Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE BRIDE

 THE BRIDE

No matter which way you look at it, the Bible is a unique book. In reality, it’s not one book but 66 books; written by about 40 plus authors over approximately a 1000 to 1500 year period and yet it all fits together much as a single text. If one accepts its’ teaching, it gives reason for our existence and purpose for being here as well as our need for responsibility and accountability to the being who established us on this earth.

Now if one does not believe in God, then none of this really makes much sense, for as the Bible states: “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But if one does have faith in God, then the purpose and meaning of existence is made clear. In addition, the Bible shows how man’s pride and independence led to mankind’s fall from the grace of God. However, it also shows that if man can swallow that pride and become more dependant again on God, the mercy and grace of God can be regained once again.

The Bible shows time and time again how the love of God is paramount and remains even through all our shortcomings. From beginning to end, the Bible relates a love story and marriage between God and His people.

In Genesis, God defines marriage in this way: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This same statement is essentially repeated again in Matthew 19, Mark 10, 1 Corinthians 6, and Ephesians 5 indicating how important this concept is to the Biblical story. Any couple who has been happily married for a period of time knows what this means, how one can feel for the other, can often anticipate the other’s feelings and often complete their thoughts. They often act as one and when one passes, it is not infrequent that the other soon follows.

The Bible, as a whole, relates the relationship of God to mankind as to that of a couple in love. Initially, God had a relationship with the Hebrew nation, but as with most early relationships, it was an on-again, off-again kind of situation because: “…they [Israel] have rejected the word of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 8:9); “Israel has rejected the good…” (Hosea 8:3). And then God came in the form of a man to His chosen people only to be rejected once again. “‘I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me…’” (John 5:43). “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

So Jesus developed His own chosen people by simply finding those who would follow Him: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). He still says the same to us today and by this means has developed His ekklesia or congregation. This He has treated as a future bridegroom would treat his bride according to the Jewish custom of that time. Once a betrothal had been made, the couple would be treated as married and the groom, leaving the bride to be with her family, would then go and prepare a home for them, returning later to take his bride back to their new dwelling. And did Jesus not do exactly the same for His followers?

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, 

I would have told you. 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”

(John 14:2-3)

And so it is, at the time of Christ’s return, in Revelation we read of the church, the bride of Christ, bring made ready for the event. 

 

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage 

of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and

bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are called to 

the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are

the true sayings of God.”

(Revelation 19:7-9)

Now it may seem strange to consider a congregation as a bride but does this not reflect the meaning of us being “In Christ” and “of Christ” being in us. We essentially become one flesh with Him; the same way the first husband and wife did in Genesis 2:24. The Bible always refers to the true followers of Jesus as being in Christ.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.

(2 Corinthians 1:21)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 6:23) 

So by this means we become children of God along with Christ Himself: “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

When we become followers of Christ we first are betrothed to Him and then eventually become one with Him forming a type of divine marriage. We also, in addition, become joint heirs with Him of all that is His. 

And that is truly a very great deal to think about.