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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.1
The entirety of Christian faith is barreling into one day—the wedding day. There is a feast that God has prepared for His Son, full of aged wine and rich food. It is the event of all the ages: when death is swallowed up forever.2 The cross set the table for this feast.
The Church is in the window between the engagement and the wedding. Through salvation in Jesus, we receive a down payment of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t until Jesus returns and makes all things right that both the Bride and the Bridegroom will have their full inheritance. This is a day appointed by God.
THE AGE OF SUFFERING
Salvation by confessing that Jesus is Lord (the Lamb who took on our sins on the cross, died, and rose again) does not end our pain and suffering. Salvation means we no longer receive our rightful sentence to hell. We are washed clean of our sins by the blood of Jesus, but we still live in a sinful world. There are many valleys we walk through that we did nothing to deserve. They are circumstances that Jesus weeps over with us.
We aren’t guaranteed immunity from the consequences of sin. We are still caught in its wake—from ourselves and others. There is a reason John the Baptist instructed the people to “bear fruits in keeping with repentance”.3 It is not enough to “pray the prayer” of salvation once and enjoy our new life. There is a lifestyle required to bear the fruit of salvation. There are choices we have to make to be ready for wedding day.
Peter instructed us (the Church) to arm ourselves with the mindset that we will suffer. Suffering is how we are made into the image of Jesus. It is how we look like Him and cease from sin.4
THE AGE OF LONGING
This is the only time we will experience hunger, thirst, pain, suffering, and heartbreak. Jesus came to fulfill our physical needs and more importantly to fulfill the depravity in our souls. The root of all brokenness is our hopeless condition apart from Christ. Sin is a cheap remedy to distract ourselves from reality but only prolongs greater suffering. We are caught in a perpetual state of trying to heal a wound that won’t stop bleeding. We need a Savior.
The cross is the only bridge to eternal life. It is the only way to come to the wedding feast. We have to enter in through the cross because we need clean garments. All are invited, but only those with proper attire can remain. An all-holy God cannot dwell with sinful creation. We must be born-again to partake of the tree of life. The Bride must make herself ready.5
OUR JOB
We have a responsibility. It is to not only proclaim the Gospel but also make disciples with an understanding of proper wedding attire. Many will be speechless when they make it to the wedding hall but are forced to leave because they aren’t ready.6 We are entrusted with the ministry to give out wedding invitations (proclaim the Gospel) and educate the proper attire (bring believers into maturity).
John the Baptist had an understanding of this ministry. He knew His role in preparing for the great wedding at the end of the age:
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.7
John made a plan to decrease. He considered Himself a “best man” at Jesus’ wedding. He wanted to do everything He could to give the Bridegroom what He desired.
The Church will be clothed with splendor. She will be presented to Jesus without spot or wrinkle.8 The two will finally become one. This fulfills Jesus’ greatest desire that He prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our oneness with Christ is the ultimate testimony to the world that Jesus came and is coming again.9
I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.10
The end is this: that the love God has for Jesus would be the vine to sustain us all our days. Jesus prayed that we would be gripped with the love of a Bridegroom. He is undone with jealousy for His Bride. It is a love that stops at nothing, a vehement flame that no water can quench.11 It is a love that no Antichrist can come between. This love will drive the Bride to her knees—overcome—by God Himself.
HOSANNA
Soon we will sit at that table with rich food and mature wine. We will look into the eyes of the Son of God and eat the Passover meal after the wedding bells ring. For all of eternity, we will hear the song resounding, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”12 It is on that day the kingdom of God will finally be restored to Israel.13 This is our great hope: It is finished.
It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”14