Realm of the Bridechamber

Matthew 9:15-17

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

It seems there is something quite startling here in the text. Christ speaks first of a bride then also the children and finally of the manner of dressings and celebrations thereof. In order for there to be a bride, there must first be an engagement. It is one that is after the fashion of the nobleman's supper to whom many were invited and much was prepared. Notice too the longings for the bridegroom. There are the children still in the chamber, little as of yet, but soon ready to come into the full maturity of the kingdom of God. You know how it so often is with little children. They tend to stick around and get attached to you after a while. Nearing the end of his life, we see John writing unto them so many years later. See, the children have never lost their simplicity. They might have been exposed to time and the weather. But how many of you know the true bridegroom is as always kept close to the heart. It is clear God cares for them, as seen in the text.

They might be fasting for the bridegroom is not with them quite yet. But at no time has he abandoned his kingdom. At no time has his people been left to fend for themselves. At no time have these been ever left defenseless or senseless with none but themselves. See, the bridegroom ever cares for his own. He saved his pot that held manna therein for all of those years just in case somebody should have need of it ever again. He put it in there for safekeeping and carted it back home to glory all by himself. The God who will do all that is surely able to keep his own people. For these are more than just children to him as seen in the text. It is even of the bridechamber to which these have come. Whether that indicates full knowledge or only a promise is anyone's guess. Regardless, it is clear that the God who led you there is the one who will bring you back out. Somebody shout, 'he's still waiting for me.' Could this be the reason then why Heaven is opened not to let Christ out but rather to let us on back in to the Father and unto himself.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

For there are some old things even now that are getting ready to pass away. Behold, our God makes all things new as seen in the text. It is done for a reason so that a new season might now enter in. Have you ever tried any of the things described in the text. It might be awfully hard sewing patches onto old clothes. The patches and the stitching are something that adds none to any whether old or new. Thus, when you go to put on the same old patched up apparel, it appears as just that. Remember the man come to the nobleman's feast, that had need of some such to wear. How God makes all things new of his Son. Yet this man had on poor and tattered clothing. Even adding the tiniest patch would hardly have improved the rest of the garment.

Imagine then coming in so as bidden to see the great King.

A king at his wedding for the first time as one meeting his bride surely would have something to say about this. Then too are not all righteousness brought in of ourselves as filthy rags in his sight. I hate to be the one to describe, but it's a true rags-to-riches story. Even now is the old tearing apart, in preparation of its' passing away. Behold some all things new are coming. How much more should we not take the wedding garment Christ offers, that of his righteousness. For only then can we allow him to fill up our cup as surely as it is his want to do.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Now is the time of the feast, as the harvest is over and done. There is room in the house and plenty with scarcely even a want. Look with me now, if you will. See how it is Psalm 23 all over again, as all things are seen back home with the Father at last. Could this be the reason there are some new bottles needed, even those of the bread and the wine. See, the old bottles are full of a different perspective, a clouding of judgement, that has collected there if you will. So too are there some old things remaining as that which has run out is seen. Yet how God as always provides for his children. Here is the wine of all things made new come for the feast. Then is celebration found with his people. So is the wedding feast of the Lamb soon to be seen. Look, God has poured out a blessing you had not even room enough to receive nor had you begun to prepare for it as of yet. It is that of his bride, his body, his blood, and his work, my friends.