I love weddings.
I just presided over my first while serving at
Hazelwood Baptist Church! And boy, was it a joy! The couple’s story tugs still
at my heartstrings! Their individual stories were trophies of God’s grace.
Together, the volume of their story has been turned up so that more can hear of his generosity.
This wedding was sweet for another reason, too.
I came away today with a fresh look of marriage redeemed. The big takeaway in
preparing and preaching this wedding sermon was this: Jesus made what
marriage was in the Garden and was because of the Fall even more than imaginable.
Below is a section of today’s ceremony. I’ve
taken out the newlyweds’ names for privacy reasons. I hope it blesses you like
it blessed me…
Sermon
Friends, we’re gathering today to celebrating one of the most
creative, beautiful acts in all of creation. The union of this man and this
woman in holy matrimony. I’ve had the joy of getting to know this couple now
for almost a year. To watch their love for each other unfold in selfless,
tasteful, courageous, servant-oriented ways is nothing less than a gift. It is
truly extraordinary. Just as the first wedding. God presided over the first
marriage in the Garden:
Genesis 2:20–25 (ESV): 20The man gave names to all
livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But
for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall
upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place
with flesh. 22And the rib that the Lord
God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23Then
the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24Therefore
a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked
and were not ashamed.
Adam’s first words to his newly found and formed bride were
spoken-word poetry!
And for the first couple, for the first time, Adam had someone who looked,
spoke, and felt like him. And yet, she wasn't the same as him. His Eve was unique amongst the
gifts and triumphs of creation. And with Adam as the crown of creation, Eve,
too, co-rules, co-reigns, and co-worships as priests. Indeed, this is the
picture of marriage to aspire to, “Bride” and “Husband”: For you both to be
open, honest, dependent, and completely open with one another.
And yet, sin and selfishness broke the
first couple’s union. Accusations, self-interests, and shame began to erode the
relationship that Adam and Eve had with each other and with their God. But the
God of grace who gave them each other also gave them another gift: Promised
redemption. The Bridegroom, the Kinsman Redeemer, Christ has come. Living and
dying in the place of sinners like you and me! And in his forgiving, redeeming,
saving, and serving, Christ shows commitment and faithfulness far beyond even
what Adam or Eve could ever imagine or image. Jesus promises to be the Husband
of the Church: Loving her, protecting her, perfecting her. Marriage today is no
longer a picture of what was lost! No, because of Jesus, and because of Jesus' people, marriage is a picture of God’s forever faithful love to his people:
Ephesians
5:31–33 (ESV): 31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother
and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This
mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33However,
let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she
respects her husband.
Your marriage, “Bride”
and “Husband”, will be a picture of God’s grace alive and vibrant amongst you, because of Christ’s work. And to verbalize this, we’re going to exchange some
vows…
Y’all.
I love marriage. I love it because Jesus loves marriage. He made it possible
for sinners to be constantly reconciled to one another, to constantly build
trust and intimacy, to be naked and unashamed.
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