Invitation

I've been to the church over in Millcreek four times since moving up here. So its not like I'm a regular goer of that particular church. But let me tell you, Todd Cyphers is one super speaker. Each time I've been there, he's been insightful yet challenging and backs everything with loads of scripture references, which I love. I remember a preacher saying once that there was nothing better than the sound of a whole church turning the pages of the Bible to find a verse. I agree.

This week, Todd started things off with Revelation 19, which depicts what I would say is one of the greatest moments in the history of mankind, the marriage supper.

I've got to honest, whenever I read about Christ as the groom and the church as the bride, I didn't quite get it. I mean, I understood the love each have for each other and that someday we will be joined, but when I think of bride and groom, I'm thinking man...woman...yeah. Just not quite getting the whole symbolic picture. That is, until today.

Todd explained the way marriages occurred in biblical times. Forget everything you know about today's wedding ceremonies. The engagement, the rehearsal dinner, the rings, all that. Back then, it was the father choosing the bride for the groom (God chooses the church for Jesus). The groom would generally go away for a while, build a new house or buy a house and get it ready for the bride("In My Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you," John 14:2). And then, no one would know exactly the wedding date. I guess there was no need to put a deposit on a reception building. Instead, the groom and his friends would show up at the bride's house, unannounced and basically say, "it's time to go." She would have only enough time to pack her things. Sound familiar ("For as the lighting comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be," Matthew 24:27 and "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming," Matthew 24:42)?

Once the groom picked up the bride, that would kick off a five day celebration. Wow, five days! What a party. I also like that Rev. 19:7-8 says that fine linen was given to the "bride," because fine linen was for the righteous acts of the saints. That means good stuff for the church. And also, back then, the groom was the center of attention, not the bride.

Once it was explained like that, I finally understood the marriage of Christ and the church. It's not a literal marriage where we run off on a honeymoon to the Caribbean. It's all about showing how much God loves us. Pastor Jim at Prince Street used to say that God was head over heels in love with us. He chose us. He didn't get stuck with us. No, from the moment He formed man from the dust, He knew there would be a marriage supper. And the it's you and me that He has picked to be with Him at that party and to be with Him forever.

It's amazing how much more sense things make when I read scripture with contextual understanding. It also amazes me how Jesus spoke to the people in terms that they understood. That's why he used parables. And this marriage supper, it was the greatest celebration of them all. It would be difficult to describe the Revelation marriage supper to the people, so I guess He picked the biggest and best and related it to that.

So, knowing that God has already chosen us means that we already already have our invitations and Jesus sent in the RSVP for us. I know it would really disappoint Him if we were a no show. As the Claaah-sic Christian rock band White Heart once sang..."It's come one, come all but unlike most, you can't crash this party 'cause you've got to know the host!"