Thoughts on the Divine Service
9. This Is the Feast
Dear friends,
The Revelation to St. John is not the easiest book of the Bible to understand. It’s written in “apocalyptic language,” which means that it’s highly symbolic with all sorts of unusual images. There are a couple of important points to keep in mind before reading it. The first is that it does not tell one long story, but it tells one story six different times—the story of the Church from Christ’s public ministry to the Last Day. The other is that the imagery of the book is usually pointing back to the Old Testament. John is repeatedly telling the story of the New Testament church with imagery from the Old Testament, tying it all together to point to Christ.
Throughout the telling and retelling of this story, every now and then we get a glimpse of heaven.
Recently on the Feast of All Saints, we heard in Revelation 7 of the multitudes gathered around the throne, clothed in white robes washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Among them stand the saints who have gone before us. We have a place in that throng, too. We’re just not there yet. We are still in this great tribulation (7:14).
In Revelation 5, we see a Lamb who appears to have been slain (5:6), but now lives: this is Jesus, risen from the dead and reigning in glory forever. The hosts of heaven sing praises to Him, that He has ransomed His people by His own blood (5:9). Because of His sacrificial work, they ascribe to Him all power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing (5:12).
In Revelation 19, we have a glimpse of heaven on the Last Day. Christ and His bride—the Church—are united in heaven, the Bridegroom risen from the dead and the bride clothed in fine linen, bright and pure (9:8). An angel declares “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (19:9). It is a feast that has no end.
Meanwhile, here on earth and in this great tribulation, we sing of these scenes on many a Sunday: in place of the Gloria in Excelsis in Divine Service 1, we sing, “This is the Feast.” We sing the song of Revelation 5, “Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.” Remembering the marriage supper of the Lamb in His kingdom, we sing, “This is the feast of victory for our God! Alleluia!”
But is it? We’re not around the throne yet. We’re still in the dying world. Why do we sing it now—are we merely rehearsing for our arrival in the heavenly choir?
No, it’s far better than that. In Revelation, we see Jesus enthroned with the saints in heaven. Here in the Divine Service, the same Jesus is present. He is not on a glorious throne, but hidden in, with and under bread and wine. Because He is present to forgive sins, He is present to make us holy; and if He makes us holy, then we are saints in the presence of Jesus.
We’re not in heaven, but the song is still proper and true at the corner of Orchard and Cassia in Boise! Trusting that Jesus is present, we sing, “Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.” We declare that the Lord’s Supper is a feast of victory, because as He delivers to us His body and blood, Jesus shares His victory over sin, death and devil with us.
Just as Jesus will be visible and glorious in heaven, the marriage feast there will be far grander. That is why we call Holy Communion “a foretaste of the feast to come.”
Of the canticles in the liturgy, “This is the Feast” is by far the youngest, sung in our churches for less than a hundred years. Compare that to the Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy,”) which the boy Jesus likely sang in the synagogue in Nazareth. Nevertheless, it proclaims the joyous news that the Lamb enthroned in heaven visits us here, that we might join Him eternally there. What joy!