Jay Temple - The Bridegroom is Here, So Rejoice! - Mark 2:18-22

I considered a joy and a privilege to be with you. If you want to go and turn to Mark, chapter 2, will be reading our texts and just a moment, but I never want to neglect when I'm here to. Thank you for your kindness to our family, especially to Jimmy D, and Megan and babies to Amelia. And also way you've just received cc&i is part of the the church family here. We will have our own commitments, obviously with our own church but we are so thankful and we're able to visit Hillsborough and as a preacher, always a privilege to be able to break the bread of life with you. We reading for Mark, Chapter 2.

Mark chapter 2 verses 18. 322.

And if you're able to and would like to stand in joining us for this reading of the word of God, Mark chapter 2, beginning with Verse 18.

Now, John's disciples in the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to Jesus, why did John's disciples in the Disciples of the Pharisees fast. But your disciples do not fast. And Jesus said to them, can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them. As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast the days will come. When the bridegroom is taken away from them. And then, they will fast in that day. No one shows a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment if he does the patch tears away from it. The new from the old in the worst hair is made and no one put new wine into Old wineskins. If he dies, the wine will burst the skins and the wine is destroyed and so are the skins, but new wine is for fresh. Wineskins, We join me in a word of Prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the public reading of your word. We thank you. Lord, that we can hide your word in our hearts. We might not sin against you that in. Your word is cleansing in your word, is Hope and strength because in your word is a revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that you will open our hearts this morning to your word that you'll give us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to understand what you're speaking to us this morning and then a will to act upon it, Lord let this be a time, not just give information but a time of transformation. We thank you. Lord, that your word never returns void. But always accomplishes that for which you sent it out. So I pray Lord that you'll annoy me is the speaker in the hears this morning with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And God that you'll be pleased with what you hear what you see in our lives or do we love you? We thank you for this privilege of being too. Gathering Jesus name, amen! Then you may be seated.

