The Heavenly Bridegroom

“Behold, the Bridegroom; … go ye out to meet him.” —Matthew 25:6

GOD had a very definite purpose in assigning to our Lord various titles and roles. Each of these titles is different, yet each illustrates some peculiar characteristic, either of our Lord, the church, or the relationship between the two. Each of these figures is significant. There is the physician and the patient, the captain and the soldiers, the shepherd and the sheep, the advocate and the client, the high priest and the under priests.

In considering these figures, let us not forget that they are distinct and separate illustrations and entirely independent of each other. Therefore we should seek the particular lesson which each of these figures was designed to impart. If we should endeavor to blend all of these illustrations, and begin wondering how sheep could be soldiers, or how the stones in the temple could be branches in a vine, then we would fail to gain the lesson intended.

One of the most beautiful, tender, and intimate human relationships we know of is that of the bride and bridegroom. How wonderful that the Lord should picture his Son as the Bridegroom and the church as his bride! In order to appreciate this picture, we must go back to the original Jewish custom of marriage, because if we try to use the present custom of marriage, especially that used in the United States, it would not so well illustrate the picture the Lord intended.

The Jewish custom seems to fit the facts, and it was so arranged it would seem, by God, as a figure. With the Jews, the father of the bridegroom made all of the arrangements; the bride had absolutely nothing to do with them. Then there was a covenant entered into by which the young lady was engaged to her prospective bridegroom. Certain papers were drawn up and signed, and, among other things, the wealth of the bridegroom was listed and what provision he as the husband would make for his wife in the future.

At the completion of this most important ceremony of engagement, these covenant papers, after being signed, were sealed. Nothing more was done. The would-be bridegroom had to wait for one year before he could take his bride to himself. During this period, certain specific work was to be accomplished by both bridegroom and bride. It was the duty of the bridegroom to prepare or build a new house for his bride, and the bride to work on her wedding gown as well as to prepare herself for this new wedded life, soon to follow the marriage.

During the engagement period, should the prospective bride prove unfaithful in any way, it would automatically cancel the contract, because the covenant which she had signed was binding.

Then there was another peculiarity about this Jewish arrangement. The communications between the bride and bridegroom were carried on by a medium called the friend of the bridegroom. The bride and bridegroom were not allowed to come together to see each other, so they had someone carry their communications back and forth.

When the time came for the bridegroom to receive the bride, he came to the home of the bride and simply took her. There was no special ceremony. This usually took place in the evening. Since there was no ceremony as we know it today, the Jews had what they called a marriage feast. This was attended by the many friends of the bride and bridegroom, and it lasted about a week.

Evidently this picture of the Jewish wedding was given to picture the church and its relationship to her Lord, Christ. And how beautifully the facts fit! Just as the Jewish father made all the arrangements, the bride having nothing to do with them, we see the church—the bride of Christ—does not come into relationship with Christ until the Heavenly Father makes the arrangements. He makes the provisions for the bride to meet the bridegroom.

In this part of the arrangements, a contract was drawn up. So the prospective bride, you and I, also enter a contract, making a full consecration to be faithful to our bridegroom. As that contract states the wealth of the bridegroom and the provision he would make for his future wife, so our Heavenly Bridegroom also states his wealth and tells us of the provisions he is making for us.

During that engagement period the bridegroom was busily engaged in building a house for his bride, and the bride was working on her wedding garment, preparing herself for the new life. Isn’t that true antitypically? Has not our Heavenly Bridegroom been away building a house for his bride? Our Lord said at his departure, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” (John 14:2,3) That house is now ready, as shown by the fact that he has returned to take his bride home.

While our Lord was building that house, what was his bride doing? What is she still doing? She is making herself ready. (Rev. 19:7) She is busily engaged in working on her wedding garment. It takes time for that fine needle-work, that beautiful embroidering of the garment. (Ps. 45:13,14) So we are preparing ourselves for that new wedded life with our Heavenly Bridegroom by working on the wedding garment.

As in the Jewish engagement, the couple did not see each other for a year, so we have not seen our Lord as yet. We need a medium for the exchange of our thoughts and words. The Lord has arranged for this. It is the Holy Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to talk to our Bridegroom, and he, in turn, talks to us by illuminating our minds so that we can know what is required of us.

In the Jewish arrangement, as there was no actual marriage ceremony, but a marriage feast, we would expect the same antitypically. So there is what the Bible terms a marriage feast. This again is arranged by the Heavenly Father, Jehovah himself. Turn to Psalm 45. Here we have a most beautiful picture of how the Bridegroom is bringing his bride into the presence of the Great King, Jehovah.

Later on the companions of the bride come in. It is then that the marriage supper of the Lamb will commence. At this marriage supper, may not all the hosts of heaven be present? Have they not been looking down on this bride and been interested in seeing her prepare herself for this great day?

Included in that great host of heaven will there not also be those ministering angels who have cared for the bride during her engagement period? We all are waiting for this marriage supper. Even the world of mankind is waiting for it, because it is then that the Bridegroom will become the husband, the bride will become the wife; and shortly after that they will become the father and mother of earth’s millions, giving them life and blessings and prosperity.

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