A Genuine Invitation

Most of us enjoy weddings, but if you get an email with the subject line, “You are cordially invited to celebrate our wedding,” beware. It could be a fake invitation from hackers trying to install malware on your computer. Always be wary of opening attachments and clicking links in emails, especially if you’re being invited to a wedding of which you were not already aware.

But today’s text is a trustworthy invitation. There are many such invitations in the Bible. For instance, Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast ends with, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Even Pharisees knew of this coming feast. “Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him [Jesus] heard these things, he said to Him, ‘Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God’” (Luke 14:15).

A number of different metaphors are used to describe this event. For example, while the “bride” of Christ has been described as the church (Ephesians 5:25), the New Jerusalem has also been described as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Revelation 21:9). So also, God’s people have been depicted as “guests” to this feast (Matthew 22:1–10). Each illustration is bringing out a specific spiritual truth.

The Passover meal was meant to look back at Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, while the communion service celebrated by Jesus with His disciples partly looked forward to the final deliverance from sin. In the context of this meal, Jesus spoke of the marriage supper of the Lamb: “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15, 16).

The angel tells John of this invitation, “These are the true sayings of God.” This is not spam. There will be a marriage supper of the Lamb. Only those who have put on the wedding garment, the righteousness of Christ, will be permitted to attend (Matthew 22:11–13). Will you be there?

Thank you, Lord, for calling me to the wedding supper of the Lamb. I want to be ready now for this joyous celebration of being united with You forever.

For Further Study: Matthew 25:34; Luke 12:36, 37; 2 Corinthians 11:2

Key Bible Texts

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9 KJV)