Jesus, spent time with sinners. He robbed shoulders within he welcomed them. And when you look at the scriptures, you understand he came to save them to seek and to save the Lost. Just the regular people didn't really understand this. The self-righteous people were offended by it. The religious people were angered by it and they, they accuse Jesus, you know, one of the accusations against Jesus. They meant it is just a terrible ugly thing that they were saying it's actually true. And one the most beautiful portions of scripture where in Luke 1:45, they accuse Jesus by saying this man receives, Sinners and eats with them, they meant it as an insult, they meant it to call Scandal, but it's absolutely true. And thank God for it that he visits Sinners and he welcomes us to his table. These people often questioned Jesus routing their questions and their own self-serving Traditions their personal interpretations of the law. And we find that inner text this morning, John the Baptist though first presented to us in the New Testament, is arguably the last of the Old Testament prophets. His clothing is Lifestyle, the message of repentance. And he preached Harkens back to the Days of Elijah, to the Old Testament prophets. He was a cousin of Jesus, but seems to probably have been kind of an austere man. Something of a recluse and he, and his dad followers practice regular, perhaps even very frequent fasting. And their case fasting was associated with repentance and with morning. And it was practiced in anticipation of the coming Messiah. It was an act of self-denial and obviously was not very pleasant experience. If you've ever fasted, you know, it's not easy and really not designed to be easy, the Pharisees also fasted, but they were little bit different in their approach. It wasn't because of Any scriptural requirement but because of their own traditions for them, fasting was a sign of piety. It was a religious ritual that in their minds. Mark them is different than the people around them. Most Pharisees, it seems fast it about twice a week and they were proud to do so and they were proud to let everybody know it for the Pharisees. Fasting was not primarily an act of self-denial but I act of self-righteousness and a standard that they tried to impose on others. So Jesus and his disciples. If you look back, a few verses to see the context Jesus is at the home of the tax collector enjoying the good meal reclining, at the table tax collector, was one that saw the blessing of being in Jesus company probably put on quite a spread of food and as the disciples were enjoying this time together the question was at it again with that mind. Well Jesus, here he is again sitting at the table with Sinners. So the question was asked with why did John the Baptist followers in the Pharisees fast? But your disciples do not and there's all kinds of implication there. Why aren't your disciples as good? A Christian as the others are. Oh, Jesus, as he often did took the opportunity, whether it was a sincere question, whether it was in the accusatory question, he always took the opportunity to teach. And in this case, there are two important, beautiful, wonderful, throughs that he highlights of who he was and what he came to do. And I pray, you'll be encouraged with these this morning. First of all, Jesus was making the point that the bridegroom has come and he's come to make us glad he's come to make us. Glad you see Jesus answered the question by reminding. Those who were listening at a question was about fasting. Jesus starts talkin about a wedding. Have you ever been to a wedding? That was just just plain fun. Your there. There are a couple of weddings even apart from the weddings of Jimmy and Megan I was it was in our family that weddings. I've been to I remember I went to 1 years and get back in the early nineties up in New York and I ain't never seen a spread of food like that anywhere. It was like an all-you-can-eat buffet and as I was on my third plate Somebody said it was just the appetizers, there's a sit-down meal and I enjoyed it but I was hurting member another wedding. I was overseas my wife and I were invited to a Iranian wedding and you talk about knowing how to party, the Iranian people know how to party. So Jesus brings his listeners. Those are asking this question. Those are probably standing around wondering. What has he going to respond to this accusation? Bringing them back to weddings and particularly to wedding etiquette, you see weddings in Jesus day weren't exactly. Like today will be the typical wedding. Today is still maybe 30 minutes, followed by dinner or some kind of a reception. But in the Bible times, the wedding started with a contract as the groom prayed the bride-price to the girl's father. At this point, the couple were considered to be married. That the word that you may be familiar with tickly. If you have read King James, much of your life is betrothal the betrothal had taken place and it was just the same as having been married, even though the marriage is not yet been consummated. Because first there was a period of waiting as the groom returned to his own father to prepare the home for his bride. And when that home was ready, The bridegroom, the groom returned to receive his bride and then a week-long party ensued. It was not a time of grief, it was not a time of morning, but it was a time of great celebration that then would have been followed by the consummation of the marriage. It would have been the height of Bad Manners to be invited to this wedding week to this wedding ceremony. This wedding feast, and it be morning and fasting during the festivities Jesus speaks. And says, there is indeed a time for fasting, but this occasion was not it. David guzik in his commentary says that even the rabbis would say that the law could be set aside for the sake of Joy during a wedding celebration. It was that important to celebrate and you see those who were listening to Jesus. Who've asked this question, about fasting have now been redirected to the idea of a wedding and they would have understood what Jesus talkin about not just from their own experience of having attended Weddings. But from scripture, you see, they understood that God had presented himself as the bridegroom and he had named Israel, his bride consider the words of the Prophet Hosea and then that day declares the Lord, you will call me my husband and I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and Injustice in steadfast love. And in Mercy, I will betroth you to me and faithfulness and you shall know the Lord is in Hosea chapter 2, the Jewish people understood what? Isaiah had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When he wrote and Isaiah 54. Verse 5 for your maker, is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name. And the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. The god of the whole earth, he is called you see and drawing the thoughts of the people to this picture of a wedding. Jesus was drawing their minds to God as the bridegroom of Israel. And then he made his first big announcement. In essence. What was his announcement? The bridegroom is here. The bridegroom is with you, Jesus, is that bridegroom? And as would be seen as his ministry, unfolded. And as the early Church begin to unfold the church is his bride. And this probably sparked some more memories especially in the minds of John's disciples because he had already Proclaim Christ as the bridegroom in John chapter 3,

We find these words.

