The Bride Is Waiting

We went to Upper Room Ministries' Seder last night where many awesome connections between elements of the Passover ceremony and their fulfillment in Messiah Jesus were spoken of by a couple from Chosen People, an international ministry to the Jews.


For example, the matzoth is both pierced and broken (Isaiah 53:5). It is the middle piece which is removed from its place and broken, symbolizing the Son in the Trinity. It is then wrapped in a linen cloth and hidden (Matthew 27:58-60). Later it is found and redeemed (from death or obscurity).

I heard one explanation in particular that was new to me, a parable which I thought was wonderful about the church as the Bride of Christ, waiting for the return of the Bridegroom. It seems that Jewish couples used to start off, before the actual wedding, with a contract from the prospective groom, in which his promises to her were listed. Then the bride price was paid and he went to prepare a place for them to live. It was usually on top of the family home, where a new floor was added on. And, while he was preparing this home for them, the bride would wait for his return. This could be a year or more. Finally, he would come, with an escort of his groomsmen, to take her home.

Wow! Here we are waiting to see the fantastic place Jesus is preparing for us who are his beloved, in his Father's house. - "Love plans ahead." - And, there will be a marriage feast, which we are invited to - "The wedding supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9) Holding fast to God is what brings us out alive - out of this life and into eternal life. "...but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today." May well be announced to us at the Marriage Feast, and may we all be there drinking a toast to that! So, it's important to be ready, not off somewhere else spiritually, forgetting about who we are called to be.