As most of you know, we celebrated our 2nd daughter’s wedding in August. I thought it was quite a big affair…but weddings in some other cultures are much bigger including in Jesus’ day, with rich traditions and customs. Jewish weddings were notable events in the community that involved many people and would last for days. Stories of marriage and weddings feature throughout the bible. In John’s gospel we read that Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding he was at with his mother Mary. Our relationship with Jesus is often likened to a marriage, Jesus being referred to as the bridegroom and the church as the bride of Christ. In Matthew, Jesus used stories of weddings in two of his parables describing the Kingdom of God. We looked at the parable of the wedding feast a few weeks ago, with a focus on how we respond to the invitation to come to the wedding banquet, to enter the kingdom of heaven. Today’s parable focuses on our readiness to meet the groom – Jesus – when he comes again, at a day and hour we do not know, to take us into the Kingdom of God.
The question we are to ask ourselves is…Are we ready and eagerly waiting for Christ’s return?
A couple of weeks ago we finished a section of Jesus’ teachings from Matthew 22 and 23, where Jesus was responding to the religious leaders’ questions about his authority, and other questions such as what is the greatest commandment? They had hoped to trip him up, but instead, they were astonished and silenced at his amazing teaching. At the end of chapter 22 we read that from that day no one dared ask him any more questions.
In chapter 23 Jesus speaks to the crowd and the disciples warning them about hypocrisy and dead religion, and he calls down seven woes on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.
In chapter 24 Jesus responds to questions from his disciples as they sit together on the Mount of Olives. He turns his attention to teaching them about the last days and his second coming. This teaching comes just prior to Jesus’ last days on earth, so we should take note! He tells them of signs that will come, of wars and famines and earthquakes, he told them they and his followers will be persecuted, but they must stand firm and preach the gospel to the nations. He alludes to the destruction of the temple and to his own death and resurrection.
Jesus spoke of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. But as to the day and hour when this will happen, Jesus clearly teaches that no one knows except the Father. Therefore, he says…
Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this; If the owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matt 24: 42-44)
As we move to chapter 25, Jesus shares another 3 parables to illustrate the need to be ready.
The first one is the parable of the 10 virgins, sometimes referred to as bridesmaids. The point is not about them being virgins, rather that they were young unmarried women.
This parable reflects the marriage customs at the time of Jesus. The couple would have been legally ‘betrothed’ for about a year, before coming to the time of a wedding ceremony followed with feasting and celebrations for around 7 days. This is the time when the bride and groom come to live together.
A wedding procession was the norm. The 10 bridesmaids were the brides’ attendants, just like we have today. Though not usually so many!
The wedding ceremony and feasting usually took place at the groom’s parents’ house. It is probable that this scene portrays the procession of the groom on his way to the wedding and the feast, arriving at his parents’ house where others including the bride were waiting. The 10 bridesmaids were to greet him and escort him in.
Like today, it was an honour and joy to be a bridesmaid, it was a responsibility also, to make sure you were prepared for your role.
The 10 bridesmaids all appeared to be the same from the outside, but then we hear that 5 of them were wise and 5 were foolish. Five were prepared for the event if the bridegroom was running late and arrived in the middle of the dark night. They had spare oil for the lamps or torches. The foolish bridesmaids were not prepared.
It turns out the bridegroom was delayed. He was running late. Now this is a different scenario to our Western weddings where typically it is the groom that is kept waiting for the bride to arrive. Michael once took a wedding in Melbourne where the bride was almost 2 hours late! Very frustrating. We weren’t prepared for that, and everyone had to be very patient.
We aren’t told why the groom is delayed, did he have to travel a long distance or settle financial matters with the brides’ parents? It doesn’t matter for the story. The fact is he was delayed, and the bridesmaids should have been prepared.
The bridesmaids become drowsy and fall asleep as they wait. At midnight the groom arrives, and the call goes out, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!”
