Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior
LSB #640
v. 3: Thou, like the pelican to feed her brood,
Didst pierce Thyself to give us living food;
Thy blood, O Lord, one drop has power to win
Forgiveness for our world and all its sin.
The symbolism of the mother pelican feeding her little baby pelicans is rooted in an ancient legend. The legend was that in time of famine, the mother pelican wounded herself, striking her breast with her beak to feed her young with her blood to prevent starvation. No wonder, then, that the pelican became a symbol of Jesus, who really did pour out His blood to give us life. Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for the life of the world is now available to us in the Lord’s Supper to keep us from spiritual starvation. Through His Word, Jesus gives His Body and Blood to us to eat and drink. This is the food we need above all other food. For this is food that sustains us not just for this life, but for eternal life. And as the hymnwriters pens, there is great power in each and every drop of Jesus’ blood because this is not just the blood of a man, but the blood of God shed for us! Therefore it gives forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to us. Thank you Jesus for such a wonderful, wondrous gift!
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