November '25

As we head into summer, many great things start to come about.

I’m talking about the warm sea breezes. I’m talking about picnics with our kids. I’m talking about a BBQ late in the evening while the sun is still up. I’m talking about real fruit ice creams. I’m talking about the tara or white-fronted tern returning to nest on the old piers of the Hairini bridge. I’m talking about doing manus off the rock. I’m talking about the Bayfair Reserve pop-up disc golf course. I’m talking about the morning school traffic disappearing, and not sitting in traffic in the mornings.

All of these are great additions to my life during the summer, they improve my mood, and make summer enjoyable. But they pale in comparison to the joy of weddings. Getting all glammed up in your nice suit and tie or dress. Catching up with old friends from different times of life. Having one of the meanest feeds you will ever have. Hearing the gospel preached. Seeing your friends make a commitment before God and people to love each other. Seeing a young couple unaware of the deep challenge and true reward that marriage is. (I say this 4 years into mine, so with plenty of experience.) 

I have the privilege of attending the weddings of three of my friends this summer. Two university friends and one friend from church growing up. All Christians who love the Lord. We attended the first one over the long labour weekend holiday. The service was at Holy Trinity in Auckland, a beautiful cathedral. The groom is a great guy. The bride is a lovely lady. My jacket was brand new, fresh (Must be very nice.) The food was delicious. The talk and catch ups were special. It was a fantastic wedding. But it wasn’t the best. The other two weddings won’t be the best. My wedding wasn’t the best.

Revelation 19 tells us of the best one, the one that is yet to come.

[6] 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.
[7] 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;
[8] it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—


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

[9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (ESV)

The marriage supper of the lamb will have the most delicious food, where we will eat again with Jesus.

The marriage supper of the lamb will be in the most beautiful place, in the new heavens and the new earth.

The marriage supper of the lamb will have the greatest groom, the king of kings and the lord of lords, Jesus.

The marriage supper of the lamb will have the loveliest bride, handpicked before creation, and perfected at his coming.

The marriage supper of the lamb will have the most special conversations, already scripted: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.”

All these things are set. We live our lives as Christians in anticipation of this event. Much like a wedding in this age, we need to get dressed up, we need to look our best. As the bride of Christ, how does Revelation tell the church to get ready?

Verse 8 tells us how. “it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Are we putting in the effort to clothe ourselves for the wedding? We want to look the best we can for the marriage supper, so we should be carrying out our righteous deeds by the power of the Spirit..

Colossians 1 gives us a great encouragement:

[9] And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

Pray for each other. I encourage you to pray this passage over your brothers and sisters in Christ. Help them get ready for the marriage supper of the lamb. Let’s prepare for the wedding together.

Blessed are those who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

I hope to see you there on that day.

Pastor Brandon Hill