Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom

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Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom Not Just Lord…but Lover

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Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom. Not Just Lord…but Lover. All slides available at www.xapurdue.com (click on “resources”) For Further Reading: Song of Solomon – Jesus and you The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards The Sacred Romance by Curtis & Eldredge - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom

Page 1: Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom

Knowing Jesus as our Bridegroom

Not Just Lord…but Lover

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All slides available at www.xapurdue.com(click on “resources”)

For Further Reading:

Song of Solomon – Jesus and you

The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards

The Sacred Romance by Curtis & Eldredge My All for Him by Basilea Schlink Knight in Shining Armor by P.B. Wilson

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God Transcends GenderGenesis 1:26-27

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’….So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.”

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Feminine Images of GodIsaiah 66:13

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Matthew 23:37

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

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Ephesians 5:22-33“…For this reason a man will leave his

father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

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1 Corinthians 6:16-17 Do you not know that he who unites

himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

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Gen. 2:18-24The Lord God said, “It is not good for the

man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…so the Lord caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and brought her to the man.”

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Gen. 2:18-24The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of

my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.”

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

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John 19:33-34But when they came to Jesus and found

that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

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Isaiah 54:5For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

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Isaiah 62:5…as a bridegroom rejoices over his

bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

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Jeremiah 2:2 Go and proclaim in the hearing of

Jerusalem: “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.”

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Jeremiah 3:14"Return, faithless people," declares

the LORD, "for I am your husband.”

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Jeremiah 3:20 “But like a woman unfaithful to her

husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord .

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Hosea 2:19-20 I will betroth you to me forever; I will

betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.

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Hosea 3:1 The Lord said to me, “Go, show your

love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods...”

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Revelation 19:7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

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Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new

Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

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Revelation 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the

seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

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Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

Scripture begins and ends with concept of marriage

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John 3:29John the Baptist referred to Jesus as

groom and himself as the best man:

“The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.”

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Song of Songs 4:8-12You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you

have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!

Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

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Scriptural Parallels Eve was created from

Adam’s side

Eve fashioned from Adam (“wo-man”), for Adam

Husband leaves father & mother to cleave to his wife

Jesus’ side was pierced to create His Bride

We’re created in the image of God, for God

Jesus left heaven in order to cleave to His Bride

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Jewish Marriage Customs in First Century10 biblical parallels

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Parallel #1:Arranged Marriages

Father of groom chooses Bride

Choice often made before children are born

Heavenly Father chose us to be Jesus’ Bride

You did not choose me, but I chose you… (John 15:16)

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4)

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Parallel #1:Arranged Marriages

Benefit of family & community

Groom initiates—leaves his father’s house, travels to home of prospective bride

Marriage first, then love

Build God’s family & His Kingdom

Jesus left his Father to obtain his earthly Bride

Saved first, then build intimacy with Jesus

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Parallel #2:Covenant Established

Groom negotiates bride price with her father

Jesus paid the highest price for us:

“Do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“…it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed….but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

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Parallel #2:Covenant Established

Both bride and groom agree to uphold their part to the covenant

Salvation is a 2-way street:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it….If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him (or her) when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34-38)

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Parallel #3:Gifts for the Bride

Groom gives at least one gift as symbol of his love, commitment and loyalty

Jesus gives us many gifts: (forgiveness, eternal life, gifts of the Spirit, fruit of Spirit, etc.)

He gives the Holy Spirit as a mark of his loyalty

“Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…” (Eph. 1:13-14)

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Parallel #4:Cup of the Covenant

Groom gives cup of wine to bride, saying, “This is a covenant in my blood, which I offer to you”

“I love you; I give you my life. Will you marry me?”

If bride drinks the cup, she accepts proposal and offers her life in exchange

Jesus said at Last Supper, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Communion = renewing our covenant promise

Drink cup = I am offering my life to You, Jesus

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Parallel #4:Cup of the Covenant

Groom drinks, then Bride 1st sip = joy 2nd sip = sacrifice

“Let us fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)

“She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in the kingdom.’

‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’” (Matt. 20:22)

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Parallel #4:Cup of the Covenant

Groom initiates betrothal

Only groom can call off marriage Need bride’s approval

Joseph & Mary

Bride determines quality of marriage

Jesus initiated relationship

Jesus could nullify marriage “Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

“…no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28b)

Our choices determine quality of relationship with Christ

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Parallel #4:Cup of the Covenant

After bridegroom price paid, covenant established, couple regarded as officially husband and wife.

Bride declared sanctified—exclusively set apart for her bridegroom

Referred to then on as “one who was bought with a price”

We are not engaged, we are officially married to Christ!

“…But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11)

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

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Parallel #5:Bridegroom Leaves

Groom says, “I go to prepare a place for you. If I go, I will return again for you.”

