Jesus the Bridegroom

The Bridegroom Is with Them

☐

In Jesus' story, all ten maidens were waiting for the bridegroom. Long before He told that story, Jesus had already used the word bridegroom for Himself.

A question about fasting. One day some people saw that the followers of John the Baptist and of the Pharisees were fasting, but Jesus' disciples were not. To fast is to go without food for a time, often to pray. The people asked Jesus why (Mark 2:18).

A wedding is no time to be sad. Jesus answered, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast” (Mark 2:19). Nobody goes hungry at a wedding feast. It is a time to celebrate.

Jesus meant Himself. Jesus was the Bridegroom, and His disciples were His friends. Being with Jesus was like being at a wedding. It was full of joy.

God's love for His people. Long before, God had described His love for His people like a groom's love for his bride. Through Hosea, God promised to make His people His own forever, in faithfulness and love (Hosea 2:19-20).

John was glad. John the Baptist called himself “the friend of the bridegroom,” who “rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice” (John 3:29). John was happy to point people to Jesus.

Taken away. Then Jesus said something serious: “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days” (Mark 2:20). Jesus knew that He would be taken away to the cross.

Why He was taken. We have all sinned, and sin keeps us far from God. Jesus, who never sinned, let Himself be taken away. He died on the cross for our sins.

Sad, then glad. When Jesus died, His friends were very sad. But on the third day He rose again! Later He went back to heaven, and He promised to come back.

Waiting for Him. Now His people wait for their Bridegroom, like the maidens in the story. While we wait, we pray, we read His Word and we stay close to Him.

What to do. Being with Jesus is meant to bring joy. If you have never trusted Him, you can do it today. Then talk to Him the way you would talk to your best friend, and thank Him for His love.

The parable of the ten maidens is built around a bridegroom. Jesus had used that word for Himself long before.

Nymphios. The Greek word for bridegroom is nymphios (say: noom-FEE-os). It is the word in Matthew 25:1 and the word Jesus chose when He was asked about fasting.

The question (Mark 2:18). The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. People asked why Jesus' disciples were not. Fasting was a sign of seeking God, and often of mourning.

The answer (Mark 2:19). “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.” Matthew records it with the word mourn: “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Matthew 9:15). Luke records the same answer (Luke 5:34-35).

A bold claim. In the Old Testament, the Lord Himself is the Bridegroom of His people. Isaiah wrote that the Lord, their Maker, was their Husband (Isaiah 54:5). Through Hosea, God promised to betroth (promise to marry) His people to Himself forever, in righteousness, lovingkindness and faithfulness (Hosea 2:19-20). When Jesus called Himself the Bridegroom, He was taking a picture that belonged to God.

The friend of the bridegroom. John the Baptist said, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice” (John 3:29).

Taken away (Mark 2:20). “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” This is one of the first times Jesus hinted at His death. The joy of the wedding would be interrupted by the cross.

The reason. The Bridegroom was taken away for His bride. Sin had separated people from God, and the sinless One died in the place of sinners. On the third day He rose, and the joy came back for good.

Between the comings. Christians now live in the days Jesus described: the Bridegroom has gone to the Father and has promised to return. His people pray, seek Him and wait with longing.

For you. Following Jesus is not first a list of rules. It is belonging to the Bridegroom, who gave Himself for you and is coming back for you.

Come to the Wedding

☐

Jesus told another story about a wedding. This one shows how big God's invitation is.

A king's wedding feast. A king gave a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to call the guests he had invited, but they would not come (Matthew 22:1-3).

Everything is ready. The king sent other servants to tell the guests that the dinner was ready and everything was prepared, and to invite them to come to the wedding. But the guests made light of it and went off to their farms and their businesses (Matthew 22:4-5).

Invite everyone. So the king told his servants to go out to the roads and invite as many as they found. They gathered everyone they could find, and the wedding hall was filled with guests (Matthew 22:9-10).

God's invitation. God the Father is like that king. He has prepared a great celebration for His Son, and He invites everyone to come. No one is too far away and no one is too ordinary.

The wedding of the Lamb. In the last book of the Bible, the apostle John heard a great crowd in heaven shout, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). The Lamb is Jesus, who gave His life for us. His bride is everyone who belongs to Him.

Made ready. How does the bride get ready? The same way the wise maidens were ready: by trusting Jesus. No one can make herself clean enough for this wedding. Jesus makes His people ready.

Blessed guests. An angel told John, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 19:9). To be blessed is to be truly happy because of God's goodness.

How to come. We cannot earn a seat at this feast. We have all sinned. But Jesus, the Lamb, died for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is welcome. Jesus said, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

Still inviting. The king in Jesus' story kept sending servants. God is still inviting people today, and He uses people who already love Jesus to pass the invitation on.

What to do. If you have not said yes to God's invitation, you can say yes today by trusting Jesus. If you have, tell a friend about the feast, and invite them to come too.

The maidens waited to go in “to the wedding” (Matthew 25:10). Jesus told another parable that shows who is invited to that wedding.

Gamos. The Greek word for wedding or wedding feast is gamos (say: GAH-mos). It is the word in Matthew 25:10, in the parable of the king's feast in Matthew 22, and in the marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19.

The king's feast (Matthew 22:1-3). A king arranged a wedding feast for his son and sent his servants to call those who were invited. They were not willing to come.

A second invitation (22:4-5). The king sent other servants with the message that the dinner was prepared, the oxen and fatted cattle were killed, and all things were ready. But the guests made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his business. Others seized his servants, treated them spitefully and killed them, and the king judged them (22:6-7).

The highways (22:9-10). The king told his servants to go into the highways and invite as many as they found. They gathered all they found, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

A picture of grace. The Father has prepared a feast for His Son. Many Christians see the first guests as Israel, who heard the invitation first; now it goes out to the whole world. The guests are not chosen for their importance. They come because they were invited and said yes.

The marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” The Bridegroom is the Lamb who was slain. His bride is His people, gathered from every nation.

Ready by grace. The bride has made herself ready, but not by earning her place. Like the guests from the highways, she is there because she was invited and said yes to the Lamb. Her readiness is trust in Him, not a record of her own effort.

The blessing (19:9). “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” The feast that the parables point to is real, and it is still future.

The way in. Sin shuts every person out of God's presence. Jesus, the Lamb, died for sinners and rose again, and “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

For you. The guests in Matthew 22 heard “all things are ready” and still made light of it. Do not treat God's invitation lightly. Accept it, and then pass it on, as the king's servants did.

📖

Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.