THE LATEST FROM TIM SPYKSTRA:
To The Place Where I Belong
A 31-Day Devotional on John 13-17
THE LATEST FROM TIM SPYKSTRA:
To The Place Where I Belong
A 31-Day Devotional on John 13-17
The Wedding Supper of the Lamb
Be blessed by the last of 3 blogs written by Ocean Board member Danell Czarnecki
The Bride and Groom are at last ready to live together as husband and wife. The promise was made; the betrothal is sealed; the bride has been captured; the veil has been lifted; and the wedding feast is coming. The wedding feast lasted for seven days, imagine the party!!
And the angel said to me, “write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Rev. 19:9
As the final preparations have been made; the wedding celebration begins. The bride and groom enter the huppah together, a canopy built to receive the new bride, symbolic of the beginning of a new household. Huppah, in Hebrew means covering or protection.
At this final step of sealing their union, a cup of wine is shared by both the bride and groom, from the same glass, called the cup of Redemption. After sharing the cup, a “breaking of the new glass” took place, representing the breaking away of the old, entering into something new.
In pondering the “breaking of the glass” tradition, I can’t help but be reminded of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the breaking of Jesus on the cross, blending sorrow with hope, as the final act before the celebration. It also serves as a reminder that each of us, and the world, desperately need repair, even in times of great joy.
Jesus came as our Kinsman Redeemer to bring a new covenant, breaking away of the old and entering into something new. And we are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb upon His return.
Following the pattern of an ancient Jewish wedding, Jesus invites His disciples to a banquet in an upper room the night before he’s crucified. (Passover) He initiates a betrothal ceremony and takes a cup of wine and says, this is my blood, a new covenant.
There are 4 cups of wine at the Passover; the cup of Sanctification (I will bring you), the cup of Deliverance (I will free you), the cup of Redemption (I will redeem you) and the cup of Praise (I will take you). It seems Jesus did not drink from the final cup at the Last Supper; but He raised the cup and said “..I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom” (Mt. 26-29)
I think Jesus was alluding to the day when He returns and the last cup of wine is poured, the Cup of Praise, and we all partake at the wedding feast after the shofar has sounded and the bride has been captured.
John 14:1-3, Jesus says,
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I wold have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus is waiting to share the Cup of Praise until the time when He returns for His Bride and takes us to the marriage supper of the Lamb. What a glorious celebration that will be!
You have been chosen by the Father as worthy (1 Peter 2:9). The world’s love will fail you, hurt you and disappoint you; but the perfect love of your Heavenly Father and Jesus, your groom, will never fail; never disappoint and never leave you alone.
Your Mohar has been paid with the blood of Jesus Christ.
You have a Ketubah, the promises in His word are for you!
Jesus has offered you the Cup of Betrothal. 1 Cor. 11:24, “This is my body given for you..”
You’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit as Jesus returns to His Father’s house to prepare a place for you.
And Jesus has promised to return for you.
In anticipation of your Groom’s return; as you look forward to the Cup of Praise awaiting you in your everlasting Home; Jesus ask you, are your preparing yourself; are your garments ready? Is your lamp lit and your oil jars full? trust that I am coming for you…
Because no one know the time except the Father. May He find us ready…
