“Come, and I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:9b, GNT

 

A few years ago, my wife and I had the wonderful experience of walking through the streets of Prague. As our budget for this tour was very tight, we could not eat in restaurants. Our lunch consisted mainly of bread, cheese and some fruit bought at a supermarket. We usually treated ourselves to an ice-cold Pilsner bought at the nearest café and then sat down in a small park or on a bench on the sidewalk to watch the people go by while we enjoyed our small meal.

 

One day, while sitting near a church, we were very fortunate to watch a bride arrive. She was clad in a beautiful wedding gown and her face shone with delight. In our world of realism, technology and changing values, it is still wonderful to see a bride with a shining face going to meet her bridegroom. We have seen many brides on their wedding day, but this one made a special impression, perhaps because there was so much joy on her face.

 

In the book of Revelation, John often uses this metaphor of a bride on the way to meet the bridegroom. “Come,” the angel told John, “come and I will show you something very special, come along and I will show you the bride above all brides, the wife of the Lamb himself.”

 

This bride above all brides is you, me and everybody else who has ever belonged to the church or who in future will belong to God. This bride can also look forward to this wedding with stars in her eyes. Her bridegroom loves her above all else. He is, after all, the Lamb who was slaughtered for her. He was crucified so that he and his bride might celebrate their wedding feast forever in heaven.

 

Prayer: Thank you for loving your church as much as a bridegroom loves his bride. Thank you that I am part of your bride. Amen