A Wedding For The Ages

It's the greatest wedding in history. All the faithful have gathered to attend. This wedding has been anticipated for thousands of years. The bride is adorned, "clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" (Rev. 19:8). The groom - a King - is marrying the bride He has loved with everything He has ... even His life (Eph 5:25). The bride is the church - the faithful who believe Christ is the Son of God, sent to die for their sins, who rose again. The betrothal took place the moment Christ hung on the cross and rose again. The wedding will take place when He returns to gather us all to Him. "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." (Rev. 19:7) It will be the wedding for the ages. All will rejoice in this marriage. "Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out. 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.'" (Rev. 19:7)

That's what today is all about ... knowing that we, the betrothed, have that beautiful marriage to look forward to. It was on this day nearly 2,000 years ago, that Christ got on one knee and proposed, asking, "Do you believe?" "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life."  Our response according to Paul in the book of Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." 

Jesus is Lord! He is risen! I do! I do believe!

It is the greatest "I do" you can ever say.

Ayla and Kayla (and now my sweet niece, Lindsey) have all said "yes" to their fiances. The "I do" will take place for all six of you within the next 17 months. What rejoicing will take place! So when you are standing there before one another, pledging to love "as long as you both shall live," know what gravity is placed on that vow. Because Christ has made the same vow. Your earthly marriage is truly a symbol of what the greatest marriage of all will be. So honor it. Cherish it. Delight in it. Work for it. Proclaim the beauty in it. Be faithful to it. Share the joy of it. Let what you do on your wedding day and throughout your marriage be an example of the bright and pure wedding yet to come of the Lamb and His bride.

As the lyrics of Holy (Wedding Day) by The City Harmonic say:

This is the story of the Son of God
Hanging on the cross for me
But it ends with a bride and groom
And a wedding by a glassy sea
O death where is your sting
Cause I'll be there singing
Holy Holy Holy
Is the Lord

This is the story of a bride in white
Waiting on her wedding day
Anticipation welling up inside
While the groom is crowned as king
O death where is your sting
Cause we'll be there singing
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord

Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy
Is the Lord Almighty
Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy Holy
Is the Lord Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Who was and is and is to come

Praise to the King of Kings! We adore You! Holy, Holy, Holy! Praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever! (Rev. 5:13) Καλή ημέρα του γάμου! (Happy Wedding Day - in Greek, the language of the book of Revelation and nearly all the New Testament). And Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!

Discussion: How important is the comparison of your wedding to that of Christ and the Church to you? Have you answered the question, "Do you believe?" giving yourself over to the Bridegroom?

Prayer: Glory to you Father God, who loves us so! How blessed we are to be so loved! Thank you for your mercy, patience, grace and perfect Son, Jesus Christ! We rejoice with all the angels in Heaven and proclaim the great mystery of faith, "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." We praise you in Jesus's name, Amen.