Dearly Beloved,
Is there marriage in heaven? This was the Lord Jesus’ reply in response to a question concerning a woman who had been married multiple times in her life — whom would she be married to in heaven? “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30) Evidently, there will be no such thing as marriage in heaven.
Speaking of marriage, the Bible begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve and ends with the marriage of Christ to His people, the Church.
This Sunday we will examine the first of seven “signs” that Jesus performed beginning in chapter two of John and ending in chapter twelve. “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee” (v. 11a). Many perhaps would call the turning of water to wine a “miracle,” but John takes it one more step by using the word “signs.” A sign is something that points to a reality beyond itself. In both Old and New Testaments, “signs” or “signs and wonders” give earth-bound people a glimpse of Godly truths. For example:
- In the creation story, God put lights in the sky to serve as signs (Genesis 1:14)
- Following the great flood, God put a rainbow in the sky to serve as sign of the covenant that He would not again use a flood to destroy all life (Genesis 9:13-17).
- The plagues were signs that Yahweh intended to free Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 26:8)
Because God is the Author of marriage it should not surprise us that He performed His first sign at a wedding in Cana which was very close to Nazareth where He grew up. Jesus celebrated this wedding with family and friends as John makes it clear that both He and His mother Mary were invited. What could have been a very embarrassing situation for the bridegroom when the wine gave out turned out to be revelation to Mary, the servants, and the disciples.
We will be celebrating communion together and I am planning on sharing some insights into Jewish weddings that perhaps you may have forgotten. My title is, “Behold the Bridegroom and His Bride!”
Because Jesus keeps His covenant,
Glen