(4/20)

Living Ready for the Wedding Feast

We’re exploring a profound passage from Matthew chapter 25. Today’s message aims to stir the heart and awaken the soul. The title is: When Is Jesus Coming?

That question has echoed through generations. But before we explore the answer, consider this: on Palm Sunday, were the people truly waiting for Jesus?

In one sense, yes—they shouted, "Hosanna," and celebrated as He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. They laid down palm branches and cloaks, honoring Him as a king. But in a deeper sense, they weren’t waiting for Him—they were waiting for a Messiah of their own making. They expected a political leader, a revolutionary figure who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel’s power.

They embraced the idea of Jesus but rejected the reality of who He truly was. By the end of the week, many of those same voices went silent—or turned to shouting, "Crucify Him."

So the real question isn’t just, are we waiting for Jesus? It’s, are we waiting for the true Jesus? The Jesus who calls us to surrender everything, who carries a cross before he wears a crown, who saves not by force but through sacrifice and grace. Are we ready for that Jesus?

Let’s open our hearts and our Bibles as we lean into God’s Word together. In Matthew 25, Jesus begins a parable with these words:

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep" (Matthew 25:1–5, NIV).

"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'" (Matthew 25:6, NIV).

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out’" (Matthew 25:7–8, NIV).

"’No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves’" (Matthew 25:9, NIV).

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut" (Matthew 25:10, NIV).

"Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’" (Matthew 25:11, NIV).

"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you'" (Matthew 25:12, NIV).

Jesus then clarifies the meaning of the parable, providing a direct and impactful application of its significance:

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour" (Matthew 25:13, NIV).

As I reflect on Matthew 25, I feel a strong sense of urgency in Jesus’ parable. He isn’t trying to instill fear—He’s inviting us to live with spiritual readiness. This urgency isn’t rooted in anxiety or panic but in being alert, watchful, and prepared because His return will be both sudden and final.

The delay of the bridegroom reminds us that His coming may appear distant. The midnight cry reveals how unexpected His arrival will be. Furthermore, the closed door symbolizes the finality of that moment—when He arrives, there will be no more time to prepare. You’re either ready, or you’re not.

The bridal party knew the wedding was approaching, but they didn’t know the exact time. This uncertainty fostered anticipation. When the cry finally rang out:

"Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" (Matthew 25:6, NIV)

They had to be ready to respond. Then began the joyful procession to the groom’s house—and with it, the celebration of the wedding feast.

That same theme of readiness is directly connected to Palm Sunday. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds shouted:

"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:13, NIV)

They welcomed Him like a king, laying palm branches and cloaks on the road ahead of Him. However, while they were excited to celebrate, they weren’t prepared for the kind of King Jesus truly was. They expected a political hero—someone to overthrow Roman rule and restore national power. Instead, Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom, not through force, but through humility, sacrifice, and the cross.

Palm Sunday reminds us that it’s possible to praise Jesus outwardly without being inwardly prepared for Him. The same crowd that shouted Hosanna on Sunday was either silent—or calling for His crucifixion—by Friday. They were not ready for a suffering Savior. They missed the truth that real victory comes not through conquest, but through sacrifice.

Just like the ten virgins in Jesus’ parable, some were ready—and some were not. The same question confronts us today:

Are we living ready?

The road to Easter is more than a journey of celebration—it’s a call to preparation. The wedding feast is approaching. The King is coming. Like those who heard the midnight cry, we must be ready to rise, trim our lamps, and follow Him into the joy of the feast.

This parable is one of many that Jesus used to teach. Parables were central to His teachings—simple, everyday stories that revealed profound spiritual truths. He employed familiar images such as vineyards, families, coins, kings, and tax collectors—elements people encountered in their daily lives.

In contrast to the religious leaders of His time, Jesus didn’t rely on complicated language or abstract theology. He taught with clarity and purpose, using real-life situations to convey eternal truths in a way that people could grasp, remember, and apply.

That’s the power of a story. It captures our attention, stirs our hearts, and allows us to see the world in a new light. Jesus understood this perfectly. He didn’t just address the mind—He spoke to the soul. That’s why He taught in parables—taking everyday situations and leveraging them to uncover eternal truths.

Even now, thousands of years later, His stories continue to resonate. They still possess power. People were drawn to Jesus because His words were alive, filled with truth and meaning—and they continue to be today.

In this message, we’ve examined one of His most powerful parables—the story of the ten virgins: five wise and five foolish. Instead of merely stating, "Wisdom means being prepared," Jesus painted a vivid picture of something everyone in His audience would understand: a wedding.

