God's Invitation, We Rsvp

The biggest concert in Canadian history is now history. Summer 2003 we saw the Rolling Stones headlined the SARS concert to tell the world that TO is SARS free, SO COME WORLD! It is safe, no fear of catching a deadly disease and then suffer and die from it, come party. This Fall 2003, Canada is going to see another big event. I wonder if you have heard about it? It is a dinner invitation. Some are saying that it is the biggest dinner invitation in Canadian history. Beginning September 15, 2003 all across this nation . Canadians of all ages, classes and spiritual persuasions will be invited to attend special events sponsored by more than 2,000 churches. Why? Let me tell you about a dinner story in the Bible…

When Jesus burst onto the scene with his first miracle do you know where it was performed? According to John 2, it was at Cana in Galilee. Where Jesus changed water into an alcoholic beverage. What was the setting? A wedding party! So John 2 says:

The next day Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. 2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother spoke to him about the problem. “They have no more wine,” she told him.

No wine that’s disaster… shame, bad planning, bad hosts, little to be joyful about… bad news… but Jesus saved that day… turned water into wine… not just cheap wine, but quality stuff, the best!

9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “Usually a host serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!”

John 2:11 (NIV) “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.” Why? I submit to you, that Jesus is making a statement. God is inviting people to a party, a dinner party, a wedding party, and it will have wine flowing, a sign of joy, of laughter, unadulterated happiness, jumping up for joy, kicking up the heels, the best feel-good blowout party! A wedding, what a perfect picture that is of love, joy, intimacy, worth, passion, romance! This is what Jesus came for, He died making that statement anticipating the wine being poured out again. Wine of his blood will flow, so that the wine of joy, of celebration of love will go unabated into eternity. In the best way He can, He is making a statement of celebration that will go on and on... Yes! The best is still to come!!! The wine of God will flow into a world that’s got no more wine, no more joy, laughter, love! That’s the story of the last supper in Luke 22 (NLT)…

14 Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.”

17 Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

19 Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.

Jesus, in the intimacy of his closest companions, says “don’t forget – when wine of his blood flows at the cross, that’s not the end, the best is still to come when he will eat and drink again at wedding supper of the lamb with His bride, the church because he says the wine will flow again when the Kingdom of God comes, when it is fulfilled, and He will there drinking it again, and oh the joy the rapture, the ecstasy, the passion of that moment. I won’t eat, drink I won’t party with you until the Kingdom of God is consummated, when He will come again!

Revelation 19 in the Bible speaks of the wedding supper of the Lamb, speaking of the party Jesus is anticipating. Eph.5:25 in the context of teaching about husband and wife relationship the Apostle Paul was inspired of the Spirit of God and said “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her” which he described as a “profound mystery” (Eph.5:32). Revelation 21 speaks of the awesome bride, the church, beautifully dressed, total knockout, literally to die for beauty, … God is inviting this world, you and me, for this ultimate party, where you and I are not the guest, nor the best man or maid of honor but the main players, the centre of attention like the bride of any wedding, for God so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus to make sure we get the invitation, and for us to RSVP.