Steward's Portion

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JESUS IS REVEALED THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE, as a Bridegroom God who is gathering a Bride to Himself.   (Isa 54:5) Much of the language and imagery used to describe our salvation and relationship to God is taken from the Jewish wedding traditions.   The traditions listed below provide insight into understanding Who Jesus is, what He is doing, and why He has chosen to do it the way He has.  By properly understanding the bridal perspective of our salvation we can begin to view ourselves as His beloved Bride and receive and reciprocate His love.   It will also provide context for our current season of anticipation for His return. Our salvation here on Earth is just the beginning of  an everlasting love.  Jesus is eagerly awaiting the wedding day!

1) Shiddukhin- The Role Of The Matchmaker

In Jewish wedding customs it is traditionally the father of the groom who selects a bride for his son.   In Genesis chapter 2 we see that Adam’s wife was fashioned for him by God (his Father).  In Genesis chapter 24 we see another example as Abraham made provision for a servant to find his son Isaac a proper wife, Rebekah.  The servant came unto Rebekah with a proposal and without having seen Isaac face to face, she said yes and agreed to leave everything behind and go forth to marry Isaac.  In the same way, God the Father has ordained that the Holy Spirit woo a Bride for His Son Jesus.  Just as Rebekah, we have not yet seen Jesus face to face, but we are learning about our betrothed and falling in love with Who He is through the ministry of the matchmaker, the Holy Spirit.  Concerning selecting a bride, Jesus, ever the obedient Son only does the will of His Father.  The Apostle Paul identified himself as a co-laborer with the Holy Spirit in being part of the matchmaking process, when he said in  2Co 11:2-3  “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. “

I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.  (John 5:30b, KJV)

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  (1Peter 1:8, KJV)

We love him, because he first loved us.  (1 John 4:19, KJV)

 

2) Mohar – The Bride Price

In Jewish tradition it is required by law that the groom pays a bride price to her family and purchases (or redeems) her to himself. The higher the worth of the bride, the higher the price that will have to be paid.   Jesus has paid for His bride at the high cost of shedding His own blood to redeem her from her past of sin.  This speaks of the incredible value of His chosen bride.

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  (1 Corinthians 6:20, KJV)

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  (1 Peter 1:18-19, KJV)

 

3) Mattan – Love Gifts

Though not required, the groom also often gave gifts to the bride to demonstrate his love for her.  Jesus offers the Church wonderful gifts: eternal life, peace, supernatural power…etc

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (John 10:28, KJV)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (John 14:27, KJV)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  (Luke 10:19, KJV)

 

4) Shiluhim – The Dowry

The Father of the bride endows her with a gift (her portion of the family inheritance) to bring with her into marriage.  In addition to money a bride would often be given a trousseau which would often include new clothing, linens, and other things she would need to set up her new home.    Our Heavenly Father sees to it that we are given everything we need to start our new life with Christ: we receive The Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and yes, even new garments of white for the wedding!

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (John 14:16-17, KJV)

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.  (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, KJV)

…for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  (Revelation 19:7-8, KJV)

 

5) Ketubah – The Marriage Contract

The wedding document is a contract detailing the Mohar (the Bride price), the rights of the bride and the promises of the groom.  The contract would be read out loud so all those present would know the terms. In the book of Jeremiah chapter 31, God outlines that He will make a new contract with Israel (His chosen ones) writing the law on their hearts and promising to be their God.  Both parties need to consent to the wedding, and the bride had to make her consent verbal in the presence of at least two witnesses for the wedding to be binding.   When a Christian first makes their agreement with Jesus to be His Bride we are to confess with our mouths, and when we do so in the presence of two or three other Christians, Jesus Himself is present in our midst to accept us.  Our wedding document is the Bible, wherein are contained all that is required of us and promised to us.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (Jer 31:31-33, KJV)

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Heb 8:6, KJV)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (Romans 10:9-10, KJV)

… In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.  (2 Co 13:1, KJV)

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  (Mat 18:20, KJV)

 

6) Kiddushin -The Cup of Proposal

Historically, drinking together from the same cup was the manner in which an official proposal was made (no kneeling on one knee required!).  The bridegroom pours a cup of wine, lifts it high in his right hand, and recites the blessing:  Baruch L ata adonai eloheinu melech ha olam borey pre hagafen. (Blessed are you O Lord, King of the Universe who creates the fruit of the vine).  He then drinks of the cup and offers it to the bride.  The wine was symbolic of the blood of a covenant. Although we might consider this merely an engagement, the moment that the bride takes a sip from that cup she is legally his wife and the contract is binding.  Even though the marriage will be some time in the future if they were to separate now they would need a legal divorce.   After the bride has drunk from the Kiddish (literally the cup of sanctification) the bridegroom would depart to prepare a place for her.  The time it would take him to build a house and return to take his bride was generally about a year.