A person cannot receive. Even one thing unless it is given him from Heaven, you yourselves bear me witness that I said, I'm not the Christ, but I've been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice there for his. This Joy of mine is now complete John's announcement after his messages of repentance. After his messages of pointing to the coming Messiah, was an announcement that the bridegroom is here and Jesus made the same announcement when he was approached about this issue a fasting. What was meant to be in? That accusation? What was meant to be damaging, turned out to be another. One of those great Revelations is Jesus said the bridegroom is here and I've come to make, you glad The bridegroom is now with you. This is a time for Joy for celebration. The groom is kind of a trolled, his people forever wherever he is Joy should be obvious. What is that mean. If you're in Christ. You have been betrothed to him. He has bought you his paid, the bride-price for you and sometimes and it said probably because of the culture we live in it seems to be increasingly Godless. Maybe it's because of the weight of the world that we live in the the the the struggles that we go through. Sometimes if we're not careful our Christianity and I don't mean it, it's the religion. But our walk with the Lord, our relationship with Christ can become kind of heavy. and even kind of hard times and it shouldn't surprise us because we are told in scripture scriptures, very honest, That there are many afflictions for the righteous but it also reminds us. God delivers them from them. All the point this morning is the bridegroom is here. The bridegroom has come. If you have been invited into his presents, if you have put your trust in him, then this is a time of Blackness even with the weight of the world, even with the struggles of life, this is a time of gladness and joy because the bridegroom is here Are those happy for Mary. I hope you can look back with the same experiences me. One of the greatest moments of my life though I was the groom was standing in front of the church and watching my wife. Walk up the aisle. Very few memories sweeter than that in my life. And then, you know, I'm kind of a then accuse me all steer myself at times that I can't help smile. When I think that the time of gladness, the bridegroom has come and the bridegroom has invited us to join him. That's not the only Point. Jesus was making. Second Point, Jesus was making is the bridegroom. Is here, not only to make us glad, but to make us new See perhaps before those words that even sunken. Well that the bridegroom is here. Jesus use two more illustrations. He went from a wedding. Two piece of fabric that was wearing out. The wineskins to make a point that it's not only a time for Joy. It's not only time to leave sadness behind but it's a time of newness. You see old garment cannot be patch when you cough up some of y'all are probably my generation. EBay member toughskins, I grew up wearing toughskins. But my brother wore Huskies, I wore tufskinz and they weren't very tough cuz it didn't take long to wear a hole in the knees. And in those days, my mom out of convenience, raising five boys. Rather do a lot of sowing seed by those stick-on patches that your iron and they look good without the first time you warm. But after the second time, they started peeling off. Let's the picture. You can't patch old stuff and have it do well, because the new cloth will shrink or the patch will start to tear away, making the rip even worse. And in the same way wine new wine can't be put into Old wineskins. Other words juice can't be put into wineskin because as that juice begins to ferment as the gases begin to expand the old wineskin, which is already been stretched out from the the the one that was in it. It it's going to begin to expand the point of cracking and breaking and eventually busting open. And not only is the skin ruined, but the one that's been put in, it is ruined. So the second grade true that Jesus is making in these illustrations, talking to an audience, who would understand these things. Not only is the bridegroom here. Not only is he here to make us glad but he's here to make something new. The Old Covenant was ending at the old comment, was not going to be fixed, it's not going to be repaired. The Jewish religious system would not be revised or updated, but rather God was going to do a new thing. I like the way radio, preacher. Jay Vernon McGee, Jay Vernon McGee expressed it. He said the new one of the Gospel would be put in the new wineskin of Grace. Washington. D.c. preacher. Tubidy annually. He put it this way. We cannot have the gospel with just a little touch of Law and legalism. We cannot have the law with just a few ounces of Jesus. Poured in the gospel is an entirely different garment, a complete garment and itself. Jesus was not only declaring something knew he was not only doing something new, but he was giving something new. And John 1:17 says for the law was given through Moses but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. And in this we have obviously a new covenant You see the old Covenant was made between God and people. Who were not able to live up to it. The New Covenant is made between a father and a son. A perfect. Obedient faithful son, who asked God became flesh and dwelt among us. So that we have seen his glory glory. As of the only son from the father full of grace and full of Truth, a kind loving heavenly father who so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. You see the old Covenant was established by the blood of a heifer? The blood of a goat and a ram and turtle doves in a pigeon, its Genesis chapter 15 verses 8 through 10. The Covenant God made with Abraham the New Covenant was established by the blood Of the bridegroom and is the disciples gathered for their last meal together. We, we celebrate that Hillsborough. I understand the same as we do at Riverstone first, Sunday, of the month, we come to the Lord's table and we remember that Jesus brought bread and he gave it and then he took the cup telling them, this cop that is poured out for you. Is the New Covenant in my blood, the New Covenant was established at Great call. So that we who are unable to keep a covenant, we cannot keep a covenant do not have to because the company is between a father and a son but we have been invited in a covenant has been made for us kept for us. And we are the recipients of all the rights and the Privileges and the benefits. It brings Not only a New Covenant, but a new garment. The bridegroom did not come to give us a patched-up old garment, but he came to give us a new one, a robe of righteousness. Listen to the words of Isaiah 61:10 and I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exalt in my God for he is clothed me with the garments of Salvation. He is covered me. The robe of righteousness, as a bride groom, decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress and is a bride adorned herself with jewels. You see through his work on the cross Christ, took upon himself, the old filthy rags of our sin are self-serving works, and he exchanged them for his own righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 says for our sake. He made him to be sin who knew no sin. So that in him we might become the righteousness of God. His righteousness, his perfectly clean. Holy garment has been imputed that has transferred to us, credited to us. And we have been Justified declared right with God. Giving us a new covenant. We don't have to do anything for It's Made on our behalf and kept on our behalf, gave us a new garment, his very righteousness, and he gives us a new spirit. Christ, the New Testament. Bridegroom was the Fulfillment of all that the prophets have spoken, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel and he wrote and I will give you a new heart and a new spirit. I will put within you and I will remove the Heart of Stone from your flesh and give you a heart of Flesh. You see, our old Nature has not been reformed, it's not been refurbished, it's not been patched up. Has been made completely new. And we have a new spirit that dwells within us. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 verses 1 through 4 there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus, from the law sin and death. For God has done what the law we can buy. The flesh could not do by sending his own son, in the likeness of sinful flesh. And for send, he condemned, send to The Flash in order that the righteous requirement law. Might be fulfilled in us who walk, not according to the flash, but according to the spirit, New spirit that gives us a new way of walking and then gives us new life. You see when you trust Jesus Christ, you become a new creation. Therefore, If any man is in Christ, any woman is in Christ. A new creation. The old has passed away, behold. The new has come and all this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself. See the new life results in a new manner of living, the new spirit results in a new manner of walking and New Life does not fit. Well in Old forms, you can't with new life, do some of the things you did in the old life anymore. It did they just doesn't fit. It doesn't feel right? There's something wrong with it and we know it because of what Christ has done in us, our old lives aren't compatible with the new. We entered a new life of love and fellowship with him because the bridegroom is here and he's come to make us glad and he's come to make us new. He's received us and invited us to taste and see that he is good. AC this illustration, Jesus. He's three specific illustrations. A wedding.

