Be the Submissive Bride
The “Wedding of the Lamb” services held over Sukkot this year combined worship services, weddings, and celebration of Sukkot. It was a God-given surprise with His mighty presence! Some brothers and sisters describe it as the “Wedding of the Century”. As for me, it’s more like the “Wedding of the Millennium”, an unprecedented wedding since the beginning of the creation, proclaiming the wedding between Christ the Lamb and Church theBride in eternity. At the Mercy Seat, this Truth was realized before usas we declared the mystery of Christ and His bride. Moreover, weannounced to the spiritual realm the things that are not yet, but willsurely come.
“’For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31-32)
The Church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of the Church, therefore, wives should submit to their husbands just as the Church submits to Christ. Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to present her to Himself as a church without stain, holy and blameless. The mystery of Christ and His bride is also mentioned in the book of Revelation: the Submissive Bride and the Triumphant Lamb, and she shall reign with Him forever and ever.
In the past, when we celebrated Sukkot or acted out the story of Esther, it was history that we mentioned. Now we are foretelling the future, involving the whole congregation to illustrate and declare the Truth. I am thankful that everyone was actively involved, with oil ready to signify the bride who had made herself ready. Chapter 19 and 20 of the book Revelation talk about the bride who has made herself ready and “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:8) Though Hong Kong is facing hardship, we proclaim that His bride, the Church, will come out of the Babylonian system.
In the traditional wedding, the bride shall be led by her biological father down the red carpet to the groom, but we did something different this time. In the final wedding service, as Lyan’s spiritual father, I walked her from the lobby to the wreath at the back of the Mercy Seat. She then walked down the red carpet by herself to meet her groom. Looking at her back as she moved forward, I was praying for her quietly in my heart as I made my way to the front, to await her arrival. There and then, my tears welled up, realizing that this is how God gazes upon every one of us longingly. Yet, we are oblivious to God’s presence who has never taken His eyes off us. Incessantly, He is interceding for us and blessing us till the very end. I was deeply moved!
Grateful for the unceasing fresh water from the Holy Spirit, I urge brothers and sisters to be determined to follow God. The Church is to be His submissive bride, boldly marching forward, walking down the red carpet to meet the returning King ― the triumphant Lamb, so as to reign with Him forever and ever.•[2019.10.27]