Matthew 12:33 states “the tree is known by his fruit.” I take this to mean that for those whom truly are the Lord’s, there will be some sort of “evidence” or fruit that will indicate their actual beliefs and lifestyle instead of just a general profession of faith. I have been to a variety of weddings in my life; when I was younger and just recently, before and after being saved. Many of the couples were dear Christian people, many seem to be professing Christians and many made no mention of Christ at any point before, during or after the wedding. Although one could go into much detail about marriage or a wedding ceremony; I am curious about what an ideal Christian wedding “reception” may include.
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It is a sad event when two professing Christians marry but have no reference to Christ in their marriage ceremony. Two believers who marry are making a commitment to Christ, as well as to each other, and that commitment should be obvious to everyone in attendance. After all, it is the Lord that created the honorable institution of marriage as we read in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” We also read in Matthew 19:4-6, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” It may be good to point out here that the word for “wife” in Matthew 19:5 is “gune” and is properly translated, “woman”. This particular Greek word is used 200 times in the New Testament and is translated either “woman” or “wife” each time. That should make it crystal clear that the Lord created marriage to be between a man and a woman.
To have a successful, God-honoring marriage is not an easy task. It is so important to start out life together in complete dependence upon the Lord to create and maintain a successful marriage. I’ve often said that to have a successful, God-honoring marriage will take a miracle. It is no coincidence that the first miracle that the Lord Jesus performed was at a marriage. The account of this marriage in John, chapter 2, shows how the Lord honors marriage and will bring joy, as typified in His turning water to wine, as long as the man and his wife depend upon Him.
To attend a wedding where there is no mention of the Lord would seem to indicate that the Lord is not important to the couple. A wedding ceremony and reception of Christians should properly acknowledge appreciation and dependence upon the Lord. There should be no conduct that is unbecoming to a believer in the ceremony or reception. While celebration is expected and proper at a wedding reception, it is important to maintain a Christian testimony while celebrating. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” The behavior at a Christian marriage should glorify the Lord.
Let’s read the account of the Lord in attendance of the wedding at Cana in John 2:3-10, “And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
Wine is sometimes used as a symbol for joy as we read in Psalms 104:15, “And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.” In the marriage feast of Cana, the greatest joy occurred when it was the Lord Jesus that supplied it. Even so, in marriage the greatest joy comes from the Lord…and He will supply it when two believers look to Him in dependence for their lives together.