Jesus, the Bridegroom King

Objectives: By the grace of God, after the message the Church is expected 1. To know Jesus as the Bridegroom King 2. To rekindle a deepened desire for intimacy with Jesus 3. To prepare for the Bridegroom’s return through holy, focused and fasted living.

- I recently got engaged to Lawrie We’re already preparing for our wedding and excited to spend the rest of our life on earth as man and wife. But we’re not the only ones engaged and waiting for a wedding. Today, I want all of us realize that we who are in Christ are all engaged, and our Groom is about to return. How are your bridal preparations coming along?

The Bridegroom King Is Returning Soon for His Bride Jesus came to earth as the Savior of the world. His earthly name given Him by God specifies what His mission on earth is going to be: Yahweh Saves (Yahweh is Salvation). We know Him to be our Savior, our Lord, our Master. He is the Messiah. He is the Creator of everything. He is the King of kings who will be returning soon. And He is coming back as a conquering Bridegroom King who is returning for His redeemed Bride (the Church). At this point in time, where we see the signs of the end times happening, it is important that we start seeing Jesus as the Bridegroom who is returning for a spotless Bride.

The Bible and the Greatest Love Story of All Time The Bible contains the greatest love story of all time. It tells of God choosing us even before the creation of world and how He went all out in order to make us holy and blameless in His sight, calling us His very own, adopting us as His sons (and daughters) through His Son1 (Eph 1:4-5). His only Begotten Son, our Bridegroom, came to earth to pay with His own life the ransom price for His Beloved. God is so consumed with love for us and He desires for us to be in total intimate communion with Him. All over the Scriptures, God has laid out parallels between earthly marriage and divine marriage, inviting us to be in intimate fellowship with Him. *Hosea 2:16, 19-23; Isaiah 54:5; Eph. 5:22-33

1 We can legitimately call God Father because of Jesus, our Bridegroom King. The moment we put our faith in Him, we are joined to Him, co-heirs with Him, one with Him.

In the gospel of John alone, we see a number of these parallels, showing us the extent of God’s love for us.

The Bridegroom’s Acts of Love John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt

among us…” Jesus, the Bridegroom, left His Father’s home in heaven to be with His Bride.

John 10:15,18 “I lay down my life for the sheep… I lay it down of my own accord…

Jesus, the Bridegroom, willingly gave His life for His Bride.

John 13:1-5 “[Jesus]…showed them the full extent of his love… he wrapped a towel around his waist… and began to wash his disciples’ feet…”

Jesus, the Bridegroom, got down on his knees, humbling himself to serve His Bride.

John 19: 18, 28-30

“They crucified him… all was now completed, and… that the Scripture would be fulfilled… Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus, the Bridegroom, with His arms spread wide on the cross, gave His very life, His flesh and blood, for His Bride’s freedom.

The Bridegroom’s Promise John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are

many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

He is preparing a place for us.

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

He is coming back for us.

He made a covenant with us through His blood.

(Luke 12:20)

He paid the highest price for His Bride – with His very life.

John 3:16 The Father offers

When you pay for something at a very high price, it becomes very precious to you because of its immense value.

a bride-price of great value, indicative of the value He places on the bride2

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

He will never leave us. We have an “unbreakable marriage.”

Redemption, propitiation, forgiveness, justification, reconciliation – all these have to happen. They are the act of love. But the goal of love that makes these acts loving is that we be with him and see His jaw-dropping glory and be astounded.3 Scriptures say that a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his bride, and the two shall become one flesh. Likewise, Christ left his Father in heaven, left the home of his mother on earth – to give up His body for His bride, so that we might become one flesh with Him. In offering us His body, Christ offers us a “marriage proposal.” All we need to do is say YES by offering our bodies – our whole selves – back to Him. 4

PARALLELS BETWEEN JEWISH WEDDING CUSTOM AND THE CHURCH

1. SHIDDUKHIN The father would normally arrange a bride for his son when he felt the time was right. In fact, he would have been looking for a bride long before his son had even thought about marriage. It was the father who ultimately chose the household and daughter they’d approach in order to acquire a bride for his son (Gen 22:20-24).5 Ephesians 1:4 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…”

2 http://ldolphin.org/risk/ult.shtml 3 John Piper, Article: Why Are You Thrilled to be Loved By Jesus? 4 Dr. David Kyle Foster, The Divine Marriage, pp.30-31 5 https://priphotoblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/a-little-bit-about-ancient-jewish-weddings/

If the son approves of a daughter after they meet, the son would travel to her home and meet with her father to discuss details. Negotiations would go on for hours with questions, pledges, promises and arguments. The daughter would have no say in any of this. John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”

2. MOHAR: Bride Price

Daughters were almost always exchanged for a price because they were considered a financial loss to their families. The mohar reflects the value of the bride. It is paid by the groom’s father. Our mohar was the life of the Son. 1 Cor 6:20, 1 Pet. 1:18-19