To a Christian, celebrating communion is a very special time of remembrance.    The significance of the Last Supper should not be overlooked.   The last supper took place at Passover, during a special dinner feast called the Seder.  During this dinner the Jews recount and celebrate their exodus from Egypt and drink 4 cups of wine during the course of the evening.  The four cups are: 1) cup of blessing, 2) cup of plagues, 3) cup of redemption/suffering and 4) cup of praise.   It was the third cup of redemption/suffering that Jesus held up, blessed and said that it represented His shed blood which was going to sanctify the new covenant (His wedding covenant).  As each of the disciples drank from that cup they were betrothed legally to Jesus as his bride. When we first drank the communion wine we accepted Christ’s proposal of marriage and we are legally His too. From that moment forward we are now awaiting His promised return. He is coming back to bring us to the place He has been preparing!  Jesus made a curious statement saying that He would not drink from the fruit of the vine again until He does so with us in His Kingdom.  Jesus was saying that He would not that night be drinking the customary 4th cup of praise, but would wait to drink it until His wedding day with us.  It is also traditional that after the bride accepts the proposal the groom would place a veil over her face.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.  (Mar 14:23-24, KJV)

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (John 14:2-3, KJV)

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come  (Mat 24:42, KJV)

 

7) Mikvah – Purification/Baptism

During the time while the bride is awaiting the return of the bridegroom she enters a season of purification and anticipation of the moment he returns and the wedding occurs.  It is important to note, she does not know the date and time he will return so she is to live in a state of perpetual readiness.  The first thing the bride would do is be publicly immersed in a body of water, usually a lake or river, as a ceremonial cleansing (Mikvah).  It would be a time of rejoicing and her friends and family would celebrate her newly married state.  She now belongs to her husband and is under his authority.   Christians celebrate our engagement to Christ by being water baptized and making our confession public.  We identify with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, and pronounce ourselves under His authority. We then continue to be cleansed as we study the scriptures and obey the Holy Spirit.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  (2 Co 7:1, KJV)

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  (Eph 5:25-27, KJV)

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (Rom 6:3-4, KJV)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  (Col 3:2-4, KJV)

It is interesting to note that at some point before the wedding, the bridegroom would be called upon publicly at the synagogue to a read a passage from the Torah.  When first researching this I thought the passage of Scripture might be something from Song of Solomon, or the Psalms, but was surprised to find that the passage was Isaiah 61.  This was the same Scripture that Jesus read and then said “This Day is this Scripture, fulfilled in your ears”  (Luke 4:21).

8 ) Nissuin -The Nuptials

Traditionally the bridegroom would return for his bride in the night at the head of a torchlight procession.  There would be a shout to alert the bride they were coming. There would be trumpets, singers and great commotion!  The bridegroom would literally be abducting his bride by surprise and she would live with him from that point forward.  Often she was literally carried away in a wedding litter (a canopied cart carried by men). The only one who knew the timing beforehand would be the groom’s father.  He would prepare a feast and invite the guests.  Customarily the bride would give the groom a crown, and he would give her a crown and they were to be treated like a King & Queen during their wedding. (Song 3:11)  The guests would entertain them and dance around them to “make them glad”.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (1 Th 4:16-17, KJV)

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  (1Peter 5:4, KJV)

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  (Hebrews 10:36-37, KJV)

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  (Rev 3:11, KJV)

 

9) Chuppah  & Cheder Yichud – Covering & Room of Privacy

The Cheder Yichud was the room that had been prepared where the bride and groom would live.  The celebration would be going on outside even as the veiled bride and groom went inside alone to consummate their marriage.   The best man would wait outside until the groom would tell him that the marriage had been consummated.  The celebrating and feasting would continue for seven days during which time the bride remained hidden.   After the seven days when the bride (now unveiled) and groom re-emerge the marriage supper would be celebrated.  This represents the spiritual unity that will occur when Christ brings His Bride to Heaven and the veil of separation is finally removed! (In today’s Jewish customs the Cheder Yichud has largely been replaced by a four poled canopy  (Chuppah) under which the final part of the wedding ceremony takes place. The groom waits under the canopy praying for his friends that each would find his perfect mate, while the bride and her parents circle the Chuppah seven times before she goes in underneath and the ceremony is conducted.)

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.  (Joh 3:29, KJV)

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  (1 Co 13:12, KJV)

 

10)  2nd cup of wine

Immediately after the wedding supper, the 2nd cup of wine is drunk.  As mentioned earlier this will be the first time Jesus has drunk wine since the last supper… in essence He wanted to drink that 4th cup of the Seder dinner, the cup of Praise, with us in Heaven on the wedding day!    Our joy will indeed by full on that great and glorious day.

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine!  (Song of Solomon 4:9-10, KJV)

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.  (Rev 19:9, KJV)

….my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.  (Psa 23:5-6, KJV)

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.  (Joh 2:10, KJV)

Jesus not only fulfilled all of the messianic prophecies recording in Scripture, but it would seem that He also made a deliberate effort to fulfill the wedding traditions of the Jews so they would in turn recognize Him as a bridegroom.  I think this idea (and many others) are well supported by John’s comment that ” there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25) For further study on Jewish Wedding Traditions I’d like to recommend an excellent book “The Jewish Way In Love & Marriage” by Maurice Lamm.