Thanksgiving and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

I love Thanksgiving. It is a day marked by an attitude which should permeate us every day! We are so entitled, we feel as if we are owed everything, and often times that carries over even into our relationship with God. Thanksgiving, however, reminds us that we are far more than just a product of natural circumstances, and that we really have more than we could ever deserve. It is a day that forces you to take the time to truly “count our many blessings,” and even more, often do that in the presence of family. The question is clearly begged though “to whom are we giving thanks to?” Whether you “believe” in him or not, your celebration of thanks presupposes a good God who is the Giver of every good gift, and your thanks giving is a recognition to the reality that the very breath you utter thanks with today is the precious gift of this God.

Today, millions of people will gather around tables with their family. The room will be filled with thanks, love, fellowship, and joy. The tables will be filled with amazing foods, all which we will gladly stuff our faces with. Remember though, food is amazing thing, enjoy yourselves, but “our God is not our belly” (Phil. 3:19). In other words, our greatest reason for celebrating and enjoying this day should be far less about the food and far more about our gratitude for the innumerable blessings that we have, and for the God, who even in his holiness, provides common grace to all.

The picture of families sitting around tables surrounding immaculate spreads of food, atmospheres of joy, thankfulness, love, and fellowship got my mind thinking about a greater feast to come. This feast is known as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The passage about it is found in Revelation 19.

Revelation 19:6-9

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

Beloved, if you are in Christ think about the scenes in many of your homes today as a shadow or a type of things to come. When Christ returns for his bride, the church, he will usher her in to His presence with a great supper, a supper recognizing the consummation of his redemptive work, and “blessed are those who are invited to this marriage supper of the Lamb.” How is one invited to this great supper? Simply, by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We will surround the immaculate spread put out by our loving Savior and we will overflow with joy and thanksgiving with our brothers and sisters, the family of God. What a day, glorious day, that will be. So as you give thanks today, and as you reflect the many blessings of your life, if you are a Christian, remember this is only a beautiful shadow of things to come, but if you’re not and you want to know how you can experience this grand marriage supper of the Lord; there is only answer repent and believe in Jesus Christ. For when he returns for his bride, only through true faith in Him will you be invited to this Supper.

P.S. perhaps you are a Christian who does not have much family or much food, or perhaps today is marked by a tragic event that occurred in your life. Do not fret. With the great supper that is coming, you will be lavished with an eternal family, and eternal provision like you could never imagine, and more than anything, your soul and heart will be resting in perfect peace.

God bless, Happy Thanksgiving.