In Ben’s song Shandy Bass he recounts a childhood escapade.
He references buying a “Chelsea bun” at the Cherryvalley Bakery with the change from his big brother’s suspect purchase of Shandy Bass at Harry’s. Sad to say Harry’s and the Cherryvalley Bakery are long gone. The Chelsea bun recipe however lives on.
Today I spotted one in S.D. Bells, another ancient local institution that continues to survive and is frequented by the older generation (of which I must admit we are almost a part!) My sister in law said the wry Belfast humor has named the packed house of white, grey and bald heads, “God’s Waiting Room” As we were leaving, I noticed…..a Chelsea bun ……the last one in the display cabinet. Sad to see it so lonesome, I couldn’t resist the “Ben” temptation and decided to purchase the lonely soul and take it home with me.
Shortly after, companion coffee ready, I sank my teeth into that childhood delight. As I began to savor the flavor, it dawned on me, “This is made from the same gooey, spicy, fruity bread dough as the that other local seasonal favorite……the Hot Cross bun!”
As I gazed at the Chelsea glaze it dawned on me the prophetic nature of these two buns!
The hot cross bun has atop it an iced cross. This depicts the first work of Christ on the cross. This was a dying work foreshadowed in the sacrifice of the two doves for the cleansing from leprosy (representing mortality) where the first bird was killed. (Lev.14)
The second bird was then dipped into the blood of the first and then released live into the world.
This depicts the Rider on the White Horse whose robe has been dipped in blood of Revelation 19.
This is the resurrected Christ leading forth the armies of heaven as they participate with him in a second “living” work on earth……a work which we are now entering into.
The end result of this second work is represented in the Chelsea Bun where the icing covers the whole bun…….For the glory of the Lord will cover the whole earth as the waters cover the sea.(Num.14:21, Hab.4:14)
So I will never listen to Ben’s song again or sink my teeth into a Chelsea Bun without a cry of delight and praise that goes far beyond the sensual pleasure either of theses “shadows” might afford as we anticipate the substance of the work of Christ that lies ahead on the basis of the work of Christ that has already been 😀