Be Ready when the Bridegroom Comes

                                                                  His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.

And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Since the beginning of creation, marriage has always been Gods idea. He has established and sanctified marriage to be a sacred covenant between man and women.

Proverbs 18:22 says, “The man who finds a wife finds a good thing; she is a blessing to him from the Lord.

The very first miracle Jesus performs is turning water into wine. His presence brought joy and gladness to them at the wedding, and I think it’s symbolic of the blessings that Jesus brings into our lives, especially through marriage.  I also believe it symbolizes the union between Christ and the church, His bride.

Isaiah 62:5 as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. The miracle is a sign; the washing water becomes wedding wine, and the old system of Jewish laws that required sacrifices and washings to make them clean, are replaced with a new and better covenant. The Law gives way to the Gospel, Moses gives way to Jesus, Sorrow gives way to Joy, and Death gives way to Life.

First Century Jewish weddings have some very interesting customs, so this morning, I thought I would share a few of them with you, and then see if we can relate them to our relationship with Christ.

Now we all know the first year of marriage, especially for newlyweds can be pretty challenging. There are a lot of decisions and adjustments to be made, which can lead to a lot of stress and tension in the marriage. Jewish customs advises the newlyweds to stay at home for the first year of their marriage and learn to live with each other.

Deuteronomy 24:5 when a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, and neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

Jewish wedding ceremonies were accomplished in two separate rituals which took place approximately a year apart. The first ritual was a betrothal or espousal ceremony known as “erusin”. It’s different from the modern engagements that we know today. It meant that the two people were committed to each other just as much as a married couple would be. 

In this ceremony the groom and two witnesses’ would sign a legal Document called a "ketubah" (kuh-too-bah) much like our marriage contract today, and was kept in the bride's possession until the consummation of their marriage. This document was so binding that if her betrothed husband had died, she was considered his widow, and the only way to break this contract was by sending her a bill of divorce.

But after the first part of the wedding ceremony was over, the betrothed couple would continue to live with their own families for a period of time, usually about a year. The groom would go back to his father house to prepare a place for his new bride to live, most of the time it was by additional rooms onto his father’s home.

So when we read in Matthew’s gospel where it says, “Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. And the angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Joseph, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife”;

Now I have always heard at that time, Mary and Joseph were engaged to each other, but I could never understand why the Bible would call Mary his wife, and Joseph her husband. But according to the Jewish law of those times, Mary and Joseph were considered husband and wife to each other, just as much as a married couple would be, by the signed document she would have had in her possession.

And while they waited to fulfill the second half of their marriage, the bride was supposed to be faithful to her husband, and because Mary was found pregnant, this is why Joseph considered giving her a divorce, or putting her away privately.

So after about a year of waiting and preparing, the second part of the marriage took place called “nissuin”, which was the wedding ceremony, and consisted of the bride’s reception into her husband’s home. This great day of celebration began with the bridegroom and his family and friends going in procession with lights and music, to bring the bride from her house to his home.

This usually took place sometime late at night, when the bride wasn’t aware of his coming. But on the night when she would hear the shout across town announcing the “Bridegroom is coming”, what a time of excitement and rejoicing it would be. At the bridegroom’s house there would be a marriage supper filled with the finest meats, and the best wines. Wine has always been the choice drink at weddings. Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry.

This wedding celebration would be carried on by the guest, while the bride and groom spend time together. At the end of the seven days of celebration the groom brings his bride out and her veil is removed for the first time, so everyone could see her beauty.

Now it is the Bridegrooms responsibility to provide the wine at the wedding, and in our story the bridegroom ran out of wine. And when Mary hears about this, she comes to Jesus and tells him that they have no wine. And Jesus answered and said, “What is it to me and to you?”  In effect He was saying, “This is not my hour; it’s not time for me to host the wedding yet. But why does Jesus do something about it anyway?

Mary says to the servants, “Whatsoever he says unto you do it”. These are the last recorded words in the Bible that Mary speaks. Maybe God is asking you to do something that you don’t fully understand. Sometimes it may not even make any sense, just like serving water at a wedding. It may be that God is looking for your faith so that He could provide the solution, just like he did with the need for wine.

