“Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6Matthew 25:6
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, “Here's the groom! Come to meet him!”
WP-Bible plugin). It seems funny to read a story in the Bible where the focus is on the groom and not the bride. We are used to the wedding being all about the bride. She has planned this day, her big day, for months and now all the events are hopefully going to fall into place for a perfect day. Memories will be built that will last a lifetime. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the groom. He’s the one down front waiting nervously for her to march down the aisle.
Most people like to turn and focus on the beauty of the bride as she enters the scene but I love to turn back toward the front of the church and watch the expression on the groom’s face as he sees his bride begin her walk down the aisle. And I really love it if he starts to tear up at the sight of her.
Then I sometimes think of another marriage that will take place one day. The marriage to end all marriages. The marriage feast of the Lamb when Christ the groom will forever be united with His bride – the Church.
In the parable of the 10 bridesmaids Jesus talks about this day. In the Jewish culture, the groom went to the bride’s house for the ceremony just as Christ will one day return to our earthly home to unite with us for eternity.
In Jewish culture, the bride and groom would return to the groom’s house for a feast which might last the entire week. Christ will return to His home in heaven with His bride (the Church of believers) and a marriage feast will take place that will surpass anything our minds could imagine.
So back to focusing on the Groom. Can’t you see Christ smiling in anticipation as He steps out on the threshold of Heaven’s gate to meet us and bring us home? Now we know why the focus is on the groom in Christ’s parable. Christ is the groom and all glory, honor, and praise belong to Him alone.
We would be nothing were it not for Jesus. We certainly would not be a fit bride worthy of wearing white. But because of the cleansing blood of Jesus and the righteousness we are given through Him, we will be clothed in “fine linen, clean and white”. (Revelation 19:8Revelation 19:8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 She will be given
a wedding dress
made of pure
and shining linen.
This linen stands for
the good things
God's people have done.”
WP-Bible plugin)
What a wedding! What a Bridegroom! What a Savior!
0 Comments.