Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Isaiah 25:6-9), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…
- [6] “This mountain” indicates the particularity of Yahweh’s salvation. His salvation isn’t to be found just anywhere; not all paths lead to Yahweh’s salvation. He has worked and revealed himself specifically through Israel as a nation, through her King and her worship. The heart of Israel was Mount Zion (Jerusalem). Now Jesus is the focal point of all this particularity, the fulfillment of everything God was doing in Israel. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Why is it important to embrace the particularity of God’s salvation in Jesus? Why is it hard to accept the idea of this particularity? How does this inform your evangelism?
- “All peoples” indicates the inclusivity of Yahweh’s salvation. (This is emphasized by the word “all” appearing five times in these verses.) “God loved the world in this way, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). People from every nation—not just Israel—may come to God through Jesus. Why is it important to embrace the inclusivity of God’s salvation in Jesus? Why is it hard to accept the idea of this inclusivity? How does this inform your evangelism?
- This passage speaks of the Messianic Banquet on the Last Day. From the New Testament we learn more clearly that this is the Day when Jesus returns from heaven, raises the dead, judges the world and makes all things right. Eternity in the New Heavens and New Earth will be inaugurated by this Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19), the Feast that Christ the King will himself set before his beloved people, his Bride. It is described here in terms of diverse company gathered around rich, rare food (marrow) and well-aged wine. What are some implications of this description? Is the Feast surprisingly “earthy” or mundane to you? Is that earthiness something you struggle to appreciate? Are you eager for this Feast? What’s the most interesting part about this Feast, to you?
- [7-8] For the Lord to swallow up death and wipe away every tear, he must be forever present to his people in such a way that there is no longer any threat of separation. He must give us the enduring joy of salvation, and eradicate sin, pain, misery, and death—and remove even the possibility of these things—forever. Death is spoken of here in terms of garments; Jesus clothes us with new garments, festival/wedding garments, the garments of his own righteousness, in order that we may belong to him and with him. What indication and assurance do you have that God will do all these things on the Last Day? Do you believe this will happen? Can you begin to imagine it? How would believing that this will be the “end” of your story, by God’s grace, change your life now? What impact does your hope for your future with Jesus have in your daily life?
- [9] It will be glorious almost beyond words when we recognize that the moment has finally come, that here he is, the Lord Jesus, the one for whom we have waited all this time. (Maybe all we’ll be able to say is, “It’s him! It’s him! Let’s party!”) Knowing that we are moving inexorably toward that moment, toward the Feast of Christ the King as the consummation of our relationship with God, how do you pray? How do you feel about feasting in this life? How do you feel about not being able to feast in this life? Do you pray for Christ to return quickly? “Jesus says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).