Waiting for the Bridegroom

For Meditation

Our ‘waiting story’ this week comes near the end of Jesus’ ministry. He has come to Jerusalem for the last time. There is an urgency in his teaching in Chapter 24 as he prepares his disciples for the unexpected delay of his return to establish his Kingdom. To help his disciples understand and remember his teaching, which at times seems very confusing, he tells three parables, one of which is the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

In this parable about a wedding Jesus is teaching his disciples to be prepared for his return. The story may sound strange to us because our weddings are timed down to the minute. But it was not so at a 1st century wedding. There was a lot of waiting involved, and so Jesus compares the expected but delayed arrival of a bridegroom to his own return at the end of the age. He will come, but not when they expect. Since no one knows the time of his return, his disciples are to be prepared at all times.

After more than 2000 years it’s easy to wonder if Jesus really is coming back. Is it only wishful hoping? Are we waiting in vain? Just as God fulfilled his long-ago promise at the first coming of Jesus, we continue to trust that he will fulfill his promise to send Jesus back and inaugurate his Kingdom on earth, even as it is in heaven. Because we don’t know the day or hour of his coming, we too must be prepared at all times.

As you prepare for worship this week ask God to help us be wise disciples, ready for our King’s return at any time.

Matthew 25:1–12

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’