Isaiah foresees a great feast to which all are invited.

On this mountain, the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.

Isaiah 25:6

This banquet (also called the “marriage supper of the Lamb”) is the glorious future celebration of all who are in the kingdom of God. There we will commemorate the final defeat of his enemies, but also the unifying (“the marrying”) of Christ with his church (“his bride”).

Jesus also spoke about this coming event:

• I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11)
• “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. (Matthew 22:2)
• “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ (Matthew 22:4)
• So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ (Matthew 22:9)
• I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)
• I confer on you [my disciples] a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:29-30)
• Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
• Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:9)

I recently received a wedding invitation that stated the required attire was “suit and tie.” (There was, however, no mention of who—male or female—should wear the suit and tie 😉.) While I assume this bride and groom want me to look my best as I celebrate their union, so God’s invitation to this great banquet also comes with required attire—the robes of his righteousness. And the good news is that Jesus has already purchased our “clothing” for us.

• I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
• God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

We are all invited.

Have you rsvp’d yet? Have you received your “wedding attire”?

PRAYER

Lord Almighty, thank you for inviting me to your wedding banquet. I don’t pretend to understand how it will work out and who all will be there, but I have rsvp’d “yes.” I thank you for clothing me with salvation and Christ’s righteousness. While I look forward to this great feast, I know that your kingdom has already come. Teach me to live now as your “bride” even as I await the celebration.

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All verses are quoted from the New International Version and emphases are added.