The Last Marriage

Introduction

What do you remember most about a wedding you attended? It may have been your own or someone else. We tend to see and hear very similar things — decorations, fancy clothes, special music, vows, friends, smiles, and maybe a few tears. It is a happy occasion. There are few occasions that bring as much happiness as a wedding. There is something about a wedding which speaks to us. It isn’t just the smiles and the festive spirit. There is something that makes a wedding very special — and part of that is the fact that two people are committing themselves to each other. The vows speak of their intent to honor each other and to be faithful to each other throughout life. Those who observe these vows are often mentally transported back to their own wedding and the promises made.

What is the basis for those wedding vows? What allows two people to make promises when they cannot know the future and what it holds? What allows two people to make these promises that no matter what may come in the future, we will be there for each other? Do you think two people who say for better or worse are thinking about the worse or the better? When two people say for richer or poorer, do you think they believe in the richer or poorer part? Do you think the couple thinks sickness or health comes first? The real meaning of the vows is not in the now but in the future. The vow is based upon something that cannot be seen or understood at the time the vows are made — the future.

No one denies the intensity of the promise spoken at the time, but it is the long-term commitment that matters. Imperfect human beings do not have perfect commitment but we promise that we will. Marriage rates are falling in America. Fewer people are getting married. As acceptance of cohabitation has risen, so the importance of marriage has fallen. But I want our young adults and teens to hear clearly. Don’t believe everything you hear in the media or read online. There seems to be some clear indicators about successful marriages in our culture — couples who share common interests, couples who have completed high school and move toward post-secondary education, and couples who share a common faith — have successful marriages. How can imperfect people keep a commitment? Faith in God is part of that equation.

The Last Day

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, marriage is seen. It is literal in Genesis 2 and metaphorical in Revelation 21 & 22. The first man and woman are married in Genesis 2 and the church is called the bride of Christ in Revelation 22 and all are invited to spend eternity with the groom, Jesus.

By the end of John 13, Jesus has said and done several things that has resulted in his disciples being confused and downhearted. He has washed their feet — a servant’s task done by the master. Awkward would be an understatement. He has told them that someone would betray him. And then he has told them that he is going away and they cannot come with him. Peter questions Jesus about this trip only to be told that he would deny him three times before the night was over. Confused. Demoralized. Troubled. Their inner peace is gone. They have no idea what is coming, although Jesus has told them what to expect, they are having a hard time putting all the pieces together.

I wonder what I would have done if someone came to me and told me on the night before my wedding what sort of things I could expect in marriage? I wonder what Barbara would have done? On the night in which the disciples have been remembering God’s great deliverance of his people out of Egypt comes Jesus with these words — betrayal, denial, servant, cross, death — no wonder the disciples are troubled. So what does Jesus do to reassure them?

He speaks words to comfort and what better words to speak than the language of love found in marriage. That is John 14. But for us to appreciate the words we have to know something about Jewish marriage customs. Description of these customs. Texts to include 2 Cor. 11:2 & 1 Thess. 4:16.

Promise

Imperfect people make promises and keep them. They do not keep them perfectly but they manage to keep them especially when God is part of their lives. But God who is perfect and Jesus who is the embodiment of God on this earth make wedding promises to us. Jesus is coming back to take us to be with him at his Father’s house. As a virgin bride we wait for our husband.

Our attention is focused on the time when Jesus will return. When he shouts for us there will be no delay. Nor will there be any hesitation. We will go to him. No going to the him and telling him to wait for a minute while we finish packing. We are ready for his return.

I can remember watching Barbara walk down the aisle at our wedding. And I also remember thinking as I said those words “for as long as we both shall live” how serious that was. And when Jesus says “so that you may be where I am” the promise is to never leave and for us to be with him always — married.

Don’t allow anything to separate you from Christ. Invitation.

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