Spirit and Truth

In a traditional ancient marriage ceremony, the bridegroom went to the home of his potential Bride. He carried with him three things: his best financial offering, a betrothal contract, and a skin of wine. If the father was impressed and accepted the Bridegroom's offering he then called the daughter for her response. Then, if things were acceptable to her, the bride-to-be drank the wine, and immediately a trumpet sounded to announce the betrothal. During the following year of betrothal, the couple could not see each other alone.

A chaperone always accompanied them wherever they went. During this year, the bridegroom went to his father's house to prepare a place (a chupah), or honey-moon bed. No engraved invitations were sent out for the wedding. If people preparing the calendar wanted to reserve a day for the celebration, they had a problem. When the young bridegroom was asked for the date of his wedding, he could only reply, "No man knows except my father." Why? Because he could not go and get his bride until the father approved of his son's preparations.

The bride, therefore, had to be in a state of constant readiness lest the Bride Groom's arrival, catches her by surprise. Often she kept a light burning in the window and an extra jar of oil on hand, lest the bridegroom come in the night and find her unprepared.

When the groom's father decided everything was in place and released his son to go fetch his bride, a second trumpet was blown. This trumpet, to announce the groom's coming, was called the 'last trump'. Thus announced, the bridegroom took the marriage contract to present to the father of his intended bride. He claimed her as his bride and took her from her father's house to his father's house. His father would be waiting to receive the couple.

Then the groom's father would take the hand of the bride and place it in the hand of his son. At that moment, she became his wife. That act was called the 'presentation.' After the presentation, the Bridegroom would bring his Bride to the place he had gone to prepare. There he would introduce her to all the society of his friends who had heard the trumpet and come to celebrate the marriage at the Marriage Feast.

This ceremony was part of the Jewish roots of ancient times. One must pause and digest the awesome correlation between this marriage ceremony and the Bride of Christ. I found this ancient ceremony uplifting and to me it is a foreshadowing of things to come. The following is my rendering of the above text. I pray it will bless you as you look with spiritual eyes into the full significance of our wedding yet to come.

Jesus was the hopeful bridegroom and his best offering was His sacrificial death at Calvary (1Corinthians 6:20). The contract was salvation (John 3:16). The wine that the bride drank was symbolic of 'regeneration' (John 3:3), or being born again. During the time of betrothal (we His bride-to-be) the couple was chaperoned. The Holy Spirit is our chaperone because Jesus promised not to leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to act in his stead (John 14:16-17). The bridegroom went to his father's house to make ready his wife's new home. Jesus said that He would go to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3). When the bridegroom was asked when the big day would be, he responded that no man knew the answer except his Father in Heaven (Matthew 24:36). The bride had to be in a state of constant readiness, so she would not be caught unaware ( Mark13:32-37). Likewise, we must be ever watchful for His return. She kept a light burning and extra oil on hand (unlike the 5 foolish virgins of Matthew 25: 1-13). We must always be in readiness and walking in His Spirit, so we may be found faithful in His eyes. When the father decided all was in order, he released his Son to go and bring his Bride home. And so will it be when He comes for His Bride (the Church). Then the 'last trump' was sounded to announce his coming for his bride (1Corinthians 15: 50-53: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). We as Christians await with bated breath, an expectant heart and an ear attuned to the Trump to sound! Then the Marriage Feast would be made (II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:27). What a glorious day it will be when we sit around the table of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

Remember that Jesus was a Jew, and was acquainted with their customs. He taught in parables to protect the hidden mysteries of the Word from the unbelievers. I find this ancient marriage ceremony to be one of those rare gems (hidden mysteries) that He left for us. But you must in your own hearts and minds, decipher these deep things. ---Tara Hart © 2001