Weddings are a lot of fun. I’ve been blessed to lead wedding ceremonies for 6 of my own children and over 100 other weddings over the last 40 years of ministry. Of all the weddings I’ve been involved in, the one that affected me most was the wedding of my wife Karen and me. In 11 days we will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary- November 24, 1984.

Weddings hold a lot of meaning in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac had a special wedding when he married Rebekah. Their son Jacob had a huge wedding surprise when he thought he was marrying Rachel but her father tricked him into marrying his older daughter Leah.

Jesus’ first miracle came at a wedding when Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding.

John 2:1-11

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The symbolism of marriage can be seen throughout the New Testament. It begins in John 2 and makes an appearance in Matthew 22 with a parable of a King who has a wedding banquet for his son. He hosts a great banquet, but his invited guests refuse to come to the banquet. Instead, they mistreated and killed the king’s servants. So the king brings his judgment and wrath against the wicked.

Jesus tells a parable about the bridegroom coming to meet his bride for their wedding, but her wedding attendants were not ready and miss out on the wedding banquet (See Matthew 25).

Finally, the book of Revelation reveals the marriage supper of the lamb of God, when Jesus returns to claim his bride and celebrate his own wedding feast.

Revelation 19:6-9:

“6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;

it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Who is the bride of Messiah Jesus? It is his Church. We are the bride of Christ and when Christ comes we will celebrate our union with our savior and king Jesus. So let us be prepared for this grand and glorious celebration with Jesus.

Jesus begins his ministry with a miracle at a wedding, and when he returns to earth there will be a great and final wedding feast. Don’t miss your great celebration. The greatest banquet in human history.