The Bride Price

Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad,

and let’s give the glory to Him.

For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

and His wife has made herself ready.

Revelation 19:7

The Betrothal. It was the night of the Passover. A marriage contract was offered. It was to be sealed by the bride drinking wine from a ceremonial cup handed to her by the groom. If the bride drank, she agreed to the marriage. The groom knew he would not see his bride again until he had prepared a place for her and it was the day of their wedding.

Jesus revealed a mystery. He is the Bridegroom. We, His followers, are the Bride. Jesus offered the cup to His disciples in the upper room in typical Galilean betrothal fashion. They accepted the cup and drank. When they drank, a spiritual betrothal was sealed. Jesus said He was going away to prepare a place for them...for us...and would come back for us. He said He would not drink wine again until He drank it new with us in His Father’s Kingdom.

.Every Galilean betrothal required a bride price. Jesus knew the bride price He would have to pay. It was exorbitant. Separation from His Father, slander, betrayal, torture, and a brutal death awaited Him. He, who had known no sin, was about to take the sin of the world on Himself. He would carry the guilt and shame for every murder, every rape, every abused child—the sins of all mankind for all times. The  enormity of the price He had to pay for His bride weighed heavily on Him.

He knew all that lay before Him. In Gethsemane, the weight of this price crushed Him. Jesus asked His Father if there was some other way —if this cup could pass from Him.  It could not.  It had to be paid to purchase our freedom. Without His sacrifice, we would be separated from God forever. He drank the cup His Father gave Him. He paid the price—so we could be free. If He hadn’t—we would face judgement and eternal separation from God. The wages of sin is death. Jesus paid our wages so we wouldn’t have to—so we could be free from the death penalty for sin.

Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. In the Garden of Gesthemane, soldiers fell at Jesus’ words: “I am He.” He was bound, abandoned, and led to trial. Peter denied Him. Judas despaired. Jesus was stripped, mocked, beaten, scourged, and crowned with thorns. He was marred beyond recognition...His body torn open by a nine-stranded whip with shards of glass, pieces of pottery, and broken bones.

The land was cloaked in darkness for three hours. Did peals of thunder and flashes of lightning illuminate the sign nailed above His head, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS?

In agony, Jesus spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The Father turned His face away. He had to. His eyes are too pure to look on evil. Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” meaning, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Even in death Jesus showed compassion—a home for his mother—“Woman, behold your Son.” —and pardon for a dying criminal—“Today you shall be with Me in paradise.”

Jesus knew He was the Lamb slain from before the foundations of the world. It was the time of the Feast of Passover, when a spotless lamb was killed as a memorial of God's miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from the bondage of Egypt. As Jesus breathed, “It is finished. Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” all who would repent of their sin and accept His offer of forgiveness would be His bride: betrothed to the Son of God.

Such amazing love and mercy has been extended to all mankind. As Jesus breathed His last, the High Priest in the temple killed the sacrificial Passover lamb. Jesus, the Lamb of God died during Passover—the very hour the spotless Passover lambs were slain in the temple.

God Himself tore the curtain that separated the holy place from the holy of holies . The way to His holy Presence was now open to all who would come. The bride’s freedom from the law of sin and death was purchased. Jesus paid the bride price with His life’s blood.

If he had understood God's plan, Satan would never have crucified the Lord of Glory. Jesus descended into Hell and took the keys of Hell and death. Satan was stripped of his authority. Jesus rose three days later The stone rolled from the empty tomb wasn't so He could escape, but so the world could see: He is alive!

Forty days later, He ascended into Heaven. He is the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is in Heaven, preparing a place for His bride—for us. I am sure He is eagerly waiting for the day His Father determines all is ready. He is praying His bride will be strong and remain faithful. One day, our Father will send His Son for His bride.

The invitation stands. Keep watch—you do not know the day or hour. The wedding feast awaits. The King has told us, “Yes, I am coming soon. "

The bride had been told to be ready. She knows the bridegroom will come at an unknown time, as a thief in the night, with the blast of a shofar. She has been told to watch. One day, Jesus will stand in mid-Heaven—in the clouds—calling His bride. Those who are ready—who have placed their faith in Christ—who are His betrothed bride—will hear His voice. The righteous dead will rise first—then those who are alive and remain will rise into the air to forever be with the LORD.

You are invited you to be part of His royal, forever family. One day, there will be a magnificent marriage supper. The death, mourning, crying, pain, suffering, sickness, and grief of Earth will be over. Sin, fear and torment will be forever gone. Come.

This is based on a chapter from , Convergence—A Window Into Eternity, Part 3 in the Narrow Path Trilogy. Available on Amazon. https://shorturl.at/Zh6Hu