The bridesmaids wake up, no doubt in a bit of a fluster, but excited that the time has come. However, 5 of them discover that their lamps are going out and they have no more oil. They ask the others to give them some of their spare oil. But the other 5 are concerned that if they share then they may not have enough oil to escort him all the way. They were not being selfish, but practical. So, they tell the others to go and get some more oil for themselves. We may wonder where they might find oil in the middle of the night – but this is a story – let’s not worry about the fine details!
While they are out shopping the groom arrives and the 5 wise bridesmaids escort him into the wedding feast and the door is shut. They enter rejoicing, while the others are locked out. When they come late and ask to be let in, the groom replies that he does not know them.
At the conclusion of his story, Jesus repeats what he has already told the disciples:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
What do we need to take note of as we reflect on this parable?
I think we are to picture ourselves as one of the bridesmaids. And Jesus as the groom.
Are we excited, expectant, enthusiastic and prepared for the day he will arrive at our doorstep? Will he recognize us? Will we enter into the kingdom of God to enjoy the feast that has been prepared for us, to rejoice in the presence of the King for all eternity?
Jesus clearly tells his disciples, and therefore us, that we will not know the hour or day of his return, but we are to be prepared. As I’ve said recently there are many who are predicting Jesus’ return will be soon given all the events of wars and disasters going on in the world. Someone sent me a me a message just this week with a quote from Luke 21: 20, “When you see Israel surrounded by enemies on all sides, look up, your deliverance is near.” When I looked up the verse myself, I noted it was a misquote! The actual verse says, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by enemies, you will know that it’s desolation is near.” This is perhaps where Jesus was alluding to the fall of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 AD.
Jesus said there will be signs, but that we will not know the actual day he will return. So, we are to be ready. The disciples and the early church thought that maybe he would return during their lifetime. This parable tells us we should be prepared for Jesus’ delay, we need to remain expectant and patient, his return is certain, and we need to endure in faith until he comes.
The apostle Peter in his second letter gives a reason for Jesus’ delay. As he talks about the signs for the ‘day of the Lord’, he says this:
Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3: 8-9)
Jesus desires that all should come to repentance and into a relationship with him. He does not want to shut anyone out. So, he delays. This should urge us into action as we wait, action to share the good news, to invite people into a life of faith in Jesus. We should be reaching out in loving kindness and compassion.
We do this with our lamps full of oil.
How do we keep the light of Jesus burning bright in us, as we wait for his return?
We fill ourselves with his love, we feed on the bread of life, his word, we ask him to daily refresh and renew us, filling us with his Holy Spirit. His very presence living in us. We pray for others; we pray for the world. We live our lives as Jesus has called us to, to daily grow more and more like him. Loving him and loving others. We encourage one another to hold fast to the faith. We live in expectant hope and pray for Jesus’ return.
And we keep a short account of our sins. We cling to Jesus and his promises. I like the confession in our Prayer, Praise and Proclamation service. For the sake of your Son who died for us, cleanse us and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And the Minister declares these words; God desires that none should perish, but that all should turn to Christ and live. In response to his call, we acknowledge our sins. God pardons those who humbly repent, and truly believe the gospel. Therefore, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ.
As we humbly repent and truly believe the gospel we will be ready for Christ’s return. Or if he doesn’t come in our lifetime, then we will be ready to meet him when our life on earth comes to an end, and we don’t know the hour or day that will happen either! But what joy there will be as we enter eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Jesus also said he brought God’s Kingdom near when he came to earth and so we are to live in the light of his Kingdom now as we wait with eager anticipation for his return.
Let’s pray…Lord, thank you for teaching and preparing us through parables for the day of your return. Help us to keep our lamps filled with your oil. May our faith not just be on fire for a short while but give us faith to endure. Give us faith to live each day for you, give us faith and boldness to share our faith with others, give us faith to trust in you and your promises, give us faith to pray for your return. We pray that all may turn to you and live. We look forward with joy and hope and eagerness when the cry goes out, “Here’s the bridegroom, come out to meet him!” Amen.