Dennis Huebshman
In ancient Jewish wedding customs, the groom’s father would choose a bride for his son. If the bride’s father agreed, terms of payment would be agreed upon. This was called the “bride’s price,” and the groom’s father was basically buying her for his son. Once any agreement was made and the price paid, the bride and groom would sign a contract or covenant called a “Ketubah.” Then they would drink wine as a symbolic sealing of the marriage contract. (ESP – all emphasis mine)
At this time, the couple was “betrothed” and actually considered to be married. However, before they could consummate the marriage, the groom would return to his father’s house to build an addition onto it. He would work until the father would give him permission to go and get his bride. The bride had no idea of the day or hour that the groom would call for her, so she had to be ready at all times. Many times, the groom would arrive in the middle of the night, and sometimes it would be to the sound of horns and shouting from a crowd of people that would follow him. It was a very wonderful, joyous occasion.
The groom would take his bride back to his father’s house, to the place he had prepared for them to live in, and they would have a great feast lasting sometimes up to seven days. At this point, they would officially begin their married life.
If all this sounds familiar, our Savior is our Bridegroom, and the Church – not any building or particular religion, but all true believers who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior – is the Bride of Christ.
It is said that at the last supper when Jesus shared the wine with His disciples, He told them He would not drink of it again until He would drink it in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25, and Luke 22:18).
In John 14:2-3, Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.”
Jesus made it clear that He was not just here for His disciples or only for God’s chosen people, the Jews. John 10 is a chapter with a wealth of information that totally applies today. For example, in verse 9, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Then verses 14-16, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”
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