Jewish Wedding Traditions

Compared to the Relationship between Jesus Christ and his Bride the Church

Event in Jewish Wedding

Application to us as Christians

Scripture References

1. The Beginning: The groom's father made and approved choice of the bride. Christ is the bridegroom. Church is the bride. The Father makes and approves the choice. John the Baptist shows himself as bestman. John 10:28
John 3:29
2. The Groom's Promise: a. Made a covenant or contract promise. b. Drink the cup of wine to seal the covenant. c. Groom pays a price to show he is serious. d. Groom's speech of promise to his bride that he would come to claim her soon. God made a new covenant with Israel to replace one He made with Abraham. Jesus drank cup of redemption at Passover. Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. Jesus promises to come and take His bride, the church, away to be with Him. Jeremiah 31:31 Matthew 26:27-29, 1 Corinthians 6:20 John 14:2-3
3. Groom Prepares a Place for His Bride: Groom prepares a bridal chamber where they stay for seven days. He works on it until it pleases his father. Then he may go after his bride. Jesus tells us that He does not know when He will come; only His Father knows. We must be alert and ready! For, He is preparing our place now. Be alert: Don't worship idols. Be ready: Do all He asks while you're here. Develop an active prayer life. Offer yourself in ministry opportunity. Keep ourselves from doubt and failure. Mark 13:32-33
4. The Bride Waits: While the groom builds the new home, the bride waits and wears a veil. This shows she belongs only to the groom. She prepares for her wedding by making blankets, etc. She also shows gratitude to her family for raising her and she mends hurt relationships. No matter what, she had to be ready because he would come at night. We must do His will in our daily lives. We must be committed to our ministries at home and church. We must heal wounded relationships and express our agape love to each other. We must exhort! Jesus tells us that He will come like a thief. So, we must be living "His Love" at all times. The church, too, is veiled. The world is not sure who the church is. When we go, it will know. 2 Corinthians 11:2 Luke 19:13 1 Corinthians 13:1 Luke 12:40
5. The Bridesmaids: Unmarried friends who attend the bride and provide light for the groom who comes at night. We prepare the bride in our ministry to each other. We groom her. We must be ready in our service and not run out of power or conviction as the bridesmaids did. Matthew 25:1-13
6. The Bridegroom Comes: The grooms'men would run ahead of the groom and shout that he was coming. While the father's head was turned, the groom would steal the bride. The wedding party then went back to the groom's house to meet the guests. The angel, Gabriel, will blow the trumpet of God, and Jesus will come like a thief to snatch away His Bride. When we arrive in Heaven, a host of people will be waiting for us. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
7. The Bridal Chamber: The bride and groom enter the bridal chamber where the marriage is consummated. The party waits outside until the groom tells the best man that it is consummated. Then, the guests rejoice for 7 days. As John the Baptist was filled with joy when he saw Jesus, so we too shall be filled when we join Jesus in the heavenly bridal chamber. Some liken those 7 days in the chamber to the 7 year tribulation period which we will spend not in agony on earth, but in bliss in heaven. Then we will return as the wife, not the Bride. John 3:29 Revelation 19:7-8
8. Married Life Begins: New coup1e goes to the father's home to begin married life. We too, will go to the Father's house for the Marriage Feast of The Lamb, then go with Christ in His reign in His kingdom here on earth for 1,000 years. Revelation 20:16

CONCLUSION:The natural result of the love relationship between two people is a deepening knowledge and understanding of one another, and so it is in our love relationship with the Lord Jesus.

(From the book I am My Beloved's by Robert Probert available from Sherea Press, Publishing, 795 Via Lata; Colton, CA 92324, 1992.)

Lambert Dolphin
lambert@ldolphin.org
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