Encountering Jesus, The Bridegroom
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE: JANUARY 21, 2024
Rev. Charles Lee
1. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS?
a) The gospel is not a religion.
“Religion is so different from the gospel but is such an effective counterfeit.” (Tim Keller)
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2:18)
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. (Mark 2:19)
b) The gospel is a good news of joy that celebrates a new beginning.
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. (Mark 2:19)
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. (Mark 2:21)
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins. (Mark 2:22)
2. WHO IS JESUS?
a) Jesus is a bridegroom who delights in his bride.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:4-5)
b) Jesus is a bridegroom who sacrifices for his bride.
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. (Mark 2:20)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:25-27)
3. HOW DO WE MOVE WITH A GOSPEL-CENTERED MISSIONAL SPIRITUALITY?
a) Serious Joy
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17)
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” (C.S. Lewis)