At least one year

Promises to provide

Builds annex on father’s house

After sharing the Last Supper (cup of covenant) with his disciples, Jesus says:

“In my Father’s house, there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-4)

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Parallel #6:Bride is Baptized

After covenant sealed, bride is baptized

Identify completely with man & his message

Sanctification—set apart for her groom

Pure virgin from that point forward

Hello, water baptism!

“…you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11)

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Parallel #7:Consecration of Bride

Marriage preparations

Wears 10 coins

Wears veil

Doesn’t know when groom will return for her

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:7)

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4)

Parable of 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)

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Matthew 9:14-15Then John’s disciples came and asked him,

“How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is still with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

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Parallel #8:Preparations of Groom

Annex on father’s house

Bride’s progress

Only father knows time—subject to his approval

Heavenly Carpenter building a place for us

Father checks our progress

“No one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36)

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Parallel #9:The Bridegroom’s Return

Usually at night

Groom gathers wedding party

Jesus returns like a thief in the night (Matt. 24:42-44)

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him…” (Matthew 25:31)

“’See the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones….’” (Jude 14)

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Parallel #9:The Bridegroom’s Return

Messenger ahead shouts, “Blessed is he who comes!”

Shofar is blown

For I tell you, I will not see you again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 22:39)

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

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Parallel #9:The Bridegroom’s Return

Bride waits in her house

Groom comes into her “world”, picks her up, carries her across threshold, and takes her to his father’s house

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

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Parallel #10:The Wedding!

Presentation of bride “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:25-27)

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Parallel #10:The Wedding!

Bridal chamber Veil removed Consummate marriage

Wedding feast for 7 days

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9)

7 years of Tribulation on earth (after rapture of Church)

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Intimate Imagery “The Holy Spirit, through the human authors of

Scripture, chose the imagery of a wedding feast for a reason. It’s not just any kind of party; it is a wedding feast. What sets this special feast apart from all others is the unique intimacy of the wedding night. The Spirit uses the most secret and tender experience on earth—the union of husband and wife—to convey the depth of intimacy that we will partake with our Lord in heaven. He is the Bridegroom, and the church is His Bride. In the consummation of love, we shall know Him and be known. There we shall receive our new name, known only to our Lover, which He shall give us on a white stone” (Rev. 2:17).

–p.183, The Sacred Romance, John Eldredge

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Named by Your Lover To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden

manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

The name one Lover calls another in private because it reveals something very personal about their relationship…

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CommunionIntimacy symbolized: Elements become one with you

Renewing our covenant promise “I love you; I give you my life. I’ll die for You.”

Vulnerability of God (Christ humbling himself) and our vulnerability before Him

Intimacy = humility on part of both people

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Communion: Bread Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it

to them saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

In reference to his death, Jesus said: “…unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:24-25)

“I died for you; will you die for Me?”

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Communion: Wine After supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the

new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

“I love you; I gave my blood to be with you. Are you still committed to oneness with Me?”

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Communion: Renewing our Vows

Awaiting our Bridegroom

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26)

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Resources UsedThe majority of the information in the previous slides came from the following sources:

The Bridegroom Cometh VHS video by Pastor Larry Huch, You can find Larry Huch Ministries at www.larryhuchministiries.com Call 1-503-6050 or write them at P.O. Box 66700. Portland, OR  97290

His Glory Revealed by John Hagee, pp. 114-116.

This is an excellent book on the significance major feasts in the Old Testament. Amazon.com has used copies for as little as $1.95.

“His Body, His Blood” article from April 1999 issue of Focus on the Family Magazine “Weddings of Ancient Israel” www.raptureready.us/wedding.htm “The Jewish Wedding Ceremony and the Bride of Christ” www.linkjesus.com/rapturewedding.htm “The Ultimate Wedding” www.ldolphin.org/risk/ult.shtml Excerpts from My All For Him by Basilea Schlink www.watchword.org/schlink/ww33d.html “The Marriage of Jesus” www.christian-resurrection.org/jesus/jesus-marriage.htm “Married to Jesus” http://www.bible-sermons.org/sermons/Married%20to%20Jesus%204-22-01.doc “Married to Jesus, II” www.bible-sermons.org/sermons/Married%20to%20Jesus%202%204-29-01.doc “Passion for our Bridegroom” www.heartchurch.com/sermons/030406.html “Invitation to a Wedding” www.biblebell.org/church2.html “Christ & His Bride and the Jewish Wedding Ceremony” www.helpforhomeschoolers.com/Article13.htm The Life of Christ by M.S. Mills (specifically the appendix titled “The Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper)

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Further Reading Song of Solomon—read it in context of Jesus speaking to you

The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards This book more than any other helped me understand the Bridegroom concept

The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge Great for understanding divine romance and rekindling old fires with God

Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Madame Guyon Learning to meet Jesus intimately in prayer General concepts, not necessarily Bridegroom concepts

Knight in Shining Armor by P.B. Wilson Best book there is regarding preparation for marriage and maximizing your

single years Geared towards women