"More Perfect"

"More Perfect"

       

    Ok, ok, I'm going to give to you as a gift of affection and appreciation the recipe for the most delicious cookie in the world!  They're Brown Sugar Cookies, and my recipe is adapted from the America's Test Kitchen version of the same.  

    I share this with you because in the secret that makes the cookies so amazing, a beautiful typology of the Lord Jesus Christ shines forth.  That secret is not the brown sugar, the dark brown sugar, necessary as it is, but rather browned butter.  Are you familiar with this version of God's gift to us?  If not, you must become knowledgable and skilled in making a perfect product - raw butter - even more perfect.  That sounds contradictory, I know, but trust me.  Browned butter results from applying heat to raw butter  in a pan until the butter solids become dark and take on a nutty aroma and flavor.  If you're not familiar with the process, check the Internet for any number of good videos that will help.  The technique is challenging because like caramel (another recipe I've passed along to you), one must be careful to neither overcook or undercook the butter.  It takes practice, but you'll get it if you brown enough butter (and make enough cookies!).

    Again, this reminds me of our Lord Jesus.  As God the Son, He was pristinely perfect in His Divine pre-Incarnation.  For our sakes, He took on humanity without relinquishing His divinity, becoming "God… manifest in the flesh" (I Timothy 3:16).  In this sense, He could "be made perfect" in His growth as a human being (Hebrews 5:9).  "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52).  Of course, we approach great mystery in this consideration. How can Perfection  become more perfect?   Regarding the God who became man, and the man who remains God, we must think in terms of what the Bible states even as it greatly challenges our understanding.  Most importantly, the sacrificial condescension of the Lord Jesus for our sakes must fill our hearts with loving devotion and grateful awe.  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phillippians 2:5-7).

    I would never have thought that raw butter, as perfect a food as exists, could become better.  Actually, I do not mean to suggest that browned butter supersedes the mother version in its taste and texture.  For its use in the cookie recipe, however, it is a must (there is a also bit of raw butter in the mix).  Of far more importance, how could the perfect Son of God become something greater than He is?  The answer lies in our redemption from sin.  According to God's own justice and righteousness, He could not save us by mere fiat.  He had to act, to identify, to live life as a man, and to die under the judgment fires of His Father's wrath against sin.  Thereby He became for us what He could not be apart from the Incarnation.  He became our crucified, risen, and ascended Savior.  No heat for Him, no hope for us.  The Perfect took on even greater perfection by becoming the sinless, human Son of God, and the Savior of all who believe…

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

(Hebrews 2:14-15)

Here's the recipe:

Heat oven to 350.  If you have a convection feature in your oven, use it.  If not, no problem.

14 Tablespoons Butter

14 oz. Dark Brown Sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

10 and 1/2 ounces all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 whole egg

1 egg yolk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Brown 10 tablespoons butter on medium high heat in pan until butter solids are quite dark (not black, but very dark brown. should take between 5-10 minutes); combine in bowl with remaining 4 tablespoons of raw butter; set aside and let cool 5-8 minutes.

Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda

Combine 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar in bowl.

Combine remainder of dark brown sugar and salt in separate bowl.

Combine dark brown sugar and salt with cooled butter; mix well.  Add vanilla, egg, and egg yolk, Mix well.

Add flour, mix well.

Roll dough into 24 balls; dip in brown and white sugar mixture (don't forget this!).  Place on cookie sheet, preferably lined with parchment paper (you can use aluminum foil, dull side up).

Cook for 7 minutes; Turn pan, cook for 7 more minutes.  Remove from oven, let cool in pan for 1 minute, then remove to wire rack or plate.

Take bite of cookie.  Fall to your knees in awe.

Weekly Memory Verse

    Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30).