Lesson 198 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock" (Revelation 3:20).

Notes

A Wedding Invitation

Great crowds of men, women, and children crowded around Jesus to listen to the stories He told. They were interesting, and were told simply so that even the children could understand. More than that, they taught lessons about the heavenly Kingdom. These stories were called parables.

One time Jesus told about a very rich king whose son was to be married. He was a good king who loved his people, and he wanted them all to come and enjoy the wedding and the great feast that was to follow.

You would think that everyone would be eager to se the prince and princess being married, and to see the inside of the palace. And think of all the good things they could have to eat! People who attend such great royal weddings today may save their money for a long time so they will be able to wear the finest clothes on that day; and they try hard to get the very best and most wanted wedding presents for the happy couple.

But the people Jesus was telling about did not want to go to that great wedding. The king sent his servants to the homes of his subjects to give them a personal invitation -" and still the people paid no attention. Some went into their fields to work, instead of observing the holiday the king had granted. Others went to town to do their shopping. Everyone was too busy to go to the king's palace for the great feast.

The king thought surely there must be some mistake. Perhaps the people had not understood the time. So he sent his servants again and told them that the dinner was ready, the oxen and fatlings were killed, the great barbecued beefs were ready to serve. And still the people refused to go. Some of them even killed the servants who had come to them with the good news. It is hard to understand how anyone could act like that, is it not? If you were invited to such a wedding, you surely would want to go; and you might be so excited that you would lie awake all the night before.

God's Feast

We said that a parable is an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning. Let us see who, is represented by this king who wanted to be good to his people. It was God the Father, who has all power in Heaven and in earth, and who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He wants to do only good to His people because He loves them so much.

Everyone has an invitation to the Gospel feast; no one needs to miss it. But people are making excuses just as they did in the parable Jesus told. They are too busy working for themselves -" trying to get rich, or enjoying the pleasures of the world -" to answer the Lord's invitation to be saved.

The Jews First

The first call that went out was meant especially for the Jews. They were God's chosen people, and He gave them preference. But many, many times they turned from God and worshiped idols instead. They would not listen to the prophets who were bringing them God's invitation. God sent more prophets to other generations, and He said: "I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way,... but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me" (Jeremiah 35:15). In fact, they even stoned the prophets for their loving invitation.

When Jesus was on earth He gave the Jews another chance; He sent them another invitation. Again they refused. He warned them that they were not worthy to enjoy His blessings, and that drunkards and wicked people would be glad to come to the feast.

Judgement

The king, in the story Jesus was telling, had absolute power over his subjects, and he was so angry with them because they had all refused to come that he sent out an army to destroy them. Then he told his servants to go into the streets of the city, and into the highways, and ask all the strangers to be his guests. He said that his own people were not worthy to sit at his table, so he would invite people who would appreciate his goodness. Many people then came to the palace. Some were good and some were bad, but the king welcomed them all.

When the Jews crucified Jesus, the Gentiles were given special favour with God. Millions of Jews suffered judgement like those in the Lord's story who were destroyed. More than a million Jews died in the destruction of Jerusalem, in 70 A.D., and more have continued to suffer to the present day. In World War II more than 6,000,000 were slain, the only reason being that they were Jews. The Jews had refused God's invitation, killed the servants who brought it, and finally crucified Jesus Himself.

The Wedding Garment

There was still more to the story Jesus told. The king had welcomed the great crowds that came; but as he looked over his guests he noticed one man who had been careless about his appearance. He had not dressed in the wedding clothes, which the king had supplied, and he looked very much out of place. This man had not been well-mannered enough to obey the customs of the palace.

The king was kind, and called the stranger "Friend," and asked why he had not put on the wedding garment. Perhaps if the poor man had had a good excuse the king would have given him a chance to dress. But the man had no excuse. It had been carelessness on his part, and he had nothing to say. He had not obeyed the orders of the king, and now he must suffer for it. The king sent his servants to take him out and cast him into the dark dungeon where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Gospel invitation is going forth. We are all invited; we all have an opportunity to enjoy the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. But we must prepare for it. God is providing the "wedding garment" for each one of us -" the "robe of righteousness," the "while linen" of the saints. Those are words that describe the spiritual condition of the true Christian. He must first have his sins forgiven. Then he must be purified, sanctified, adorned with Christian graces.

After that he is ready to be baptised with the Holy Ghost, and receive power for service unto God. When he uses what God has given him, to work for Jesus, he has on the wedding garment and is ready to go to the Marriage Supper of the Son of God that we also have learned about. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5).

Everything has been prepared for us, and we shall have no excuse to offer if we are not ready when Jesus calls us. We should let nothing hinder us from making that preparation that will open the Palace Doors for us, when the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is announced. Our uppermost thought every day should be, "If the call comes today, I am ready to go."

Questions

1. To whom was the invitation to the wedding first sent?

2. Why were they not worthy?

3. Who received the final invitation?

4. Compare the people in the story with the nations on earth.

5. What must we do to be ready for the Marriage?

6. What will happen to the people who try to make excuses?

7. When can we expect the call to the Marriage?