In that culture, weddings were more than ceremonies; they were the highlight of the year. They were joyful, extravagant celebrations filled with music, laughter, family, and community. Everyone can imagine the excitement of dressing up, sharing a feast, and spending time with loved ones whom you haven’t seen in a while.

Jesus often used the imagery of a wedding to describe the Kingdom of God because it conveys joy, abundance, and invitation. In Matthew 22, He stated:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son" (Matthew 22:2, NIV).

This paints a much different picture from the rigid, rule-focused version of religion that many people envision. Jesus didn’t depict God’s Kingdom as a list of burdens to carry—but as an invitation to a celebration, brimming with life, meaning, and joy.

Through this parable, Jesus refocuses our attention on what truly matters: living in preparation.

So, let me ask you—are you ready?

Are you ready for this amazing event?

Jesus is coming again. We don’t know the day or the hour, and it won’t align with our plans or convenience. His return will be sudden, without warning, interrupting the ordinary flow of life. For those who aren’t spiritually prepared, it will be unexpected—and overwhelming.

There’s nothing more sobering than realizing time has run out. You think, "I’ve got time," only to wake up and realize, "I don’t. It’s later than I thought."

It’s like forgetting to reset your clock for daylight saving time. One moment, everything feels on track. The next, you find yourself already behind.

But ignoring the moment doesn’t delay its arrival. The reality is—change is coming. Challenges are coming. The seasons of life will shift—whether we’re ready or not.

So let me ask again: Are you ready?

Currently, it’s spring. But what comes next? Summer, then fall, and then winter. We know this because God instilled rhythm, order, and purpose into the world. Seasons come and go consistently—and the same is true in our lives. Change is part of God’s design, and wisdom lies in preparing for what’s ahead.

The Bible says:

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease" (Genesis 8:22, NIV).

Just as creation follows the pattern of seasons, so do our lives. Perhaps you’re in a season of energy and freedom right now—everything feels open, full of possibilities. But a new season is on the horizon.

It could be college, a new job, or a new relationship—or it might be something more challenging: a time of waiting, grief, or uncertainty. But one thing is for sure—change is coming.

And here’s the truth about seasons: they don’t ask for permission. They simply show up. But that’s not something to fear. It’s part of how God designed life to function. The Bible reminds us:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV).

If you’re going through a tough season, be encouraged—it won’t last forever. And if you’re in a good season, savor it fully—but stay grounded, because seasons change. The real question isn’t if life will change, but are you ready for it? Are you allowing God to prepare your heart now? Are your spiritual roots deep enough to keep you anchored when life takes a new direction?

Many people live only for the moment, unaware that a new season is just around the corner. But wisdom looks ahead—because Jesus is coming.

Are you ready to meet Him face to face?

This is why Jesus shared the parable of the ten bridesmaids. Five were wise, and five were foolish. The message is straightforward and sobering: He is coming, and we must be ready. The foolish bridesmaids missed the celebration—not because they weren’t aware of the wedding, but because they took too long to prepare. Imagine the heartbreak of that moment: "I had the time… but I wasn’t ready."

Jesus said: "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:44, NIV).

One of the greatest reasons we can trust in Jesus’ return is how clearly He fulfilled the promises of His first coming. Both Christmas and Easter serve as powerful proof. Throughout the Old Testament, God provided specific prophecies about the coming Messiah—and Jesus fulfilled every one with remarkable accuracy.

The Bible foretold that the Messiah would crush the serpent’s head, be born in Bethlehem, and come through a virgin. Every detail was fulfilled, just as God promised. So when Jesus says He will come again, we can be confident that He will keep that promise too.

That’s why we hold on to this unshakable hope:

"In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:37, NIV).

In Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus speaks directly to His disciples about how to live in anticipation of His return. When they asked Him when it would happen, He provided a profound and unexpected answer:

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36, NIV).

Why didn’t Jesus give us a date? Because He understands our hearts. If we knew the exact moment, most of us would wait until the final hour to take things seriously. But Jesus calls us to live every day with urgency and expectation—as if today could be the day. And it could be.

Whether we encounter Him in death, or He returns in glory, that moment will inevitably arrive. And when it does, it will not be subtle. The Bible states:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV).

Then the celebration will commence. The wedding feast. The joy. The reunion. The Lion and the Lamb. Streets flowing with honey. The finest wine. Even creation will respond with praise. The Holy Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah, proclaimed:

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12, NIV).