I would love to have been there just to see the look on the servants face as they served the water to the wedding guest. And then to hear the governor of the feast say, “You have saved the best wine until now”.

Now Jesus could have used any water, he could have used drinking water, but why did he choose the washing water? Jesus takes the Old Testament water of purification and turns it into wine; as a sign that his blood would wash away our uncleanness and sin --not the Old Testament rituals of purification;

He was portraying the day that He would be the bridegroom at His wedding, and the day that he would provide the wine which would give eternal life and joy to all of his guest. Notice also that he doesn't just give them a little wine. He gives them more than 120 gallons of wine.

Jesus came to give life in abundance, to the full, and till it overflows. And I think this miracle shows us the wine that Jesus provides, which was His blood shed on Calvary’s cross, is more than enough to cleanse us from all our sins.

Our salvation is not in keeping rituals, like the purifying of the Jews did, but by His grace are we saved today. He has loved us with an everlasting love, and desires a close and personal relationship with each of us today. In the Old Testament He has called himself our husband, and in the New Testament we are called his wife.

So the death and suffering of Christ, and the marriage supper of the Lamb are combined together in this miracle. I think in this gospel, John wants us to understand and see the glory not only in the resurrection and ascension of Christ life, but also the glory that is in His death.

In Isaiah 25:6-9 and in this mountain (Mount Zion in Jerusalem) shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

This feast that the prophet Isaiah is speaking about is connected with his triumph over death, and the salvation that God will bring to his people. This feast is the day of rejoicing in his salvation. John writes, on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And we know according to the scriptures, Christ died for our sins, and was buried, and rose again on the third day.

Jesus understood this when he instituted the Lord’s Supper and he took the cup, and gave thanks saying. “This cup is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sin. And he also said I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. He is speaking of the second part of the wedding ceremony that takes place in heaven.

When we take communion today, we not only participate in his death, but we anticipate his return. The juice that we drink in our communion cup is a symbol of his blood, but it also reflects the joy and celebration that comes with Christ’s return.

Two of the most loving names in the Bible, used to describe the church are "the Bride of Christ, and the Lamb's wife." I think the Jewish wedding depicts a beautiful love story from beginning to end of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus steps into the picture as the prospective groom, and offers himself as the “price” or dowry that he is willing to pay for us, his chosen bride. God actually says in 1Corinthians that we have been bought with a great price.

Just like the Jewish bride of long ago, who held in her possession the written promise of marriage commitment, (kuh-too-bah), so are we as the betrothed Bride of Christ, holding in our hands Gods Written Word of Promise to us, the Holy Bible. His promises declare His everlasting love and commitment to us.

John 14: 2-3 Jesus says in my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

For nearly two thousand years, Jesus has been in heaven "preparing a place for us at his father’s home." And one day very soon, Jesus will "descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord." 

This catching away is also part of the Jewish marriage custom. The groom comes to the bride's home and brings her back to the wedding ceremony which is held at his father's house. We have known all along that Jesus is coming again. But according to the signs of the end times, we can say with all confidence that we are living in the last days, and His return is closer now than it has ever been.

And just like the Jewish bride who was excited when she heard the cry from across town announcing the coming arrival of her groom, so we as the listening bride of Christ should rejoice to know that our Lord’s coming is very soon.

Matthew 25:1-12 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 25: 13 says, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The meaning to this parable is simply this, “They that were ready went in with him to the marriage”.  Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. So let’s be ready when the Bridegroom comes.

Rev. James A. Lewis  

  Hand in Hand Publications April 2009

It is my joy to welcome to welcome to Hand in Hand Publications for the first time, Evangelist Donna Ulrich from Florida.  Jody and I have known Donna and her family for many years now. I praise God to see her all grown up now and serving the Lord in ministry.

This month Donna shares with us a message taken from the 23rd Psalm, entitled, "God is in the Valley". In the face of our economic times, people are looking for stability, and this passage of scripture really begins to show Gods love for us through the eyes of the Great Shepherd, and just how much we can place our confidence and trust in him as sheep.

Please take a moment and visit Donna's page this month, I am sure you will be blessed.  Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you mediate upon these words, I know you will be blessed.  Here's the link.

Hand In Hand Publication is an Internet Ministry of Faithful Christians joining hands together all around the world, for the sole purpose of promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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