Wedding story

To celebrate 24 years of married bliss here's an old story about a wedding reception.

The First Epistle of John, shortened to 1 John, contains the 'moving' words, which might be reasonably quoted at weddings:
4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.


It is said that (once long ago in the dark ages before text messages and mobile phones) on the day of a wedding, one of the guests could not make it due to a family emergency. Instead, he sent a telegram, just saying "1 John 4 vs 17 to 18", the friendly sounding text above.

However, in transcription it became "John 4 vs 17 to 18" which tells a different story altogether, as it refers to The Gospel according to John:
4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

A good story - and of course an old one. I'm surprised that the word telegram was not picked up by the speeling chequer.

Little note:
On further inspection of 1 John, we find that this lovely text is taken out of context and is not actually appropriate for weddings because the previous verse says: 
4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

Aside from that, we should not let it spoil a good story.