Isaiah 25
"On this mountain [Zion] Yahweh of armies will make for all peoples a feast/drinking banquet/meal (מִשְׁתֶּה) of rich food, a feast (מִשְׁתֶּה) of well-aged wine (שֶׁ֫מֶר), of greasy food (שֶׁמֶן) flavoured with fat (מחה), of aged wine (שֶׁ֫מֶר) well refined/purified/filtered. And he will swallow up/engulf/destroy (בלע) on this mountain [Zion] the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil (מַסֵּכָה) that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up (בלע) death (מָוֶת) forever. And Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people [Israel] he will take away from all the earth/land (אֶ֫רֶץ), for Yahweh has spoken." - Isaiah 25:6-8
Isaiah, writing around 700 bc, continues to discuss the end times. After a time of judgment, there will be a time of feasting. The feast will be held on mount Zion in Jerusalem, and believers from all nations will be invited. God himself will be the host and will make all necessary preparations. All we have to do is show up. The wine will flow, and it will be the best wine anyone has ever tasted. There will also be delicious, greasy food. Everyone will be relaxed. There will be laughing, joking, conversing, and happy reunions of people that haven't seen each other in ages. All the believing heroes of history will be there. Death will be a thing of the past. What makes this feast possible is the destruction of death itself. Now death is a covering over the human race. But in that day, the covering of death will be swallowed (notice Isaiah's pun). God himself will wipe away tears from all faces, and Israel will assume her rightful place among the nations.
Jesus' first sign, according to the gospel of John, was to turn water into well-aged wine. It is because of him and his death on the cross that death is to be swallowed up. And it is because of him that the wine will flow.
"…And [the master of the feast] said to [the bridegroom], 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.' This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." - John 2:10-11
"'Let us rejoice, exult, and give [God] the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb [Jesus] has come, and his Bride [the church] has made herself ready. It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.' And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" - Revelation 19:7-9
Father, what a feast this will be! I don't deserve to be there, but I know that I will be by your grace. Thank you for defeating death through your Son. Only he could conquer sin and death. I look forward to drinking the wine and eating the greasy food you will prepare for us. Until then, in Jesus' name, amen.
- Jeff Coleman