Ephesians 5:27, NIV:
“and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:27, ESV: “so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
Wedding season is here! Don’t you just love it? The dresses, the flowers, the limo, the tuxedos and the sweet ring bearer and flower girl. And, of course, the beautiful bride, and debonair groom! Yet, you have to wonder at some point-where did all these traditions come from? I recently found an explanation for some of our tried and true traditions that will really put a hope for our future in our heart!
When Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding of Cana in Galilee, it was not by accident. The traditions of a wedding in Galilee explain much to the believer about our future, and His return! Let’s unpack it.
First the man and woman get to know each other, of course. When he feels it is time to ‘pop the question’, it should be no surprise to her because the entire village gets involved in the process of making a binding contract. The groom first gives the father of the girl a ‘dowry’ that will help cover expenses for her, if something should happen to him. Then he offers the girl a cup of wine, in front of everyone! At this point, she can accept-or refuse the cup. If she accepts, the wedding is on, the deal is sealed, and they are betrothed. This is the point that Mary and Joseph were at. The two still lived at home with their parents, but now the busy preparations began! Recall at the ‘last supper’ where the wine was poured and He said; Mark 14:25 25“Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Jesus was giving the disciples, and us, the hint that when we all join him in Heaven, He will accept us at the marriage supper, He is the bridegroom.
He returns to his family home and begins making plans to enlarge the house for his Bride. She will move into the new addition when they marry. Remember Jesus told us this! John 14:2-3 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And 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.
She, and her maids, must find the perfect fabric for the dress. This may be a long process because in the small village of Galilee they did not have the fabric merchants like the big cities. It would take days and months to do all this traveling.
Meanwhile, he continues to prepare the dwelling and furniture for his bride. It takes about a year, but even then, the wedding does not take place. His father is the only one who knows when the wedding will be held and it always happens in the night. In Mark 13:32, Jesus had been teaching his disciples about his return and says, “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Luke records it this way, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Lk 12:40).
Now once the year is up, the bride should have her dress ready. She and her maids stay together at the brides home, waiting for the moment when the wedding will begin! They always have their lamps filled with oil, and they even sleep in their dress! Matthew 25:6-10 6“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Finally, the father will go wake up the groom and announce to him,’it’s time. Go get your bride.’ As you can imaging he is more than ready! He grabs the shofar and blows the horn throughout the village. As he is going to the brides home, folks are gathering behind. Knowing that their would be a wedding, the townspeople should also have been ready with oil in their lamps. Still not all of them would be. When they arrive at the brides home, she comes out of her home and is seated in a ‘litter’ and men of the village lift her up to carry her to the grooms home where the wedding will take place. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever.
The celebration lasts for 7 days. If the people in the procession are late, they will be shut out. The door closes, and no one else can get in.
In the scriptures we are given so many references to this wedding tradition in Galilee. It is significant because the disciples were all from that area, they knew the wedding traditions, and could easily make the connection between what Jesus was telling them, and the reality of their future. This is our future also! It is exciting to be reminded of the promise He has given us. We are His Bride, He is our bride-groom. He went away to prepare a dwelling for us. When it is finished, He still has to wait until the Father says-GO! But, when the Father says, go, He will come to meet us in the air to take us home to be with Him. After our return, the wrath of God will be poured out on the earth. We don’t want to be here for that, and from the looks of our world, it it getting close!
The message for them that day is the same as it is for us today-be ready, for at a time when you are not thinking about Him returning, and you are not ready, may just be the time He will come!
Serious question; Are you ready if the bridegroom comes tonight?
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