Until that day arrives, we are called to live ready—to purify our hearts, pursue holiness, and keep our eyes on eternity. The Bible says:

"All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3, NIV).

This hope doesn’t lead us to fear—it leads us to faithfulness.

That hope—the assurance that we will one day see Jesus face to face—should shape how we live right now. Not because we’re trying to earn God’s favor, but because we already have it. We pursue holiness, not to be loved by God, but because we already are.

So, knowing that Jesus is coming again, what should we do in the meantime? We rest and wait. He said, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10).

That’s exactly what the five wise bridesmaids did. At first glance, it might seem surprising. Wouldn’t you expect only the foolish to fall asleep? Shouldn’t the wise stay awake, keeping watch? But Jesus included that detail for a reason. The wise could rest because they had prepared in advance. They brought their oil ahead of time. They were ready—so they could sleep in peace, knowing they had nothing to fear when the call came.

It’s a powerful image of the Christian life: working faithfully during the day and resting peacefully at night, fully trusting that God is in control. The Bible says:

"Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4, NIV).

You don’t need to stay up worrying—because God never sleeps. And if Jesus comes during the night, or if we don’t wake up tomorrow, what greater peace can there be than waking up in His presence?

Rest is part of God’s design. However, like anything else, it can be misunderstood. In the New Testament, some believers in Thessalonica misinterpreted the promise of Jesus’ return. They stopped working, thinking the end was so near that nothing else mattered. Paul had to correct them. The Bible states:

"We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy working but busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:11–12, NIV).

Jesus isn’t calling us to check out of life while we wait for His return. He’s calling us to stay engaged—to live wisely, work diligently, love deeply, and walk intentionally. Every day is a gift and an opportunity to live with eternity in mind.

If the Kingdom of God is like a wedding feast where everyone is invited, then we should do everything we can to extend that invitation—to unbelievers, to sinners, and even to the overly religious. Matthew understood this. As soon as Jesus called him, he didn’t keep it to himself. He immediately invited others to come and see. The Bible says:

"Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them" (Luke 5:29, NIV).

Levi—who would later be known as Matthew—invited his old friends to meet his new Savior. That’s exactly what we’re called to do.

So, who in your life needs an invitation? Who could you bring to church? You don’t have to know all the answers or have everything figured out. Just be honest. Say something simple like, "I don’t have it all together, but I’ve found something real, and I want you to experience it too."

It’s similar to recommending a favorite restaurant or a show you enjoy. We naturally discuss the things that affect us. If Jesus has transformed your life, don’t keep that to yourself. Say, "You’ve got to come and see." We should enthusiastically share our faith and invite our friends because there’s no greater invitation than the one that leads to peace with God.

When we show up consistently, serve, and invite others, something powerful begins to happen within us—we’re encouraged, uplifted, and strengthened. That’s why the Bible says:

"Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25, NIV).

We don’t gather just out of routine; we gather to remain grounded in truth, focused on our calling, and faithful to the One who called us. God has placed dreams in your heart. You have a purpose. You were created to make a difference.

That’s why you leave church feeling refreshed—because your soul knows you were made for more.

So, yes, live ready—because Jesus could return at any moment. Be watchful. Be faithful. Keep your heart anchored in eternity. At the same time, lead, build, and plan as if He may not return for another 2,000 years—because He might not.

That’s why we don’t live in fear or with passivity. We live with purpose. We build our lives, our ministries, and our families on foundations that will endure over time. We invest in what matters most—not in what fades, but in what lasts. The Bible says:

"If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, (or on the other hand) wood, hay, or straw, their work will be revealed for what it is, for the Day will bring it to light" (1 Corinthians 3:12–13, NIV).

This is the mindset we need in the Church. It’s not just about reaching people with a message—it’s about walking alongside them, connecting with them, discipling them, and equipping them to reach others. That’s why we raise up leaders, make disciples, support those who serve, and invest in the next generation.

We’re not just thinking about today—we’re planting seeds for our children, grandchildren, and for people we may never meet. Because we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. The Bible says:

"One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts" (Psalm 145:4, NIV).

At any moment, God could return and establish His kingdom in fullness. That day is coming—but until it does, we are not called to wait passively. We are called to live with purpose.

There are people who need hope. There are lives waiting to be touched by the love of Christ. And there is a calling inside you—gifts, dreams, and purpose placed there by God—waiting to be lived out.

So we don’t stand still. We build with intention. We lead with courage. We give generously. We go boldly.

All the while, we keep our eyes fixed on eternity—and our hearts fully prepared for His return.

Read Part 2

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott