Jesus in The
Jewish Wedding
Lynda Mac Donald, Nova Scotia
1.
Procedure For Traditional Hebrew Marriage Arrangements
- The father makes the arrangements
for his son
1. Samson - Judges 14:1-10
- An agent works on behalf of the
father
1. Eliezer on behalf of Abraham
for Isaac - Gen. 24
- The young man himself goes to the
brides father
1. Jacob - Gen. 29:15-30
2.
The Proposal (using example C).
- The young man
went to the home of his potential bride-to-be and made himself known to the
family so they would accept him as a suitable groom.
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Jesus came to earth to make the arrangements for His bride (The
Church). John1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
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full of grace and truth.
- The young man brought with him the
following:
1. A large sum of money (to pay
the price for his bride)
*The blood of Jesus was
the price that Jesus paid.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the New
Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins.
2. A betrothal contract called a
Shitre Erusin drawn up
*The New Testament is our
betrothal contract.
Hebrews 9:15 And
for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
3. A skin of wine
*The new wine is the Holy Spirit. Jesus provided The Holy Spirit for us.
John 15:26, John 16:7, Acts 2:1
3. The young man approached the father and
the brothers of the women in question.
- They discussed the contract
and the price of the bride.
- If the father approved the
woman was called in.
-
If the woman also approved she would drink the wine showing that
she would commit herself to this man agree to follow the contract.
*Our acceptance
of Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit shows that we commit to Jesus and gives
us the ability to follow the contract of the New Testament.
The
Shirte Erusin became a legal document between the two.
-
They would be called husband and wife at this time, their union
would require a divorce to be dissolved.
-
However, their status was that of betrothed rather than that of
fully married.
- Joseph and Mary at the time
that she told him that she was pregnant.
4. Woman was consecrated, set apart to her
husband (-to-be)
- She had been bought with
a price.
* Jesus paid for us with his blood on the
cross.
-
She would spend all of her time learning to please her husband and
preparing to live as a wife. Her days
-
would be filled with exciting expectation of the Bridegroom’s
return. We anticipate Christ's return, Matt.
24:42-44
§
We are to spend our lives learning to please Christ and preparing
to rule and reign with Him.
5. At this time, the bridegroom would drink
wine from a cup signifying his acceptance of his promises . The bride
would then be called in and if she accepted the groom’s offer she would drink
from the same ‘cup of acceptance’. The groom would then refrain from drinking
wine until he was at the Wedding Supper. * see Matthew 26:27-29
After the wine had been drunk, the man made
the statement:
- He would go to
his father's house and prepare a place for her.
- Jesus said (in
John 14:1-3) that He was going to his Father’s house to prepare a place for us.
It will be a temporary place for the wedding celebration. Also see John 17:24
- This room is known as the
chadar (chamber),
-
The room is provided with every comfort, as they will retire here
for one week following their wedding
-
ceremony. Food, clothing and everyday necessities will be in this
room so leaving for any reason will not be needed.
-
The young man, if asked when the day of his wedding will be, will
reply, "No man knows except my
father." *Matthew 24:36- only The Father knows-not even the bridegroom
6. In Israel, the father had to be satisfied
that every preparation has been made by his son before he gave him permission
to go and get his bride. The Father’s reputation (name) was at risk.
7.
The young man would return for the bride at an unknown time. This was
always in the middle of the night- to add excitement to the plans. The blowing
of the shofar would signal the groom’s arrival. This alerted the bride that her
bridegroom was there to snatch his bride away from her home. We will be
'abducted’. 1Thess. 4:16-18
Matthew 24:36 & Matthew
25:1-13
8.
During the ceremony, known as Kedushin
- They stand under a covering or
canopy called a chuppa
- Focus is centered on the bride and
groom.
- They are looked at as king and
queen.
Rev.
19:7-10 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the
righteousness of
saints. And he said unto me, ‘Write,
‘blessed are they, which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And
he said unto me, these are the true sayings of God.” Notice that the bride’s
gown was white- this is where the tradition of wearing white for a bride
originated.
-
Every effort was taken and every possible expense was made to
insure their joy. * All of heaven’s glory will be our surrounding.
9.
Following the ceremony
- The bride and groom enter the Chadar
(honeymoon suite).
- Here the groom gives gifts to the
bride.
II
Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
- The couple spends
seven days under the chupah.
*The Bride of
Christ will be celebrating with Him for 7 years (during the Tribulation)
4. After the week the couple emerge
from the chadar , leaving the Father’s house and making a new life together in
their own home.
*After the 7 years with Jesus in heaven, we
will be with Him for 1000 years celebrating and reigning with Him. At this
time, we will gather from all corners of the earth to join in the celebrating
of the feasts, etc., in Jerusalem. Zech.
14:16 We will dwell forever with the Groom in happiness, I
Thess. 4 :17, Rev. 2 1:3.
ARE YOU AMONG THE
BRIDE OF CHRIST? ARE YOU READY,
WATCHING AND WAITING WITH EXCITEMENT FOR YOUR BRIDEGROOM TO COME FOR YOU?
