Let us rejoice and exalt and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

Yesterday we talked a little bit about Matthew 21:12. In this verse we find Jesus in the temple, angry because those who love money are cheating and preventing those who love God from being obedient to Him. So, He tips over their tables and demands that they leave the temple.

I’d like to read a little further into Matthew today, in chapters 21 & 22, and I am going to paraphrase a little. After Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple, He then healed the blind and the lame (verse 14). And, children recognized and called out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (verse 15).

Hosanna is interpreted “please save us” or “Savior”. This is a picture of the faith of a child. These children had heard the people, during Jesus triumphal entry, call out to Him “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (verse 21:9) and they recognized and believed that He was the Savior. They knew Him to be that same “son of David” that was spoken of in Samuel 7:12-13. “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13.

But, the end of verse 15 tells us that “chief priests and the scribes” were not happy that these children were calling Jesus their Savior.

The next day, Jesus would enter the temple again. The chief priests and elders of the people would challenge His authority. He would tell them a number of parables. He would tell them the Parable of the Two Sons ( Matthew 21:28-32), the Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) and the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14). These Parables were all designed to paint a word picture for these “religious” men, and for us. They were a means by which Jesus was showing them (and us) the magnitude of our rebellion, their need for a Savior and that He was that Savior.

In the Parable of the Wedding Feast we are told that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a King who wants to celebrate His Son’s wedding, by throwing a great wedding feast.

The Jewish wedding feast, at this time, is said to have been one of the most joyous occasions celebrated and it was so extravagant that it would sometimes last up to a week.

The King in our Parable has invited a great number of guests but, unbelievably, they refuse to attend. When it was time for the banquet, he sends out his servants as messengers with invitations for the people to attend the banquet, explaining that it was now time.

The King, their highest authority figure, had invited them to a special and extravagant family celebration and they said, “no thanks”. Now, at this point the King could have had them seized and dragged to the event (or to prison for that matter). But, He doesn’t.

Instead, The King sends out another group of servants as messengers with an invitation. Some of theses servants were ignored, some were treated poorly, and some were even killed by the same people that the King was trying to show kindness to.

The King then, after inviting them three times, being ignored/rejected and having his own servants murdered, destroys their city because death is the consequence for the murders that they committed.

Finally, the King asks his servants to go out and invite anyone they find in the street, both good and bad. And, those who accept His invitation, are allowed to join Him and His Son for the most incredible celebration they have ever known.

This is such a great picture of God’s offer of salvation and of those who will be at the wedding supper of the lamb in Heaven.

God sends messengers and invites everyone. Some of His messengers are rejected, some ignored, some treated poorly and others are even killed. Only those who accept His invitation, will be at the wedding feast; that glorious wedding feast that will be celebrated when Jesus and His Church are finally united.

He desires that all would come but, sadly, (like the people in this parable) not everyone will accept.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have secured our seat at the table of the great feast. We secured it when we gave control of our lives over to Jesus and asked Him for forgiveness. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.

And now, we have become messengers carrying an invitation. Some of us will be rejected as Jesus was rejected. “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 NIV. Some will be treated poorly. “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” John 15:20. And some will even be killed (For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Matthew 24:7-9).

But the sufferings of this life are but for a moment (For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 2 Corinthians 4:17), compared to eternity. And, great is our reward. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12.

If we are followers of Jesus Christ, He is calling us to be a testimony to Him and to be messengers with an invitation.

Jesus died, that we might live. “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15. Should we not be sharing that message with everyone we know?

I pray that today we would live out our call as messengers with an invitation. And, that we would tell everyone that we get an opportunity with, about the saving grace of God that can only be found in Jesus. I pray that we would reflect on all that He has done for us and that this gratitude would well up within us, bursting forth in every interaction we have.

Take His message into the world, He is sending us, in the same way that God sent Him. “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:18. The world needs to hear… let’s tell them!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, consider me a messenger with an invitation. God is inviting you to the most wonderful relationship you will ever know. He is inviting you to the freedom obtained only through repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ. And, He is inviting you to an eternal relationship with Him in Heaven. Please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God has a message He wants to send to the world, through you.

Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you.

Luv Ya!