A Tale of Two Weddings

 

The title of this message is taken from the Charles Dickens' novel, "A Tale of Two Cities". That book begins with the well known sentence that says in part, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...". With that beginning, Dickens was describing the moral and spiritual conditions of the society at the time, which served as not only the background of his novel, but also as a driving force behind the events in the book. Those same conditions also describe the times in which we are living. His book dealt with the themes of resurrection, water, darkness, light and justice.

We will see those same themes play their part in our "Tale of Two Weddings".

This weekend, the world gathered to witness and watch what was called, "the wedding of the year". It was the royal wedding of Prince Harry, the son of a future king, and Meghan Markle, an American commoner of bi-racial background, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The theme of the wedding was "Love", and the cost of it was over $40 million.

The coming Marriage of the Lamb will be the wedding of all ages. It is a marriage, like Prince Harry's, created in love, rather than social, financial or political convenience. The cost of the Marriage of the Lamb cannot be measured in dollars. Its cost is no less than the priceless, matchless blood of the Son of God.

A most interesting fact is that this wedding occurred on the Feast of Pentecost, the last of the spring feasts of the LORD, which was fulfilled by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit fell, it appeared as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). This feast takes place fifty days after Passover, and includes a wave offering of two leavened loaves of bread, and an offering by fire (Lev. 23:15-22). It was on this feast that Israel also received the Torah (teaching) on Mt. Sinai ("thorny"), fifty days after their exodus from Egypt on Passover. The rabbis teach that when the Torah was delivered, it went out from the mountain, and over the congregation in palpable waves, and returned back to the mountain as flames of fire.
Pentecost is also about the LORD's instructions regarding the harvest (Lev. 23:22). Fields were to be harvested while leaving the edges unharvested for the poor (humble, lowly, afflicted) and strangers (temporary inhabitants, a newcomer lacking in inherited rights). Peter delivering his message on Pentecost, stirred the listeners to repentance and baptism (water). It led to the harvesting of more than 3,000 souls to salvation (Acts 2:36-41).

The Reverend Curry, an American Episcopal priest, who delivered the message at the royal wedding, spoke of the world-changing power of love, and the history-changing power of fire. He most assuredly had Pentecost in mind. Our heavenly Father gifted us His Son in love, and out of that love, also came the promise of the fire of the Holy Spirit:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved...but he that believeth not is condemned already...this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil..." excerpt Jn. 3:16-19

"...ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

                                                                                                                 Acts 2:38-39

Jesus instructed his disciples about the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the power of Its fire:

"And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."   Lk. 24:49

This power being given by the Holy Spirit was for the purpose of the harvesting of souls (v.47).

Many at the royal wedding this weekend appeared uncomfortable, or displeased, even mocking of the message that Bishop Michael Curry delivered. There is a powerful parallel in scripture in a parable that Jesus taught about a wedding of a king's son:

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come...they made light of it and went their ways...the remnant took his servants, and treated them spitefully, and slew them...when the king heard thereof, he was wroth...Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore...and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."   Mt. 22:2-9

The king's servants rounded up all they could find, both good and bad, and gathered them to the wedding. The only requirement for these new invitees was that they should be arrayed in the proper wedding garments. One man came without the proper garment. He had no answer to give as to why he was not wearing the proper garment, and was thrown out of the wedding. The place outside the wedding was a place of darkness, a place of bondage, weeping and pain. (v.11-14).

As in Jesus' parable, those invited to the royal wedding this weekend also had instructions of what was considered to be proper attire for those attending.
The royal bride had also carefully prepared her beautiful gown that not only adhered to royal expectations, but also included meaningful symbols of the kingdom into which she was marrying. The Bride of Christ must also be arrayed in her fine, clean, white linen, which is the garment of her righteousness. Markle's racial and national heritage is also reflected in the inclusive nature of the kingdom of God: out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9).

The royal wedding that the world watched this weekend was not only a showcase of grandeur, but a spiritual sign. As we can see, so many things about it serve as a reminder that another royal marriage is about to take place. The marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).

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To Receive Christ as your Savior, to receive the promised Holy Spirit, and to be ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, begins with a simple, sincere prayer from your heart:
From Romans 10-

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.