24th July 2024

Weddings!
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
John 2:1-2 (NKJV)

I have the luxury to visit India every year during wintertime in the UK. Every day is sunny and there was no rain during my stay of six weeks in January and February. It is an auspicious time for weddings in India, and I was invited to three weddings in the village where I was born. It was a joyous time. The first wedding was just opposite my house, the second a few feet away, and the third just a few yards away. They were on separate days so I was able to celebrate all three. Here wedding celebrations go well into midnight because of various ceremonies conducted by the priest. The day before, there is great rejoicing with all the villagers, relatives and friends dancing joyfully as they follow in a circular pattern in perfect rhythm with the music. 

So where did marriage originate? The first marriage took place in the garden of Eden as we read Genesis 2:23-24 when God created the first woman and brought her to Adam: ‘And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ They were told to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

The ceremony of marriage is found in all tribes and peoples all over the world. And they have developed their own ways to celebrate weddings: some celebrations go on for days, and  sometimes a dowry is required by the father of the bride are examples of this. God indeed, blessed me with a beautiful wife. We had a wonderful life together and were blessed with three lovely sons and four adorable grandchildren. My wife is no longer in this world. She died a few years ago, but I cannot forget innumerable blessings showered upon us by a generous God.

That first marriage between Adam and Eve was a type of the marriage of Jesus Christ and His bride, the church: ‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her…So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies…as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.’ (Ephesians 5:25-32).

Marriage is God ordained and the final and ultimate marriage is announced in Revelation 19:7-9: ‘…“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.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” ’ 

To God be glory and honour and praise, who has called us to be part of the glorious and ultimate marriage of the Lamb: the Lord Jesus Christ, forever and ever.

Prayer
Abba Father, thank you for revealing this glorious truth about the marriage and ultimate relationship of the church with the Lamb of God, as His bride. Help us to be faithful and submissive to Him and follow in His steps. I pray and praise you, in the name of Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of all mankind. Amen.

Study by Natu Moti

About the writer:
Natu Moti is a deacon in the Birmingham congregation of Grace Communion International.

Local congregation:
Gracecom Birmingham
All Saints Church
George Road
Birmingham B23 7QB

Meeting time:
Saturday 1pm

Local congregational contact:
David Gibbs
Email: birmingham@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church