The Bride

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, 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. Ephesians 5:25-27

Marriage is a mystery. It is a celebration of two people becoming one under a covenant that declares a promise of "until death do us part". It is a union - a lifelong commitment that says "I choose you and I will be with you through it all". The wedding celebrates this covenant through a feast, vows, and dancing; and the consummation between husband and wife seals this promise and uncovers the mystery of two flesh becoming one. Marriage is a deeply intimate demonstration of love in its purest form. It's meant to be sacred, holy, and wonderful. This mystery of one body, one covenant, and one life is more than a wedding day and ring...

Marriage is God's plan for humanity to be united with Him forever through His Son, Jesus.

When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: Go and marry a woman of promiscuity... Hosea 1:2

Today, marriage is common, yet so is divorce. So many promises of "til death do us part" break as time, challenges, and stuff get in the way. Promises aren't meant to be broken, yet they often are. Looking at Hosea, he was instructed by the Lord to marry a prostitute, Gomer, as God wanted to display His redemptive plan to bring back His people, Israel, who at the time was like an adulteress and abandoned His law and covenant He made with them. Yet, despite forgiving her sin and promising restoration, hope, and refuge, Gomer, like Israel, ran back to prostitution, betraying Hosea and their marriage.

I suppose in some ways we can relate to Gomer. It is hard to let go of a past where futile things were our comfort, where it was easier to do things in our own strength and control rather than asking for help, where our piled up guilt and shame was easier to deal with when kept locked up in secret, or where the house was our home because it was of our own making..

But one thing Gomer never realised was that when two come together it means the start of something new.

She didn't see that Hosea married her despite her past and shame.

She didn't realise that covenant meant commitment even though things get really hard.

She didn't understand that when she hurt, Hosea hurt.

I also don't think she wanted to believe that she was worth being completely seen and totally loved because she was so used to a world where her value was abused, her decisions controlled, and her actions influenced.

Here's the thing: God loves us so much that despite our wrong decisions, our lack of commitment, and our mistakes, He chooses to forgive us...

Gomer was a prostitute. I am a sinner. Gomer was saved from prostitution, yet ran back to it. I know what God wants me to do, yet I don't do it. The question left is: how do I break this cycle of running away from what I know is good? How does Gomer get rescued if she chooses prostitution because its just...easier?

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I will take you to be My wife forever. I will take you to be my wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. I will take you to be My wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord. Hosea 3:19-20

Fast forward to about 800 years later, where God sends His precious Son Jesus into the world.

The culture of the time in Jesus' day was Galilean and the custom of their wedding is quite beautiful and looks like this:

In the Galilean wedding tradition, the marriage began with a betrothal ceremony. The groom would leave his father’s house to visit the bride’s home, where the father of the groom set the terms of the covenant and paid a bridal price. Gifts and a dowry were exchanged, with the bride receiving the greatest portion. The groom then offered the bride a ceremonial cup of wine, which it was entirely up to her to accept or reject; once accepted, the covenant was sealed. The groom promised not to drink again until the wedding in his father’s house. Afterwards, the groom left to prepare a home for his bride, while she made herself ready, not knowing the exact day or hour of his return (this usually took around a year of preparation). Only the groom’s father could announce the time, and the groom would return suddenly, often at night, with the sound of a trumpet and a joyous procession. The bride was then carried away to the father’s house, hidden in the bridal chamber for seven days where bride and groom would consummate the marriage, while the wedding feast continued. Finally, she was unveiled and publicly revealed as the groom’s wife.

It amazes me that Jesus would speak to the disciples and unveil the intentions of what His purpose was using the culture and tradition of that day! Look at this:

Jesus left His Father’s house in heaven to come to earth for His Bride, the Church. We are His chosen Bride. He chooses you and I - the prostitute.

God the Father established the covenant of salvation and paid the price through His Son. He rescued us from the chains of sin and death. He gave up His beloved Son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice who was worthy enough to pay for our freedom and the price for our sins.

The Church receives many spiritual gifts, while Jesus gave His life as the dowry, securing her protection and future. He gave us His resurrected Son to be our Groom, so that by grace through faith we have hope of a new life, a changed heart, and a blessed future with Him.

Communion represents the ceremonial cup, where each person may accept or reject the Gospel; those who believe are bound in an unbreakable covenant with Christ. He said, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28.

When we drink this cup, we say, "Yes, I will marry you." When we drink this cup the covenant is sealed and nothing can break it - not even death - it is an eternal covenant!

At the Last Supper, Jesus echoed the Galilean groom’s vow, promising to drink again only in His Father’s house. "But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom." Matthew 26:29

After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven to prepare a place for His Bride, who now lives in readiness, staying pure while awaiting His return. Upon His acension, He gave us the Holy Spirit who fills us - sealing us as His own until the day He comes to retrieve us. While we wait, let us not grow weary but keep our hearts set on Him who has washed us as white as snow and has made us alive in Him who can now do the good He has called us to do (Ephesians 2).

At the Father’s command, Jesus will return suddenly, announced by a trumpet, to rapture His Bride into heaven. There, the marriage supper of the Lamb will last seven years, during which the Church remains hidden, before returning with Christ at His second coming, when all the world will see who His Bride truly is. The time is coming soon where the Father will tell His Son to fetch His Bride! Let us have our lamps full, our hearts ready, and eyes set on Him! What joy awaits us!

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The beauty of all of this is that God's love is so great that it can lead even the hardest of hearts to repentence. It is where the one who has sinned greatly can receive and know great forgiveness and great love. Repentence sees this mercy, grace and love and it changes you. Gomer, she fell, and she fell again, but Hosea was there to rescue her, pick her up, and bring her home every time. She may have chosen to leave again, but the door was still open for her to return.. and when she did return, she just needed to make that choice to stay.

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called. For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. Isaiah 54:5-7

Sometimes, we find ourselves wandering down a path where slight temptation lures us into the adulterer's door, and we fall. But know this: Jesus has given you an invitation, better yet, a proposal, and the ceremonial cup is being held out to you to drink from. I can tell you that accepting it will be the best decision of your life.

And for us who have accepted it, we are His Bride.

While we wait, let us continue to keep our eyes on Jesus who separated our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. Let us draw nearer to Him so He can show us a better way as He begins to change our hearts to become more like Him... This is the mystery of marriage: two becoming one - a union in Christ - where we become like Him... where when we are weak, He is our strength... where:

You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will not be called Desolate; instead you will be called My Delight Is In Her and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you and your land will be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a groom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:4-5

This is ahavah (love) that is everlasting, binding, freeing, and full of grace and mercy. This love is only found through Jesus Christ - Yeshua, our Beloved, our King.

All Glory, Honour, Praise, and Power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became Mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Ezekiel 16:8-14

"Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken," says your compassionate Lord. Isaiah 54:10

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