Old cough and new cloth old wineskins, new wineskins teaches us what salvation is all about. And if you're not saved, you've wondered what is this all about? Well, I hope your hearing and understand hope the Lord's Illuminating these things. But for those of us who have already embraced, the Salvation is so great through Christ. I hope it reminds us of how good he's been to us. He's come to make us glad because he has indeed. Made us knew he came to do away with transactional, religion, religion, that tries to always be buying God's favor trying to make God, like us better trying to to, to do things to keep our Salvation burdensome, but he's come to make us glad Because he's come and made us and he's replaced works with Grace. But super take, we must abandon the wind of our self-righteousness. So we can receive the new one of his righteousness. Warren wiersbe wrote salvation from sin, involves much more than a person, knowing about Christ or even having good feelings toward Christ. Salvation comes when the center commits him or herself to Jesus Christ. And says I do I do. Then the believer immediately enters into the joys of this spiritual marriage, relationship bearing, his name. Sharing his wealth and power, and join his love and protection. And one day living in his glorious home in heaven. When you're married to Christ life becomes a wedding feast in spite of Trials and difficulties. I think about that picture of a Jewish wedding and Old Testament wedding again. Jesus, Paid the bride-price to the father for us. His very blood for our betrothal, he has gone back to his father to prepare the place for us. and he will come and get us at just the right time to bring us to the marriage Feast, the greatest celebration ever given And then all that he has planned for us, we consummated could become reality, everything will be made, right? We will be like him, we don't know what that means. The scripture says, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is Maranatha. Not only is the bridegroom coming. But he's already calm. You've been made new if you're in Christ, let your hearts be glad. I'm going to ask your pastor to come and give a closing word of the closing prayer. The Lord leads him.

Let's pray.

Father, may your word ring true in our hearts.

Made it settle deep inside of us so that we might Delight in your truth.

but as we Delight in your true that you will, Then cause it to overflow outside of us to share with our family, with our friends, with our neighbors.

Holy Spirit, please take this word and make it a live inside of us might glorify you through transform life. We don't want to go through the motions here.

We want to serve you. We want to love you.

We know that that's only possible by your power. Please come bless your people as they go in their ways today. For those who don't know, you personally soften their hearts. Open to be responsive and receptive to your truth. Forever. Jesus may be glorified in our thoughts are words or actions. In our entire being. We give you all the glory with these things to you. In Jesus name. Amen.