How often do we think of the son and the bride in the parable of the wedding banquet? How disappointing to have the guests not show up! Here is the paradox: the guests are the bride! Hence, this is not merely the guests not showing up, but the bride herself--for the wedding is of Christ and his bride, the church.
One would never run a wedding like this--invite the chosen who refuse, or worse, kill the servants, thereby launching a military strike; have a bride that is, in a sense, an unknown no-show; invite just anyone to sit in the honored place--this is a bridezilla disaster!
Yet God, the King does not set up his banquet in earthly terms. He is not looking for a fairytale wedding with bridesmaids in pale colors and perfectly coiffed hair or Canon in D played by a string quartet among white fragrant flowers. No, this is a celebration with His beloved ones; for this is no mere wedding reception but an everlasting banquet celebrating the consummation of His Son's redemption of His guests, His bride, His beloved for eternity!
One would never run a wedding like this--invite the chosen who refuse, or worse, kill the servants, thereby launching a military strike; have a bride that is, in a sense, an unknown no-show; invite just anyone to sit in the honored place--this is a bridezilla disaster!
Yet God, the King does not set up his banquet in earthly terms. He is not looking for a fairytale wedding with bridesmaids in pale colors and perfectly coiffed hair or Canon in D played by a string quartet among white fragrant flowers. No, this is a celebration with His beloved ones; for this is no mere wedding reception but an everlasting banquet celebrating the consummation of His Son's redemption of His guests, His bride, His beloved for eternity!
No comments:
Post a Comment