3. KETUBAH: Marriage Contract Once everything had been settled between the bridegroom and bride’s father, they would record it in a document; a marriage contract consisting of the bridal price, pledges and promises of the groom as well as the rights of the bride. Our written contract stating the mohar, the rights of the Bride, and the promises of the Groom is the New Testament = Jeremiah 33:31-33 The bride would then be informed of the offer at the table and would be given a chalice with wine. If the bride accepts the offer, the groom would drink from the cup and pass it to the bride to drink from it as well. Once she drinks from the cup, the contract between the two is sealed. 1 Cor. 11:25-26 “Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it] to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

4. MATTAN: Love Gifts The groom would then give the bride something valuable to represent his sincerity and promise to her and their covenant. It's purpose was to be a reminder to his bride during their days of separation of his love for her, that he was thinking of her - and that he would return to receive her as his wife. In (Eph 1:13-14) Paul tells us that this pledge or gift - is the Holy Spirit - a promise of love and that He will return for us.6

6 http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/wedding.html

5. MIKVEH: Purification The bride would then undergo a baptism of water as an immersion ritual of cleansing and purification. It symbolized a separation from her former way of life in preparation for her new life with her husband. The bride, born again, is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and by the washing of water through the Word (Eph 5:26-27, 1 Cor 6:11)

6. KIDDUSHIN: Betrothal Ceremony under the Chuppah (huppah), in public Blessing of the wine (Lk 12:17, 20) After the ceremony, the couple are considered married (but without sexual union which does not happen until the after the actual wedding). Betrothal is binding. In case annulment is needed (i.e. if the bride is found to be involved in any untoward incident), religious divorce is needed to annul the contract (like in the case of Mary and Joseph in Matt.1:18-21). This option of divorce is only available to the husband. – PARALLEL: Our betrothal to Jesus is secure. We have an “unbreakable marriage” with him.

The couple must live separately during the betrothal period (which lasts for about one year). The bridegroom would leave to his father’s house and begin working on their home in preparation for their wedding. He would leave her with the statement, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14). The bride and the bridegroom could never truly be together unless the home has been prepared. The bride would wait in her father’s house and prepare herself. Whenever she went out in public, she would wear a veil to cover her face. This would signify that she’s been taken and is not available for any other man. Veiled women were called set apart, sanctified, or bought with a price. Her beauty was reserved for her groom only. The bride was responsible for maintaining an attitude of readiness as it was not known when the groom would come to get her after the household is prepared. UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION ANTICIPATION We are not to be distracted by False Teachers, 2 John 7-11 and Worldly Things, l John 2:15 We anticipate Christ's return, Matt. 24:42-44

PARALLEL: We are currently in a betrothal period with Jesus, as He went back to His Father’s home to prepare a place for us and we are currently waiting for His return.

7. NISSUIN: The Nuptials Hebrew: Nasa = “to carry” – The bride waiting for her groom to come and carry her off to her new home. The father of the son would be the one who would inspect the dwelling of the household and tell the son when he believed he was ready for his bride. He determines when the home is ready and when the groom can take his bride home. – Matthew 24:36 The father would then give his approval to his son and tell him to go get his bride. The bridegroom would gather his friends and plan their departure so that they arrive at her place in the night as a surprise. As they approach the city, they would sound a trumpet to alert the bride as a sign that the bridegroom was near. The friends would prepare a path for him outside the bride’s front door and call to her, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” (Matt 25:6; 1 Thess. 4:16-18)

Have you been preparing yourself for the Bridegroom’s return?

The Bridal Preparations

1. Commitment to HOLY living. Let us remember now in our betrothal period, that we are“set apart, sanctified, and bought with a price; our beauty reserved for our groom only.” (Rom. 12:1)

2. Commitment to FOCUSED living.

As we live out the remaining days of our betrothal, let us remember to maintain an attitude of readiness by:

• Living a life of undistracted devotion. Don’t be distracted by false teachers and teachings (2 John 7-11), as well as worldly things (1 John 2:15).

o Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

o Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus… consider Him… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

• Preparing for our eternal life with our Bridegroom. We must get used to kingdom living and practices (worship – Mk 12:30; Song Endless Hallelujah’s chorus: We will worship, worship, forever in Your presence we will sing…”) as well as get busy doing the Lord’s mandate to us (preparing and helping others to come to Jesus): John 10:16, John 21:15-19, Matthew 28:19-20).

3. Commitment to FASTED living.

As our betrothal period tarries, it should make us long for our Bridegroom’s return. Fasting is our expression of longing for the Bridegroom’s return, as well as our way of emptying ourselves to have Him fill our longing hearts, drawing us in intimate fellowship and communion with Him. (Matthew 9:15, Rev. 22:17)

Song: I am my Beloved’s and He is mine

His banner over me is love (3x)

His banner over me is love

He brought me to His banqueting table His banner over me is love

(3x) His banner over me is love

He lifted me up into heavenly places

His banner over me is love (3x)

His banner over me is love

Conclusion

1. In John 13:8, Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Will you submit yourself to Jesus and let Him wash you clean? The Holy Bridegroom King cannot take a soiled Bride with Him. Unless we submit to Him, we cannot be a part of Him. Jesus is asking for your hand in marriage. Will you say yes to Him? Will you let Him take you and wash you that He may present you radiant and spotless to the Father in heaven?

2. Jesus, our Bridegroom King, is coming soon. Are you ready for His return?

Prayer of Commitment / Altar Call