A groom and his bride. A bride and her groom. What is important about a bride and a groom? What is God’s purpose for marriage, and what does He want us to get from this picture? God designed the marriage relationship to be a bond of one. An important picture of our relationship with God.
Let’s read John 3:22-30. Who is the bride? Who is the bridegroom? Who is the friend of the bridegroom?
In Genesis 24, we see Abraham sending his representative Eliezer, his oldest servant, to Mesopotamia to find a bride for Isaac, Abraham and Sarah’s son. Eliezer traveled to their home to the city of Nahor. This is where he met Rebecca. He then arranged for the wedding. He gave her a dowry that consisted of many gifts, gold and silver jewelry, and clothing gifts. In today’s society, we do things differently for sure. What do you think John the Baptist was speaking in this passage? Do you know what the tradition of a Jewish proposal? In the culture of the Jews in Bible times, this was the custom.
Now when Jesus came to earth, sent by His Father (Luke 19: 10). Jesus came to pay the price for His bride. Read 1 Peter 1:18-19, What do we learn from this passage? What does this tell you about the value of the Bride and the wealth of the bridegroom?
Peter makes it clear that we were redeemed with Jesus’s precious blood. The price He paid shows the value He places on His Church, His bride, and reveals the relationships’ value in His eyes. Jesus is the unblemished lamb. His precious blood is what makes it possible for us to have an unblemished relationship with Him. What value can we place on the price He paid? Christ poured out His very life for us?
When a Jewish marriage arrangement is agreed upon, they hold a somewhat formal covenant ceremony. At this ceremony, the groom will say his vows and then offer the money given as a pledge. The bride would consent to marry the man, and the two would sign a formal agreement and seal their vows with a drink from a common cup of wine. This is the Jewish equivalent of the modern engagement process.
Do you see any parallels in our relationship with Jesus Christ? Read Matthew 26:26-29 and Ephesians 1:13-14.
The moment we believe in Jesus, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God seals our Salvation.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your unconditional love for each of us. Thank you for having illustrations in the bible of what you want out of our relationship with you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
