Wedding Shawn and Michelle Grulke
Dear family and friends of the bride and of the groom, and members of the family of God here at Immanuel, and especially to you -- Michelle and Shawn: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is good to be here at this time and in this place, gathered together in the presence of God. This is an occasion which we will all remember, a day that, as of now, you will hold special the rest of your lives. You have done many things to make sure that you will remember this special day. Many people have been invited witnesses this blessed event. A service bulletin is printed out so everyone here might be able to recall exactly what happened today. Pictures are taken to remind us of who was here and how we looked. These things will help you remember this day. Remembering important times and places is important. But what makes this day special is because it is celebrated in the context of other special days. The text for your wedding reminds us of these days. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus wrote in 1 John 4:10-11, "In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." This is the Word of the Lord.
I mentioned other important days. What are these days? First, let's begin with an easy one. It is a day that we are about to celebrate. Matter of fact, our church is dressed up for it’s celebration. We remember December 25th in the year 4 bc in the little town of Bethlehem.
Shortly after the beginning of the world, after God created it good and perfect, the first husband and wife sinned. Together they sinned. As a result sin, sickness death and separation from God occurred. From that time, by human nature, all people turned away from God, and if left to themselves would die separated from God. We are sinful and indeed sin much every day, deserving only God's wrath as the penalty for our many sins. But because of God’s great love for this first husband and wife, God promised to send a Savior, born of a woman, to take away their sin and make all things new and perfect again. In the hope of God’s promise, Adam and Eve knew the forgiveness of God. His promise came true on Christmas Day in Bethlehem. In His birth we begin to understand the words of St. John, “in this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the payment for our sins. God sent His Son and He came into this world as a baby in Bethlehem. The Son of God and the Son of Man was born for you, Shawn -- for you, Michelle -- for everyone of you here today – for everyone in the history of this world.
This important date led directly to the next and most important date in the history of the world. April 3rd, 33 AD at Golgotha
The second event took place some 33-36 years later. It occurred at a place called Golgotha which means "the place of the skull". That day we call Good Friday, the day when God Incarnate was crucified for the sins of the world. In His great love, Jesus Christ shed His Blood for all sins. That is what the Apostle John meant when he wrote: in this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the payment for our sins. Jesus died a horrible, awful death on the cross for you, Michelle -- for you, Shawn -- for every one of you here today -- for everyone in the history of this world.
According to His loving and gracious promise, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead ... defeating death, conquering sin, and overcoming the devil. Jesus rose from the dead for you, Shawn - for you, Michelle - for each one here today.
Because of these important dates, that we rember and hold so dear, our Lord has given us other special days. These days are intimately connected to your lives.
Michelle, God has overseen the events of history from the Garden of Eden, from the rising and falling of entire civilizations, across thousands of years, to that specific date when your parents had a special baby girl, you. Shawn, many years ago, your mother and father celebrated a special day when you, too, were born. As loving parents do, both your parents cared for you, providing you with what he needed to remain healthy ... physically, spiritually. Through the Word of God, they introduced you to God Who loved you so much that He sent His Son to be born, to live, to die, and to rise again. They brought you to the baptismal font where you were born again and received all the blessings that God gives in and through baptism ... forgiveness of sin, eternal life, and salvation. They have prayed for you. They prayed that the Lord would lead you both to meet a God loving man, God loving woman to join together in fearing, loving, and trusting in the Lord God above all else. This is what the Lord has done because of His great love for you.
Now hear the rest of John’s words, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Michelle and Shawn, motivated by the love of God in Christ ... in response to all that He has done for you, you also out to love one another. Each one of you is marrying a sinner and if God so loved you, even though you have sinned against Him, you also ought to love one another by forgiving each other. As you do, you will be living out these words of the Lord in your lives. You will love because you will forgive as God has forgiven you through Jesus Christ.
This is a great day to remember, where, by God’s grace He is joining the two of you together.
The Lord is with you, to guide and to lead. Call upon Him in prayer and for the strength to do what is pleasing in His sight. Come here to church to offer Him your worship, praise and thanksgiving. This is the day that the Lord has made, we rejoice and are glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made just for you. Amen.