https://app.dropwave.io/episode/163dd9df-446c-4e12-9d1e-801211106bef/trinity-27-trinity-last-ad-2025.mp3

++ JESU JUVA ++

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[I. How the Wise receive Jesus]

The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out (Proverbs 13:9).

Those who were ready went in with [the Bridegroom] to the wedding (Matthew 25:10).

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:2-4).

Jesus, my Redeemer, lives; likewise I to life shall waken. He will bring me where He is; shall my courage then be shaken? Shall I fear, or could the Head rise and leave His members dead? Jesus, the Head of His Body, the Church, has risen from the dead. Where the Head goes, the Body follows. Jesus cannot leave His Church behind.

Jesus is the Bridegroom. His Bride is the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints washed clean by His Blood. The Bridegroom will return for His Bride. On that glorious day, He will return and bring His Bride into the wedding Feast of salvation that has no end. From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy Bride. With His own blood He bought Her and for her life He died.

You are not simply guests at this feast. You are members of His Bride. Christ is your Bridegroom. Christ gives all he has to his Church. As a husband gives all that he has to his bride, so Christ gives all things to you. St. Paul writes, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Your home is with Christ. Christ has an eternal Kingdom. You receive heaven as your home. He defeated sin, death, and the devil. So you have victory over these three tyrants. Health, peace, gladness — they are all yours. Every one of your tears shall be wiped away. Your mourning will be no more. Death will be only a memory. In that Day, eternal joy shall be yours.

So, wake, awake, Dear Saints! For night is flying! Rejoice at the thrilling cry! For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Her Lord comes down all glorious!

Rejoice, dear Members of the Lord’s Bride! With gladness, take up your lamps! The Bridegroom is near — at the very gate. Joy springs from your heart! Your Star is risen! Your Light is come! So, come dear Saints —. Come, ye Wise virgins —. Come, dear holy ones of the Lord Jesus —. Come into the Nuptial hall to eat the Lord’s Supper. All that you have hoped for in Christ is now handed over to you. You feast with the Bridegroom.

[II. How the Foolish receive Jesus]

But not everyone receives the coming of Jesus with such eagerness, joy, and peace. The Parable is an image of the Church on earth. Foolish virgins are mixed in with the Wise. These Foolish do not find Jesus to be a gracious Bridegroom. From Him, they hear only judgement. Not only that — but they are surprised by how things happen. The Lord Jesus they meet at the end doesn’t sound like the Lord they’ve always believed in.

What they don’t understand is why. They brought all the right stuff. They had lamps with oil in them. They were part of the ten — the perfect number that represents the church on earth. They are baptized and confirmed. They’re virgins. They’re not prostitutes or thieves or drunkards. They’re outwardly pious. They tithe. They are kind. They’re waiting for the Bridegroom. They’re not engaging in sinful behavior.

Maybe they notice that the Wise have brought along extra flasks of oil. But that seems like too much. The wait is longer than they expect. But that’s ok. Their eyelids grow heavy. That’s ok, too. They’ll hear the cry when it’s time. Better get some sleep now, so they aren’t exhausted for the party! One by one, they drift off to sleep. At midnight, a cry: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (Matthew 25:6). The Foolish virgins awaken from their slumber.

But instead of eagerness, their hearts are full of panic! Our lamps are going out! Only those who are up to no good travel without light! Give us some of your oil! But the Wise wouldn’t share. There’s not enough!, they snap at us. Selfish jerks. Why won’t they share? Oh, they want us to go into town and buy oil? Time is short — very short. Let’s go!

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10). The Foolish virgins return. But they are met with yet another shattered expectation. The door to heaven that had always been open is now bolted tightly shut. So they bang on the door. Open up! We’re ready now! Let us into the banquet! We’re ready to join the party! But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (Matthew 25:12).

Not know us? How is that possible? We know Him. We called Him Lord. We waited for You. We slept on the hard ground. We suffered as Christians. We were life-long members of the Church! We got married in the church.