coffin of faith, Christ, the sheath, which protects and hides you in your day of trouble. This is the assurance that Paul had when he said, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith, the crown of justice is restored to me.’ Paul then, like the Phoenix, entered into his coffin and filled it with the smells of the martyr.
“I will leave you with this: Have you taken on your coffin of faith? Have you put on the sheath of Christ?”