Marriage Banquet of the Lamb

Here are the notes from the message this morning (22 April 07)…

Meals With Jesus: Consummation

Background…
I. …meal as metaphor
a. A feast is described as the setting for the culmination of God’s promises to Israel.
Isaiah 25:6 provides the benchmark image of this banquet:
“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines” (NIV).

b. Jesus invited guests to meals as a sign.
"a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Mt 11:19 NRSV)

c. Jesus predicts a time when all peoples will gather to celebrate at such a meal.
…“people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God” (Lk 13:29 NRSV; cf. Mt 8:11–12).

d. Jesus used his last meal to predict later feasting in the Kingdom.
“I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Mt 26:29 NRSV; Mk 14:25; Lk 22:18; cf. Lk 22:28–30).

II. …meal as metaphor of Messianic fulfillment.
a. The Old Testament often describes the coming peace of the world as a banquet.
Anchor Bible Dictionary, Dennis Smith
…Isa 54:5–55:5, where the theme of a divine marriage (54:5) is combined with a joyful feast which is characterized by abundance of food (55:1–2), vindication for the righteous (54:6–17), and the pilgrimage of the nations (55:5).

b. The New Testament restates this theme, with Jesus in the role of the Messiah who invites all to the meal.
i. In his food miracles, all are fed, even the poor who are not prepared to feed themselves.
(Matt 14:13–21 = Mark 6:32–44 = Luke 9:10–17 = John 6:1–15; Matt 15:32–39 = Mark 8:1–10; John 2:1–11)

ii. In his prophetic role, Jesus predicted that the nations would gather for a great meal of celebration.
“I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven, (Matt 8:11–12)

iii. In his teaching, Jesus related parables that contained meals.
(Matt 9:15 = Mark 2:19–20 = Luke 5:34–35; Matt 22:1–14; 25:1–13; Luke 14:7–11; cf. John 3:29)

III. …marriage as metaphor
a. Marriage is used as a metaphor for the intimate relationship between God and his people.
Isa 54:5
For your husband is the one who made you– the Lord who commands armies is his name. He is your protector, the Holy One of Israel. He is called “God of the entire earth.”

Jer. 2:2 “Go and declare in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem: ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have fond memories of you, how devoted you were to me in your early years. I remember how you loved me like a new bride; you followed me through the wilderness, through a land that had never been planted.

b. Jesus used wedding celebrations to preview his own intentions.
The wedding at Cana in John 2
c. John described Jesus as the bridegroom.
John 3:29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete.
d. Paul used the same figure.
2Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Context of this particular meal…The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the end of the story.

Text…
Rev. 19:1-2 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!”
Rev. 19:3-4Then a second time the crowd shouted, “Hallelujah!” The smoke rises from her forever and ever. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”
Rev. 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!”
Rev. 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-powerful, reigns!
Rev. 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Rev. 19:8 She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen” (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).
Rev. 19:9 Then the angel said to me, “Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.”


CONCLUSION AND GOSPEL OFFER

PRINCIPLES:
1. We eat meals daily, because we require food; we are sensitive to this figure.
2. We eat meals together, because we long for satisfying friendship; an end to enmity.
3. We celebrate the Lord’s Table together, as a sign of hope for eternal life and the coming of the Kingdom.

APPLICATIONS
1. We invite all to share this meal with us, that all who anticipate the Kingdom might enjoy fellowship with us!
2. We invite others to share meals in our homes as an offer and a sign of friendship.
3. We include those friends in our common life; such is the mark of the believer, the Christfollower.