A Most Important Day

Matt. 25:1-13

11/9/08

Rev. Michael A. Trask

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There is nothing more important than a person’s wedding day. At least that’s how it seems when you consider all the preparation that goes into pulling it off. Months (and sometimes years) before the wedding even happens, the work begins. There are professional printers that must be hired to print the invitations; professional flower arrangers to develop the perfect floral motif; professional photographers are engaged to capture the day on film; professional musicians to supply the right mixture of musical sounds; professional caterers to serve a feast for all the guests to enjoy. For most people, there is no other day in their life when they call upon the services of so many professional people.

And then what about the clothing. In most cases, even the best clothes that hang in a person’s closet are deemed unworthy; not good enough for this day of days. Brides will go and spend a lot on a gown that they will only wear one time. Grooms will actually rent a set of clothes and sometimes shoes for the day. There is usually nothing in his closet that is up to speed.

There are so many things to think about in planning a wedding. And why is that? What’s the big deal? Those who are already married will most often say that after all is said and done that the important thing is the marriage itself and the many days and years that are to follow. Why so much attention to this one day?

Two reasons that I can think of: First a wedding, is a transition of sorts. Up until the point of the wedding, a person to be married has lived as a single person, but after the wedding day, He or she will be joined with the other person for the rest of his/her life. And such transitions are not to be taken lightly. The other reason, I think, has to do with the peculiar nature of that day. It is the one day in your life when you are really up in front; you’ve actually invited people to come and watch; to watch you. Most people are not accustomed to having so many eyes bearing down on them., and so many ears hanging upon their words. And with that there comes the fervent desire to make a good impression to do it right. Wedding days can really go either way: They can be the day that you are hailed and exalted or the day that you are embarrassed and ashamed. To avoid being embarrassed and ashamed, people most often make careful preparations.

Weddings are big. There’s no question about it. And maybe that’s why our Lord Jesus chose a wedding scene to convey the absolute bigness of the day that he returns to gather up his church. Like a wedding, that day will be a day of great transition; like a wedding it will be one in which a lot of attention is focused on you: Attention from the Lord himself. And it can go either way on that day: Either you will be hailed and exalted, or you will be embarrassed and ashamed. One must be prepared for that day. And that’s the point of this parable that Jesus tells: be prepared for his coming.

Interestingly enough, the parable is not about the bride so much as it is about the bridesmaids which I will explain in a little bit. The job of the bridesmaid (Or Virgin as they are referred to in the text) Was to be prepared and keep watch for the coming of the bridegroom. Each of them had oil lamps. These lamps would be used to light the way of the bridegroom to the bride when he came to her house. After this, they would all follow him to the banquet hall where there would be much feasting and joy.

But there is a problem among these 10 bridesmaids. Not all of them were prepared. Five of them were wise and brought extra oil to keep their lamps burning. But the other five were foolish. The foolish ones didn’t bring any extra oil. So when the groom showed up they weren't ready. Oh, they tried to borrow some from the wise ones, but there wasn't enough for that. And then they tried to go and buy some even as the groom arrived, but they were too late. Everyone went to the feast except them. Later, when they pounded on the door, of the banquet hall, The groom said, “you can't come in, I don't know you.” And that's how the parable ends.

Now what does all this mean? The return of Jesus will be like the coming of the Bridegroom. in the rest of scripture Jesus is often referred to as the bridegroom. And the church or the group of believers, is often referred to as his bride. And eternal life is the wedding banquet. But, we don't really know when he's coming. And so we must wait and watch.

Among those who wait for the return of Jesus, there are some who are wise, and some who are foolish. And according to the parable, the difference between the wise and the foolish can be narrowed down to one thing: Preparation. The wise made sure they were prepared. The foolish did not. Jesus once said “When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on earth?” That’s what is needed. That’s how we are prepared. Faith is the oil in our lamps. Faith is how we keep watch and wait for the bridegroom.

We can’t borrow faith from someone else. The Five foolish bridesmaids, thought they could borrow oil from the wise bridesmaids. And of course the answer was no. In the same way; You can't believe for me, and I can't believe for you. Children cannot depend on the faith of their parents. Each person must have faith for himself.

So what is faith? Some people think that faith is simply believing that there is a God. But it’s more than that. The foolish bridesmaids never once doubted that their was a bridegroom. They knew that he existed and they knew that he was coming. But still they were not prepared. Faith is not merely believing that there is God. Faith goes beyond that Faith is actually trusting in God to save you.

You see, in his word God tells us that all human beings are sinful, and each o us sinners must realize that there is but one question that will be asked on the last day: who is going to be held accountable for your sins? Will it be you? It doesn’t have to be. As matter of fact, Our merciful God has made it possible for it not to be you. His Son Jesus, the first time he came to earth came for a very specific purpose. The prophet Isaiah says it better than anybody else: “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him. And by his wounds we are healed.” Do you see what this is talking about? In Jesus God has provided a substitute for us. Jesus was crucified for our sins. And this is where the faith comes in. In faith you come to understand that he did it for you.

For those who believe in Jesus, Judgement day has already happened. It happened on the day that Jesus was judged and condemned for our sins. That’s not to say that the day he returns won’t be a little exciting for us! That’s not to say that it won’t be a little frightening. But it will end so well! Jesus the bridegroom is going to come and take us to his banquet hall.

On earth, it sometimes seems that there is nothing more important then a wedding. We expend a tremendous amount of energy preparing for the big day that a man is joined to a woman. But now we have learned that the day that Jesus returns will be the wedding to end all weddings. It will be a day of huge transitions. Our lives will never be the same again. We will be united with the Lord in blissful communion for all eternity. Right now, we may feel as if we are only bridesmaids, with odd colored dresses and equally odd and uncomfortable shoes. I think that’s why Jesus made the Bridesmaids the center of his parable. As the church waits for its savior, we don’t always feel so beautiful or important, in fact sometimes we feel rather homely; frumpish even. But on the day that Jesus returns there will be the great revelation that we will not always be bridesmaids but we are actually his bride. And that the wedding is actually our wedding...our eternal union to Jesus. It will be a cinderella story of sorts. Jesus’ church is washed and clothed and made radiant on the last day

We certainly do want to prepare for a day like this! We prepare by availing ourselves to the Good gifts of God which he has promised will strengthen our faith...The word, as it is preached and taught, the sacraments as they are received, the fellowship of other Christians. That’s how we prepare. God doesn’t ask us to have faith and leave us hanging, he gives us stuff that increases our faith. Oil is required for our lamps and oil is provided in our fellowship through his word and by his sacraments. Let’s take advantage of it. AMEN