Encounter with the Bridegroom

A Sermon edited by Steve Fountain originally preached on February 17, 2013 called "An Encounter with the Bridegroom" from Luke 5:33-6:16.

A bridegroom is a man who is about to be married to a women (i.e. the bride).

Why does Jesus choose to call himself a “bridgegroom?” As we study Luke 5:33 to 6:16, it is important to understand how Jesus describes himself.

1.  The Son of Man is the Bridegroom who receives a Bride

In the last post, we came across that curious description of himself as the Son of Man who has authority on the earth to forgive sins (5:24).  The description comes again in 6:5 as the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath. 

The spirit world has unanimously called Jesus the Son of GOD, and now we have Jesus talking about himself in terms of the Son of MAN?  In fact, He is both, but why would Jesus describe himself this way?   

“The son of man” was used in Daniel 7:14 looking forward to the Messiah: “And to [the son of man] was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. If Jesus is preaching the Kingdom of God, and he forgives sins, reverses the affect of sin, and invites all who are sin-sick to enter the cripple gate, then can we not say that Jesus is the one of whom Daniel is speaking? The long awaited Bridegroom is here!

2.  How does the Son of Man receive His Bride?

Jesus asks the Pharisees, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”  And then Jesus says something that again is lost on the crowd.  He says prophetically, “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:35).

The wedding feast of Jesus’ ministry lasts for three years, and Jesus is cut off and left with what appears to be nothing. Jesus is led up a hill and hung on a Roman Cross and all his disciples and his followers carry his body to a tomb and lay it in the ground sealing the door with a stone. 

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them” (Luke 5:35).

3.  How does the Son of Man demonstrate His Arrival?  

Thankfully, the tomb could not hold him, and he broke free bringing life for all that see Jesus as not only having the authority, but the power to forgiveness of sins. 

After the resurrection Jesus went into the throne room and all authority was given to Him.  Jesus contrasts himself to the venerable David, saying,

“Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 

What is Jesus saying here?  Remember Daniel 7?  Did Jesus enter the presence of God in the throne room, just as David entered the presence of God (Luke 6:3-4)?  Is he like David, or is he greater than David?  Look at verse 5.  Jesus says, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 

And so what does Jesus do to demonstrate his authority over the Sabbath?  He does just what he did when he said he has authority to forgive sins.  He validates his authority by performing a miracle on the Sabbath—violating tradition to the shagrin of the Pharisees.

The battle lines are drawn.  Those who will not change and will not concede that they are in need of the Great Physician, spit on the Bridegroom, and remain outside the Kingdom of God. 

But there is festal joy for those who see Jesus as the Bridegroom and come in.  These people leaving the slum of sin, take the white robe, which is washed in his blood, these repent and find forgiveness, and go up entering the wedding of the kingdom. 

Change is not usually welcome unless you can see that you need help.  You must recognize that you need God to change you, for you cannot do it yourself. 

The most grateful people are those who know just how much they have been forgiven.  And the change that results in this kind of joy will only come when you repent of sin and receive forgiveness.