The Bride of Christ

It’s interesting to see how all 66 books of the bible fit together into a single perfect picture. If studied carefully the bible reveals itself to be a love story of redemption which started in a garden east of Eden and ends on a wooden cross on Calvary. It is a story that was written before the foundations of time were laid. If the bible is a love story then there has to be a bride, bridegroom and a wedding ceremony.  So let’s put some pieces on the table and see what we can put together.   

 In the New Testament letter written to the Ephesians’ church (5:22), Paul explains how a healthy union between married couples is suppose to function. He uses the believer’s relationship with Christ to illustrate this. Paul tells us that just as Christ is the head of the church and the savior of the body so the man must protect and care for his wife. In (5:25) he writes that Christ loved the church enough to give His life for her.   

Let’s take a look back to the point where the church becomes “the bride” of Christ. In Matthew (26:29), we get a glimpse at the  last supper where Jesus takes a cup filled with red wine, gives thanks and  tells His apostles “Drink from it all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Jesus went on to say, “ But I say to you, I will not of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”  

We know from scripture that the apostles didn’t fully understand the events of that night let alone the symbolism that Jesus introduced at the last supper with the bread and wine. They couldn’t see Him literally becoming their Passover Lamb that night. And they were certainly not ready to see their Messiah be brutally treated and put to death on a Roman cross. And it’s probably safe to say, many of us do not fully understand what we are doing when we drink from a communion cup. The first step to a better understanding is to see why the “church” is called “The Bride of Christ”. 

 To see this truth more clearly we need to look at the customs of an ancient Hebrew wedding ceremony around the time of Jesus.  These early Hebrew wedding customs reveal significant truths that will help us to be prepared for our bridegroom’s future return. In ancient times, it was customary for the bridegroom to visit the father of the bride and ask permission to marry his daughter. The conversation would also include the bridegroom’s plans of how he would provide a secure and happy life for his daughter. If both the bride and her father agreed to his terms then the bridegroom would pour a cup of wine and offer it first to the bride, then to the father.  They were making a covenant or contract.  

At this point the bridegroom leaves his bride and returns to his father’s house where he prepares a home for his bride to live in. This process could take anywhere from a few months to several years to complete. Meanwhile, it was customary for the bride to give herself a “mitzvah” or ritual bath and spend her remaining time faithfully waiting for the bridegroom to return for her.  While she waited, she would continue the process of purification which consisted of inward renewal and outward cleansing.  She wanted to look incredibly beautiful for her bridegroom when he returned. 

Then when the Father of the bridegroom saw that everything was ready and in place he would tell his son to go and get his bride. This usually happened in the dark of night clothed in an element of surprise.  It was a very joyous, festive occasion where the entire clan and village got into the act. The bridegroom and his friends with torches in hand would usually be joined with the bridesmaids who had their lamps full of oil as they waited for the bridegroom’s arrival. He was supposed to surprise the bride and find her eagerly waiting for him, cleansed and being faithful.

So when we, as the “bride of Christ”, drink from the cup we are saying to Jesus that we agree with His proposal and we receive His terms. We pledge to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him by not defiling our bodies with the dirt of this world. Let’s look back at the same passage in Ephesians (5:26) “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

In much the same way Jesus came to our home, the earth, and bought us with a price.  He poured wine at the last supper and invited each of the apostles to share the cup. And each time that we do this we are to remember the new covenant that Jesus was making with us, that His shed blood was for the remission of our sins. Matthew (26:27-29). 

In the gospel of John (14:2-4) Jesus tell us that He is going away to prepare a place for us and that he will return someday for us. So as His bride we are to occupy here on earth eagerly awaiting the surprise return of our bridegroom. Jesus cleanses us by the washing through reading and studying of His word. One day Jesus will return for us and take us back to the home He has been preparing. In the book of John, chapter 14, verse 3 Jesus says “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Keep in mind that Jesus has been preparing this home for you and me for the past 2000 years. 

In closing let’s take a quick look at the book of Revelation (19:7). The passage describes an event yet future where Jesus “The Lamb of God” is the bridegroom at His wedding feast. “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  It goes on to say in verse 9 “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”  Will you be one of “those’ who will sit at His table on that day or have yet to receive the free gift of salvation that God has provided for you?