An Epistle on the Wedding of Christ and His Church
Beloved brethren,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. As I pen these words, my heart is filled with awe at the manifold wisdom of God, revealed not only in the Holy Scriptures but also in the traditions and customs of His covenant people, the Israelites. Among these is the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony, a profound picture of the relationship between Christ and His Church. May this meditation deepen your understanding of our Bridegroom’s love and commitment, and inspire you to prepare for the day when we shall meet Him face to face.
The Betrothal (Kiddushin): A Covenant of Love
In the Jewish wedding tradition, the process begins with the betrothal, known as kiddushin, a formal engagement far more binding than the engagements of today. This covenantal act involves the bridegroom offering a bride price (mohar), a sum paid to the bride’s family to demonstrate his commitment and value for her.
Even so, Christ initiated His relationship with the Church by paying the ultimate bride price—His own blood. As the Apostle Paul writes, “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). This price, paid upon the cross, sealed a covenant of love that binds us to Him. Just as the bride’s consent was necessary for the betrothal to take effect, so too must we respond to Christ’s offer, declaring, “Yes, Lord, I will follow You.”
The Cup of the Covenant
During the betrothal ceremony, the bride and groom shared a cup of wine to symbolize their covenant. This cup marked the beginning of their union and foreshadowed the fullness of their marriage.
Similarly, at the Last Supper, Christ offered His disciples a cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). Each time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we reaffirm this covenant and anticipate the day when we shall drink anew with Him in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29).
The Preparation Period
After the betrothal, the groom would return to his father’s house to prepare a dwelling place for his bride. This period of separation, though temporary, was marked by anticipation and diligent preparation. The groom would say, “I go to prepare a place for you,” assuring the bride of his return.
In like manner, Christ has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. He promised, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). During this time, the Church, as the bride, is called to prepare herself, adorning herself with righteousness and good works, for “the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8).
The Bridegroom’s Return (Nissuin)
When the preparations were complete, the bridegroom would return for his bride, often at an unexpected hour. Accompanied by a joyful procession, the groom’s arrival was heralded with the sounding of the shofar and a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom comes!”
This mirrors the return of Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom. As Jesus warned, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). At the appointed time, the trumpet will sound, and He will descend from heaven to gather His bride to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Blessed are those who are ready, whose lamps are filled with oil, and who eagerly await His appearing.
The Wedding Feast
After the bridegroom’s return, the couple would celebrate their union with a wedding feast, a time of great joy and festivity that could last for days. This feast marked the culmination of their covenant and the beginning of their life together.
Scripture points to the ultimate fulfillment of this celebration in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. John the Revelator writes, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). This glorious event will unite Christ and His Church in eternal fellowship, an unbreakable bond of love and joy that will never fade.
A Call to Readiness
Beloved, as we meditate upon these truths, let us take to heart the exhortation to remain faithful and watchful. The Apostle Paul likened the Church to a bride presented to Christ, saying, “I have betrothed you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). Let us, therefore, keep ourselves pure, free from the stains of this world, and wholly devoted to our Bridegroom.
The ancient Jewish wedding rituals are not merely historical customs; they are a prophetic foreshadowing of God’s redemptive plan. Through them, we see the depth of Christ’s love, the certainty of His promises, and the glory that awaits His bride. May we live in anticipation of that day, preparing ourselves for the moment when we shall hear the cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes!”
An Oracle of Fulfilment
Hear now the words of the oracle, for they affirm the expectations of Revelation 21 and 22:
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men. He shall tabernacle among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them as their God. No longer shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away. The Bridegroom shall adorn His bride with glory, and she shall shine with the brilliance of precious stones, as a jasper clear as crystal.
The river of life shall flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing through the streets of the New Jerusalem. On either side of the river shall grow the tree of life, yielding its fruit each month, and its leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. There shall be no more night, for the glory of God will give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.
Thus says the Lord: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.”
Beloved, let this vision sustain your hope and steadfastness. For the Bridegroom is faithful, and His promises are true. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
To Him who is able to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, be all honor, glory, and power, now and forevermore. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
A Fellow Watchman
