How did Jesus our Lord add authenticity to the whole 20 verses in Mark during the last week on earth before his crucifixion. To answer that question one must understand that one of the three offices of our Lord when he came into the world would be the perfect prophet. That he certainly was, and those prophecies he declared will come to pass, if they have not come to pass already. The other of his two offices are the perfect Priest, this is the one he is occupying now. Lastly, he will be the perfect King over the Jews and by extension over the whole world. That is yet future.
The following parable of the Lord is a prophecy to the nation Israel. It concerns itself with the end of the day as almost all the parables of Jesus during the last week and the few days leading up to his crucifixion do. this one concerns itself with a marriage supper. It is going to be very interesting how this story progresses in the same way that the historical record of Acts progresses. We have seen this scenario over and over as we have read through the NT. This parable is given, I think, on what we call Wednesday before Jesus was crucified on what we call Friday Jesus was speaking in the Temple, the place where God met with his OT people.
Now, pay attention to the progression;
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
1 ¶ And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
We find out from other parables of Jesus that the ones bidden are collectively slated to also be the bride. These are those servants from Mark 16:15-16. They go to Jerusalem and Judah. These are ones who are bidden.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
We read at the end of 7 years and in Acts 7 that they are all gathered at the temple in Jerusalem where I believe the marriage would have taken place if those who were bidden would have come as bidden. There would be a probation of 40 years as asked by the keeper of the vineyard, another parable from Luke. Intercession! Isn't that what a priest does?
We can read Acts 8 when Phillip took the gospel to the Samaritans, the strangers of Israel, the outcasts. This was in the year 37/38 AD.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Remember, they killed James, an apostle of the Lord in Jerusalem and persecuted the church.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Historically this took place in 70 AD when the Romans dispersed the Jews from the land and they lost their national identity. We can determine from this that the intention of the king was to begin his wedding feast in 70 AD, which is the culmination of the generation of Jesus Christ. Moses in Psalm 90:10 says a generation is 70 years.
_____________ <iiiiiiiii> ___________ Enter a transition here.
The marriage then is delayed and a whole new group, not previously bidden are invited to come. Because now it was not a preselected group that could come but rather anyone on the highways that got the invitation. It seems the only requirement is they be properly attired with a wedding garment, probably provided by the king.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
We see the king opened the door to gentiles in Acts 10 for the first time in 40 AD. Romans 10 and 11 should be read as a supporting text for this study.
The time that has been spent on gathering guests to the wedding has been long and continues at this very day, but is almost over. The house is nearly full and that is what the king demands.
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Ro 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Lu 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
A house is a family.
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11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
There is a judgement of the guests before the marriage and entrance is solely determined by the attire. (one must be clothed with righteousness)
This passage is in the context of the "kingdom of heaven." This is the historical time between the resurrection and "day of the Lord." The marriage feast is the inauguration of the kingdom of Christ the King over all the earth. This is the church, the bride. We have a visual of this in the story of Adam and Eve and how they were in perfect fellowship with the Father in Eden, as man and wife. A land above the earth.
There are other parables that add details that Jesus gave during this time frame.
