Christ, in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25.1-13), likened His relationship to the Church as the bridegroom coming for the bride. In answer to the Pharisees' question, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking”, Christ refers to Himself as the bridegroom saying, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?" (Luke 5.33-34)
The Betrothal
Traditional Jewish marriage began with the betrothal. The betrothal occurred when the man took the initiative, left his father's home and went to the home of the prospective bride to negotiate the purchase price. This price, the "mohar," had to be paid prior to anything else relating to the marriage. In comparison, Christ left heaven, His Father's house, and came to earth, the home of His bride, to pay the price for a lost humanity. The "mohar" was His life's blood. We are redeemed by His blood. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." We also read in 1 Peter 1:18,19 this, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed ….. but with the precious blood of Christ, ..."
Christ did not negotiate with the father of this world, satan, for the purchase price of the believers. That price was determined beforehand by God.
The Jewish groom obtained his bride through the establishment of a marriage covenant. In the same manner, Christ came to the earth to establish a covenant. This covenant, foretold in the Old Testament by the prophet Jeremiah, was established the same night He gave the promise to His disciples by the shedding of His blood on the cross.
In the Jewish ceremony a shared cup of wine served as a symbol of the marriage covenant during the betrothal. Today the communion cup is the symbol of the New Covenant established by Christ to obtain His bride. (also read Matthew 26.29)
When the price had been paid the Jewish bride was considered sanctified, set apart exclusively for her husband. The Church, too, has been declared sanctified, set apart exclusively for Christ. In Ephesians Paul teaches, "Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Hebrews 10.10 says, “we are all sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all”.
The Preparation
With the establishment of the marriage covenant and the payment of the "mohar", the groom would return to his father's house. Christ, after paying the price, also departed to His Father's house. Just as the Jewish groom is required to prepare living accommodations for his bride in his father's house, Christ is preparing accommodations for us in His Father's house in heaven. (John 14.2)
The Jewish groom remained separated from his bride for a period of time not exceeding twelve months. Christ's return has been divinely delayed significantly longer and the Church is now living in this period of separation. (2 Peter 3.4-10)
The Jewish bride also busied herself meanwhile with her trousseau and learned about her marital responsibilities. Christ has taken care of this for the Church, for when He comes we will exchange our corruptible for the incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53)
The Return for the Bride
After all necessary preparations had been made, the Jewish groom returned for his bride to take her to be with him in their new home. The taking of the bride occurred at night and the groom would make his presence known by a shout. Christ too will return for His bride in like manner. It will undoubtedly be at night for some and day for others as we are told by Paul it will occur in the twinkling of an eye. Christ's presence will be made known by a shout also. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul tells us, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel..." (1Thessalonians 4:16)
In the taking of the bride in the Jewish ceremony, the groom was accompanied by a procession of his friends. Christ will also be accompanied by a procession of an angelic escort.
Just as the Jewish bride had no idea when her groom would return for her, the Church today has no idea when Christ will return. 1 Thessalonians 5.2 says, "This day will come as a thief in the night."
Similar to the Jewish bride returning with her husband to his father's house, the Church will return with Christ to heaven. In this way we will inhabit the heavenly dwelling place prepared specifically for us by Christ in heaven.
The Consummation
Shortly after their arrival the bridal pair were escorted to the bridal chamber, referred to as the "huppah". Then they consummated the marriage and thereby completed the marriage covenant. Similarly, when the Church is taken to the Father's house in heaven we enter into spiritual union with Christ thereby consummating the relationship which Christ covenanted with the Church over 2000 years ago.
This spiritual union will be the fulfillment of the promise when Paul says, "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13.12)
The bride left for her new home veiled and remained so veiled until she was in the the bridal chamber, for it would have been considered improper for her face to have been seen in public.
The Wedding Feast, The Huppah, The Tribulation
In traditional Jewish marriage ceremony the marriage was consummated and the husband made the announcement to the wedding guests. This announcement would signal the beginning of the wedding feast.
Just as the Jewish bride remained hidden in the "huppah" for a period of seven days, so will the Church remain hidden for a period of seven. Both Daniel, in the Old Testament, and Revelation, in the New Testament, give the exact amount of time for this period.
At the close of the wedding feast the groom would proudly escort his bride out of the bridal chamber. She would now be unveiled for all to see. So Christ will bring the Church out of heaven at the end of the Tribulation period in full view of all who are left alive. Paul speaks of this in Colossians 3:3,4, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”.
Conclusion
The analogy between the Jewish marriage customs and the relationship Christ has with the Church is a beautiful one and full of significance to believers and non-believers alike.
To the believer: It shows the believer the sequence of events up to the present time. It gives him hope for the return of Jesus Christ and the personal relationship we will share with Him throughout eternity. It is also significant in what it teaches about our present relationship to the risen Christ. In the absence of her husband it was possible for the Jewish bride to commit adultery. Today it is possible for the believer to commit spiritual adultery. Paul expressed his concern over this issue when He wrote to the Corinthians and said: “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the Serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:23) [In those days ensuring the chastity of the bride was one of the groom’s best man’s primary duties! Paul here refers to himself to this responsible position of the groom’s (Christ’s) best man.]
James 4.4-5 also speaks of how we commit spiritual adultery through our friendship with the world.
So evaluate your relationship to your Betrothed. What is it He would have you to do in is absence? Is He the center of your life and are you anxiously awaiting His return? Ask yourself if He is controlling your every desire and thought, or if your relationship to the world is of more importance. If you have been unfaithful, do not despair, He will forgive you if you confess your unfaithfulness and ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1.9 affirms his faithfulness toward us despite our actions.
To the non-believer: Just as the proposal of the Jewish bridegroom could be either accepted or rejected, you too, can either reject or accept the offer Christ makes to you each time you hear the gospel. If you continue to reject Him, you can not become a part of His bride, the Church and you will spend eternity separated from God and Christ.
Christ died on the cross for your sins, and by His shed blood on that cross he paid the price for your sins too. You too can enter into a relationship with Him by admitting your need for a Savior and by accepting Him as that Savior. If you accept Christ's proposal your sins will be forgiven and you will enter into the relationship and be a part of His bride. You will be gathered together with Him when He returns.
Accepting Christ Jesus’ proposal is really quite simple. You simply believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came to earth and died to pay the price for your sins, that He arose from the dead as proof that His sacrifice on your behalf was acceptable to God. (Romans 10.9-10)
Some must read related posts
- The Bride or The Guest (http://travancoreann.blogspot.com/2009/05/bride-or-guest.html)
- Make your own wedding gown (http://travancoreann.blogspot.com/2009/05/make-your-own-wedding-gown.html)
- longest engagement (http://travancoreann.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/longest-engagement/)
- stickiness in marriage (http://travancoreann.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/stickiness-in-marriage/)
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