Dear Church Family,

We are well into our Fall Semester and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the number of folks attending and serving on Wednesday evenings. Hope you are praying, growing, and inviting. I’m so thankful for our volunteers who help make our Wednesday evenings possible. We continue to pray for offerings for our Preschool Wing expansion and am so grateful for your generosity! I saw this devotional thought this week and thought it would bless you:

Did you know John 14:1–3 could be written in the language of a Jewish wedding?

When Jesus spoke of going to prepare a place, His disciples could have instantly recognized the imagery. In their culture, this was how a groom spoke to his bride:

The Betrothal: A covenant sealed with a cup of wine. Jesus gave us the cup of the New Covenant at the Last Supper.

The Groom’s Departure: He left to build a place in his father’s house. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

The Waiting Bride: She lived in readiness, not knowing the day or hour. That’s why Jesus calls us to watch and be ready.

The Midnight Shout: The groom returned suddenly with a trumpet blast and a shout. Paul echoes this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

The Wedding Procession: The bride was taken to the father’s house. Jesus promises, “I will come again and receive you unto myself.”

The Marriage Supper: The celebration followed in the father’s home. Revelation 19 points to this exact event for the church.

Could John 14 be a wedding promise? A Bridegroom assuring His bride: I am coming back for you?

Press On!

Mark