WAITING FOR MY BRIDE

Lately I have been thinking a lot on the character of Christ as the Bridegroom. It especially makes me think back to my wedding, and my own experience as a groom.

My wife and I did not see each other beforehand but did take some pictures together, back-to-back. I could not see her, but I could see the train of her dress in the corner of my eye. Being so close to her, but only able to see a glimpse, made me even more eager to see her.

Later, when it was time for her to come down the aisle, I knew she was outside the door and about to come in, but she forgot her bouquet. So I stood there, waiting. The anticipation alone was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

WAITING FOR HIS BRIDE

In Matthew, Jesus illustrates how the Good Father cares for his children. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass, and yet “are you not of more value than they?” (Mat 6:26) Likewise, if we who are evil give good gifts to our children, “how much more will your Father…give good things to those who ask him!” (Mat 7:11)

Just as God is even more of a Father than we are, how much more does the Bridegroom anticipate the Wedding Feast? Isaiah writes, “as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (Isa 62:5) Jesus rejoices even more over His bride than we do.

THE DAY IS COMING

Think about that for a moment. The gospel says we are reconciled to the Father. But, this isn’t a picture of a slave returned to bondage. It isn’t as though a simple status quo has been restored, with God as Lord and us as mere underlings. We are His children. We are created in His image. He rejoices over us the same way a father celebrates a son coming home (Luke 15:32) and a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

The Wedding Feast will be a great celebration. We look forward to that day of perfect restoration, when the scars of the sinful nature are finally wiped away, and we are united with our Lord. But Jesus loves His bride, and He also waits with anticipation for that eternity of rejoicing together.


This blog was written by Adam Hewitt, Sr App Developer at Olive Tree

3 Comments

  1. Jemimah Shresth Rye

    Yes we r the bride of Christ,we need to become a pure bride

  2. I am new to learning the Bible and trying to understand what Jesus my Lord and Savior wants of me. I sometimes wonder how The Lord can forgive me and not want 100 lbs of flesh from me.

    • John O’Leary

      It is a great wonder indeed! It is His grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Meaning we do not need to either earn it or pay for it, otherwise it would be our wages and not God’s grace.

      Yet Paul writes to the Corinthians that His grace then produces labors for Him.

      1 Corinthians 15:10
      But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

      We have much to be thankful for!