GET READY FOR THE WEDDING

Matt 25:1-6 – Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’

For anyone who has been part of a wedding lately there is nothing quite like wedding drama. There are so many things to remember; dresses, tuxes, music, guest list, bridal party, receptions, rehearsals…. The list alone can become exhausting. What could possibly go wrong?!?!?! In the wedding Jesus attended in Cana apparently someone had dropped the ball and they ran out of wine. Quite an embarrassment; thankfully Jesus was on the guest list. Obviously Jesus knew about weddings and how important it was to prepare for that moment when the bride would be joined to the bridegroom. That’s what Jesus had in mind when He told the parable of the ten virgins. The whole point of the story is to be ready when the special day arrives. In this story the ten bridesmaids were not ready for the great day. These young women are a picture of the bride of Christ joyfully awaiting the groom’s arrival. What determined that they were not ready? There was no oil in their lamps, their lamps would go out before the groom’s arrival. Just like the tragic situation at the wedding in Cana this wedding was going to be ruined, the bridal party was unprepared for the great day.

So what is the meaning for the church today? Both wedding stories, the one at Cana and the parable of ten virgins, talk about a goof up at a wedding. Both the wine and the oil are pictures of the Holy Spirit. Both teach the same lesson, we must be prepared for the great day. How can I be prepared? I must look to the Lord to turn my water into wine and to fill up my lamp with fresh oil. These stories are more than stories, they both speak to us today about the last minute preparations that are being made for the wedding supper of the Lamb. All things are ready, the banquet is about to begin, Jesus is turning water into wine, and filling empty lamps with fresh oil. Put on your wedding clothes, the celebration is about to begin.