The Bride of Christ Lesson 5 (The Bridegroom: Preparation and Provision for Wedding)

Today we will begin looking at the fifth characteristic of the Bridegroom: Preparation and Provision. 

I want to investigate the traditional Jewish wedding customs/ceremony as they were practiced in Biblical times.  We will divide this into parts: the betrothal, the time of preparation, and the wedding supper.  

Part One: The Betrothal (This was the first time that the groom left his father’s house to be untied with his bride. The betrothal was the legal ceremony of marriage.) 

First, the negotiation.   

Typically, all marriages were arranged.  Some were arranged by the fathers when the bride and groom were children.  Others we arranged when a young man’s father found a suitable match and the fathers of the intended bride and groom negotiated the contract. Most marriages were entered into for the mutual benefit of the families of both the bride and groom.   

In a marriage, the father of the bride is losing a valuable member of his family, while the father of the groom is gaining a valuable member.  The fathers negotiated a price that is fair to both parties.   

Regardless of how the marriage was arranged, when it was time for the betrothal it was always initiated by the groom leaving his father’s home and traveling to the home of his intended.   

Our Bridegroom did just that, he left his Father’s home in heaven to come to earth to betroth himself to mankind.   

William Dyer wrote, “Christ uncrowned himself, to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags.” 

Second, the groom’s father paid the bride price (Mohar). 

As stated above, the father of the bride was losing a valuable member of his household because all children born to his daughter would become productive members of the groom's family. To compensate for this a bride price was paid by the groom's father. Often this was not given in cash, but in goods or services.     

The bride’s father usually shared a portion of this gift with his daughter to add to her dowry (the goods and possessions she took with her into marriage). 

Our heavenly Father gave his only son to purchase our salvation and freedom, our bride price.  The price he paid was beneficial for Himself and for us.  He wanted relationship with mankind, and we needed forgiveness of our sins.  The only way to gain both fellowship and forgiveness was for our sins to be paid for by a blood sacrifice.  We know that the only sacrifice that would satisfy the requirements of the law was that of Jesus, a spotless, perfect Lamb!!!  

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” 

The extent of His love is shown by the fact that He gave His only begotten Son. God has no other Son like the Lord Jesus. It was an expression of His infinite love that He would be willing to give His unique Son for a race of rebel sinners.i 

Third, the groom gave the bride a gift (Mattan). 

The groom gave the bride an expensive gift as his reminder to her that while they were apart, he would not forget her.  

The gift our bridegroom gives us is the Holy Spirit. 

John 14:16-19, I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you fatherless. I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 

The Holy Spirit is our advocate, teacher, and comforter.  

Advocate: One who defends, vindicates, or espouses a cause, by argument; one who is friendly to; as, an advocate for peace, or for the oppressed. ii 

The Lord Jesus is our Advocate or Helper, and the Holy Spirit is another Helper—not another of a different kind, but another of similar nature. The Holy Spirit would abide with believers forever. In the OT, the Holy Spirit came upon men at various times, but often left them. Now He would come to remain forever.iii 

Matthew Henry states, “When Christ was with them he spoke for them as there was occasion; but now that he is leaving them they shall not be run down, the Spirit of the Father shall speak in them, Matt. 10:19, 20.” 

Teacher: 1. An instructor; a preceptor; a tutor; one whose business or occupation is to instruct others. 2. One who instructs others in religion; a preacher; a minister of the gospel.iv 

He reveals to our minds the whole counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine, and Christian living. He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear. He leads in the way we should go in all spiritual things. Without such a guide, we would be apt to fall into error. A crucial part of the truth He reveals is that Jesus is who He said He is (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3).v 

John 15:26, “But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me. 

John 16:13-15, But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine. Therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and will declare it to you. 

John 14:26, But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. 

Luke 12:12, For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” 

Comforter: 1. One who administers comfort or consolation; one who strengthens and supports the mind in distress or danger. 2. The title of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name--he shall teach you all things. John 14:16. 

God comforts His children. He is the “God of all comfort,” and we can know His peace even in the midst of trials: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). 

God comforts us in many ways: through the wonderful promises of His Word, through fellow believers, and of course through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. The Spirit is our Comforter, and He is so much more: our Counselor, Encourager, and Helper. He is always present to bring comfort to the children of God (Psalm 34:18; 139:7–8). 

 

Questions for reflection:          

1. Do I truly understand the high price God paid to make me his child?      

2. Do I embrace and rely on the Bridegroom’s gift, the Holy Spirit in my daily life?  

3. Which role of Holy Spirit do I rely on most?   (advocate, teacher, or comforter) 

Note: All Scripture references are from the MEV unless otherwise specified.    

Works Cited:

i Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald. 

ii https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/advocate 

iii Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald. 

iv https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Teacher 

v https://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-today.html