09/15/2018 - The Wedding Feast of Jesus, and the Foot Washing of the Betrothed
Have you received an invitation to a grand and magnificent party? Have you sent the RSVP indicating that you will be attending? Perhaps you are hesitating because you don’t feel that you have anything to wear; maybe the splendor of it makes you worry that you will be out of place, or perhaps you have convinced yourself that you are too busy... or even above it! God has extended us an invitation to the grand wedding celebration of His Son, and His conquest over sin and death... how will you respond?
“Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."'”
Matthew 22:4 ESV
This isn’t a handbill nailed up on telephone poles, or a flyer distributed on the street, each of us receives a personal hand written, and embossed invitation to accept Jesus Christ, and to recognize Him as our Lord and Savior. Yet, despite being handed this opportunity, so many find an excuse to turn it down... or to just ignore it. Then there are others who ridicule the event and do harm to the messengers who deliver the invites. Listen to what Andrew Murray writes as he describes the effort that has gone into this feast...
“Think of what it cost God to prepare this feast. Nothing less than the suffering and death of His Son was required to remove our sin and make way for us to enjoy the blessings of heaven. This is what we celebrate.” - Andrew Murray
This isn’t a potluck affair so you don’t bring anything to the table; everything is provided. All that is required is that you put on your good clothes, come prepared to celebrate, and give the honor of your presence to the King of Kings.
God offers us the hand of His Son, and yet we snub it. How would you feel if you prepared a party, and spent your fortune on the banquet hall, food, drinks, entertainment, and such... then no one came? No one came to celebrate one of the most intimate and important affairs that your family would ever experience; marriage.
This feast is prepared every day, and the invitations that have been delivered are ignored, or worse. And, every day the Lord sends His servants into the alleyways and side streets to personally invite anyone who will come. Day after day the feast is laid out, and we are invited to come and dine.
“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.”
John 21:12 KJV
So I say to you today... Come and dine! Come to the great feast of the Mighty King, and the One True God! Eat at His table, and celebrate with all of heaven! Bring nothing except yourself, and see the majesty that is Jesus Christ the Son of God. Then when you are full of every good food, and you have drunk your fill of the wedding wine, you will come to know the truth of the feast, and your feet will be washed by the celebrant as if He were your servant.
Prayer:
Father I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and the Church... His bride. I thank you for the invitation to come to your table and sing merrily as we feast and toast the bride and groom. Gracious Father you are a Magnificent Host, and a Father who loves His children, and this His Son like no other. Thank you for sending for me, and offering me the privilege of entering your home. I am humbled that someone as undeserving as myself is offered a place at your table, and I am humbled to the point of being ashamed to let your Son wash my feet. This is His wedding, and His first night, and the bride and groom should be dutifully washing One another’s feet... and then, as it is custom, from this night forward she should wash her husband’s face and feet each night before they retire. Yet no servant washes my feet, and your Son honors me as if I were His bride. How is it Father that I should be treated this way; how is it that your Son would humble Himself before me... a lowly man who is only here by your grace? Praised be your name Holy Father, and praised be the name of Jesus, your Son. This day I renew my pledge to you my God, and my faith to Jesus my Lord. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who unites heaven and earth in His Son, and celebrates the wedding feast of Jesus Christ and His bride... the Church! Praised be your name, for your mercy and grace know no end.
Rich Forbes
For Your Reference:
It is a Jewish custom that as part of the wedding ceremony the bride and groom will wash one another’s feet, and after married the wife will wash her husband’s face and feet before bed. Read more at: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6051-feet-washing-of