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?

Sailing on Faith

There is nothing better or more relaxing then sailing out on the ocean in good weather. With a competent crew aboard, the boat on a straight course downwind with a cool breeze spilling in over the stern can make for some pretty comfortable ocean cruising. But sailing along California’s rocky; kelp strewn coast can also turn into a complete nightmare if your visibility is obscured. Any experienced sailor knows how quickly weather can change as clouds and fog seam to appear out of thin air making it almost impossible to see where you going.  Then what started out as a really enjoyable sunny daytime cruise can suddenly turn into an anxious fight for life in a nightmarish zero visibility blanket of extremely dense fog.  It’s paramount in times like these that the captain  have complete faith in the boat’s design, instruments and training to safely navigate the vessel through dangerous waters.

So let’s reef in the sails, slow the boat down and heave to for awhile as we consider another kind of visibility problem, that of spiritual fog. Many people have trouble believing in things they can’t see or examine for themselves. And I have to admit I can see how this can lead to a lack of faith. But believing in an invisible God requires a measure of childlike faith. The universe is just too vast and wonderful for any one man to catalog its contents and treasures. We must believe in someone larger than ourselves.

 Just as in our sailing analogy we need to have faith in a designer and His guidebook. We can begin our quest for faith by opening up the pages of our instruction manual to see how the disciples grappled with the concept of faith. Our story takes place in the days just after Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified, His body buried and placed inside the tomb of Joseph. Family, friends and followers of Jesus are dismayed at His death and mourning the loss of their Lord. Soon after the garden tomb is found to be empty Jesus suddenly appears inside of a locked room where the apostles are meeting. The gospel of John chapter 20 records that when Jesus suddenly appeared to the apostles they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. The risen Lord says to them “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” Jesus wants His friends to touch Him and believe.

Unfortunately, the apostle Thomas was not there to witness the Lord’s appearance. When told of the lord’s appearing Thomas says “Unless I see in His hands the prints of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Eight days later Jesus suddenly appears again and invites Thomas to reach his finger into the nail prints and his hand and into the wound in His side. Without any hesitation Thomas replies “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus says to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Here we have the definition of faith spoken from the Lord Jesus himself.

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 defines faith for us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Michael Card, a contemporary Christian artist, put it this way in one of his songs “To hear with my heart, to see with my soul, to be guided by a hand I can not hold, to trust in a way that I can not see, that’s what faith must be!”

Jesus once explained to Nicodemus in the gospel of John chapter 3 that while we can’t see the wind or know where it comes from or where it goes we can however see the influence it has on the leaves as it rushes through the branches on the tree.  Faith in God is just like that. While we can’t touch the nail prints or see God face to face we can see His design in the world around us: the beauty of a rose, the loyalty of a family pet or the endless cycle of water as it evaporates from the sea only to condense and fall as rain on the mountains, creating magnificent rivers and streams which in time find their way back to the ocean. The last three years of Jesus’ ministry were filled with healings, miracles, signs and wonders. And just like the people of Jesus’ day we all would rather see the show. We demand Jesus perform for us when He has already created everything we see around us!  

My prayer for you all is that you have the faith of a small child, where each new moment brings joy, wonder and amazement into your life. Have faith and believe by touching Jesus through His word. Make each day special and dedicated to God. Make sure you know your vessel’s designer and that you have read the instruction manual. Ready your sails by pulling on the lines that set the sail cloth to the top of the mast. Carefully choose and chart a course for your destination that waits ahead of you in eternity and let God fill your sails with faith!

Into the Light

This past week brought to the world the sad news of the passing of a truly great world artist, Thomas Kinkade. Thomas was an American painter known throughout the world as the “Painter of Light”.  Below is a quote by the artist himself. 

His death came suddenly at the age of 54. A pre-autopsy report states his death to be related to alcohol poisoning.  It seems to be an all too familiar trend with people who are very talented to never be satisfied with life but always be pushing the envelope of more. I’ve been told that Thomas Kinkade lived life in the fast lane never slowing except for the occasional deer crossing the highway or to sit down to paint.  He is however the exception to the rule that most artists usually don’t become famous until after they die. Thomas enjoyed a very lucrative painting business based on sales of various reproductions of his work. Although there seems to be some shades of black in the financial area surrounding his company.

It’s probably safe to say that 75% of all who are reading this article have at least one of his paintings hanging on a wall in your own home. In addition to hanging on your wall it most likely occupies a place in a prominent location. The painting is a special piece of artwork that initially caught your eye and has continued to touch you in a certain way. It’s a feeling of coming home after a long journey where you can kick off your shoes and let your hair down.  In fact the painting would not let you leave the store without it.

  For me personally Thomas’ paintings remind me of a glimpse of heaven. Where time stands still and Christmas is 365 days a year. They portray a very familiar feeling of a fire burning behind a screened hearth, warming the parlor where friends are busy playing a quick game of Scrabble or Old Maid. They are pictures of warm cottages wrapped in spring flowers or a frosty blanket of snow. And it’s of course a landscape, a home and a memory saturated in beautiful Christmas cheer, adorned with all the colors of the rainbow. Streaks of sunlight and shadows that dance and weave a tapestry of realism are an integral part of his art.  His scenes of main streets from around the country are among my favorites. In a way he has the skills of a resurrected Norman Rockwell combined with the personality of a Samuel Clemens.

Thomas admits that it’s was his mission in life to share the light with his following of fans from around the world. I really don’t like dredging up the dirt on people‘s failures but prefer to show off the light of their successes and generosity.  For Thomas Kinkade that won’t be a problem as he generously donated to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, World Vision, the Salvation Army, Points of Light Foundation and the Church of the Nazarene and many more organizations beyond mention. And we will never know the full extent to all of his anonymous giving.

On a personal note my brother in law was able to meet Thomas Kinkade and his wife in Los Gatos as he was there to paint the main street of Los Gatos, California’s, Santa Cruz Avenue. He was actually donating the painting to aid a local fundraiser for a local Los Gatos charity. Thomas Kinkade grew up in Placerville, CA. which is relatively close to the greater Sacramento, California area.  I’m sure growing up in the foothills close to Lake Tahoe helped inspire him to paint all those wonderful snow covered Christmas scenes he so much loved to portray.  

And now with Thomas Kinkade passing on into the light there remains only a finite number of paintings in his collection. Most of those reproductions will continue to grace the walls of homes around the world. Soon another generation of children will be born who will marvel at the way the light seems to jump off the canvas. It’s been said that Thomas lived life to the fullest in much the same way he filled up the canvas with oil and pastel colors. The dark and light contrast that shaded his paintings also spilled over to darken his own life. But for me it will always be the light of his life that draws me into this incredible artist’s world of light! So long Thomas may God welcome you into the eternal, glorious light of His presence!