He who has the bride is the bridegroom…
John 3:29*
In a world filled with instant gratification and moral deficiencies, waiting for marriage is considered a great burden. It didn’t used to be that way. When our society was a lot wiser, living together was put on hold – often for years – until a proper wedding and home could be provided.
Besides allowing time to acquire a more adequate material base for establishing a home and family, the wait provided an important ingredient for holding the marriage together – longing. Anticipation builds desire, and desire leads to bonding.
Christ used this theme repeatedly in His parables to encourage the believers to be ready and waiting for the Lord’s coming. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6).
In scripture, the church is presented as the bride and Christ as the bridegroom. Right now, the groom is busy getting living quarters ready (John 14:2), and also preparations for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The honeymoon site is to be the holy city, New Jerusalem. The bride is at work on her garment of fine linen woven from the righteous acts of the saints. As the big day approaches, both long to be united, all distance finally ended, soon to be joint-heirs together, forever.
Even so come, Dear Bridegroom!
*Referring to Christ, the title is used 17 times in just ten verses which are exclusively in parables of the Lord and found in the four gospels.
February 13
