Growth Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

[sourberry]

It's like a chess game brother. John was a pawn, or perhaps even a rook or knight, point being he was not the King. The lesser pieces are certainly important, but are not the King. Period.

John is a servant of the King. So are his disciples, as I think.

John does not bring a separate teaching. You see?

John straightens the path of our Lord, but also straightens our path to the Lord.

 

[Knotical]

"Oh, hey, come to my wedding party. We're celebrating!"

A few hours later:

"Party's over! Get out! You're all going to die now!"

For some reason I don't see that as the case.

Who are the wedding guests? Are they believers? What will happen with non-believers at the end?

 

[sourberry]

Who are the wedding guests? Are they believers? What will happen with non-believers at the end?

Nobody forces anyone to adhere to any teaching, but there is a parable, that is God breathed, as I think. And this parable talks of the bride, and of the guests.

So a foundation of faith question would be whether one adheres to the parable, as I think. Regarding the guests, I think the groom chooses them.

 

[Sparkey]

Well, if you aren't the bride or the bridegroom, who else would you be, and would you even be invited to the "wedding?"

Really, what benefit would there be for just being a "friend" of the bridegroom? That would not get you into heaven.

There is a friend of the bridegroom that is spoken of in Prophecy. He comes before the Groom. The last words of the Old Testament speak of this one. Does this refer to a person or a group?

Those who are invited to the wedding feast are told to not take the "best seats" because another could come and they would be asked to give up their seats. This means that there are more parties invited to the wedding (for instance, guests) than the Bridegroom and the Bride.

Personally, I would be happy to be given a glimpse of her even though I know in my heart that I don't qualify, I also know that God can do all things. I'm conflicted regarding the role that is mine to play in that celebration and hope to witness and celebrate as a servant. Is that not the case for all?

 

[Sparkey]

John straightens the path of our Lord, but also straightens our path to the Lord.

His was the voice that cried out in the wilderness -- make straight the paths, it's true. His also is the voice that calls for the hearts of the fathers to be turned to the children, the hearts of the children to the fathers. There are prophecies about this "one" that have yet to be seen. Much more than calling for repentance, we are to join ourselves in the United Hearts who love God, for we shall be His people, He our God in truth.

That was also the prayer of the Only Begotten, that we become One with the Father, even as He is one with His Father. This is the prayer that the friend speaks and calls for, the voice that I hearken toward. Shall we hear this? Will the voice of this friend of Jesus be sounded within our lifetimes?