May 3: Celebrating His Victory.
HIS ARRIVAL.
"At Midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' "--Matthew 25:6
When I married my husband, my three close friends were my bridesmaids. They planned a special, intimate time just for the four of us before the wedding. It was so beautiful and meaningful! I remember everything about it. At the wedding, they readily took care of every detail, including some unexpected situations that arose. I am so thankful for my bridesmaids, who made our wedding extra special.
After the discourse of Jesus about His glorious second coming, Luke records three parables that address being ready for His coming, because we don't know the hour. The second parable (Matthew 25:1-13), referred to as the parable of the ten virgins, talks about a longer than anticipated delay of the bridegroom. In the first century, and even now in some Palestinian villages, the bridesmaids, after a day of festivities, leave the bride at night and go out with torches to meet the bridegroom. They bring him to the bride, and then the joyful procession escorts the bride to the groom's house. It was common for the groom to be delayed, and therefore the maids had to be prepared, having extra oil for their torches. In this parable, as the groom delays longer than expected, all ten virgins fall asleep. Then at midnight the shout is heard: "Behold, the bridegroom!" There is one other occasion in Matthew where the word bridegroom is used (Matthew 9:15); in both cases it refers to Jesus. When the bridegroom arrives, only half of them are ready (as is the case with the men in the fields and the women at the mill; see Matthew 24:40, 41). The foolish maids who are lacking oil to light the way for the groom go out to buy some, but it is too late. The time for getting ready is over, and they miss the procession and the festivities. The parable ends with the exhortation of Jesus: "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:13). This is the time for persistent, joyful spiritual preparedness and watchfulness. "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Let's not become weary of waiting for His arrival. Be assured of the certainty of His coming!
My Response:_______________________________________________________
HIS ARRIVAL.
"At Midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' "--Matthew 25:6
When I married my husband, my three close friends were my bridesmaids. They planned a special, intimate time just for the four of us before the wedding. It was so beautiful and meaningful! I remember everything about it. At the wedding, they readily took care of every detail, including some unexpected situations that arose. I am so thankful for my bridesmaids, who made our wedding extra special.
After the discourse of Jesus about His glorious second coming, Luke records three parables that address being ready for His coming, because we don't know the hour. The second parable (Matthew 25:1-13), referred to as the parable of the ten virgins, talks about a longer than anticipated delay of the bridegroom. In the first century, and even now in some Palestinian villages, the bridesmaids, after a day of festivities, leave the bride at night and go out with torches to meet the bridegroom. They bring him to the bride, and then the joyful procession escorts the bride to the groom's house. It was common for the groom to be delayed, and therefore the maids had to be prepared, having extra oil for their torches. In this parable, as the groom delays longer than expected, all ten virgins fall asleep. Then at midnight the shout is heard: "Behold, the bridegroom!" There is one other occasion in Matthew where the word bridegroom is used (Matthew 9:15); in both cases it refers to Jesus. When the bridegroom arrives, only half of them are ready (as is the case with the men in the fields and the women at the mill; see Matthew 24:40, 41). The foolish maids who are lacking oil to light the way for the groom go out to buy some, but it is too late. The time for getting ready is over, and they miss the procession and the festivities. The parable ends with the exhortation of Jesus: "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:13). This is the time for persistent, joyful spiritual preparedness and watchfulness. "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Let's not become weary of waiting for His arrival. Be assured of the certainty of His coming!
My Response:_______________________________________________________
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