Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (Jn 14:1-3 NIV)
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus relied on the ancient Jewish wedding pattern to illustrate many of his parables, and climaxing in His promises in the Upper Room (John 14). Many Christians miss the full impact of these allusions in relation to the kingdom, because they're not familiar with ancient Jewish wedding practices.
The following excerpt is quoted from followtherabbi.com:
In ancient Israel, when it was time for a man and woman to marry, both fathers would negotiate the bride price to compensate the bride-to-be’s family [for the loss of her services]. After exchanging a glass of wine to seal the agreement, the couple was formally engaged.
The Bridegroom
The young man then told his fiancée, in effect, “I’m going home to my father’s house to prepare a place for you. When I’m finished, I’ll return and take you to be my wife.”
The son (typically in his mid-twenties) would then build a new house on his father’s existing one. As generations married and built their houses onto the original one, they created a housing complex called an insula. Here, family members ate, worked, and lived together…
As the son worked on his new home, he eagerly awaited his father’s final approval. Only the father could decide when the building was finally complete.
The Bride
As her fiancé prepared a new home, the bride-to-be (typically fourteen years old) would remain at her parents’ home, preparing wedding clothes and learning homemaking skills.
During this time, she was known in the community as “one who had been bought with a price.” She might wait six months, nine months, or even longer for her fiancé to return; no one know the exact time when he would come for her.
Eventually, she would hear the sound of the shofar as her bridegroom entered her village and announced that their wedding day had arrived. The wise bride was well-prepared for her groom’s arrival.
The Significance
These insights help us to understand how wonderful heaven and our eternal relationship with God will be. When Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven, he compared himself to a bridegroom who was engaged to be married.
“I love you as my bride,” he said, in effect, “so I’ll pay the bride price. I’ll give up my life for you. I’ll go to my father’s house where there are many rooms to prepare a place for you. One day I’ll return and take you to be with me forever in heaven.”
Jesus’ second coming will be like the long-awaited arrival of a bridegroom… And heaven will be like a joyous wedding reception, celebrating the love between a husband and a wife.
Another more detailed explanation of Jewish wedding customs can be read under “Marriage” in Smith’s online Bible Dictionary.
Related: Join us at Chrysalis for Marriage Monday the first Monday of every month. April's MckLinky is here...
Photos: Biblical Archaeology Review & eliel.schafler (Flickr)
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Can you think of other passages where Jesus' teaching alludes to Jewish wedding customs?
13 Comments:
Lovely insights....thank you for sharing.
I love that the Jewish Groom sounds the shofar when claiming his bride. We had a friend who told us the story of his wedding day. He is Jewish and on the day of his wedding he was going to the home of his bride Mary Lou to claim her. As he got closer to her house he all of a sudden remembered that he had not brought his shofar to announce his arrival to claim her. So he started shouting at the top of his voice MARY LOU I'M COMING FOR YOU!!! lol I love that.
I always felt bad for Jacob in all the years he had to work to claim Rachel.
I also love the tradition of the Jewish Groom entering the sanctuary at the back where the bride would enter. He does this to symbolize that he is cutting covenantsworn her - so romantic :)
Is it any wonder that Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding?
One way I think marriage has been cheapened today is that, in the days gone by, there was actual physical work involved in the process. We all know the deep satisfaction and pride that comes from working hard to obtain something. We tend to care for and appreciate it much more than something that comes easy or is merely given to us.
Imagine the bride knowing how hard her groom has worked on her behalf. We all know how much easier it is to love and respect our husbands when we feel cherished!
Thanks for your insights today, a great offering!
Hugs and Happy Monday!
Connie
I've always found the analogy of our relationship with God to marriage fascinating. Thanks for adding a new element to it today.
I was unaware of all the details you presented in this post. I know there are several analogies throughout the New Testiment about marriage and our relationship to Christ, but this was very eye-opening to me. Thank you again for educating me e-mom!
Oh what a beautiful analogy. I can't being a young Jewish girl and waiting. But may we be ready for the Bridegroom's coming.
Very informative, I had not understood how strong the bridegroom imagery was in the NT. I like the idea of the groom's family paying for the bride rather than being paid for taking her off her parents' hands with a dowry!!
Scripture is so rich, and learning how God's Word fits with Jewish tradition and vice versa makes it that much sweeter.
Well said. I am interesting in checking out more info on Jewish wedding tradition. Love wedding traditions:)
Hello e-Mom! My first time to join Marriage Monday. Your post was very informative and I loved reading it. I'm a relatively new mom and wife ( 7 years) and I look forward to learning from the posts here.
Have a great week!
Anonymous said...
I really enjoyed your post on the Jewish wedding traditions and the meanings, etc. It was new to me and I found it fascinating...GREAT JOB!!!
That is wonderful! Thanks for Sharing!
Ozjane: You're welcome!
Shelley: What a cute story!!! I had no idea modern grooms announce their arrival with a shofar (usually).
Really, Jewish grooms arrive at the back of the sanctuary? Thanks for sharing these fascinating details, Shelley. :~D
Connie: Absolutely! Is it any wonder that Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding?
And this is SO true too: Imagine the bride knowing how hard her groom has worked on her behalf. We all know how much easier it is to love and respect our husbands when we feel cherished!
Tami: You're welcome!
Jaime: My pleasure!
Alicia: But may we be ready for the Bridegroom's coming. YES!
Buffy: Amen. :~D
April: Yes, I do feel loved. :~D
Claudia: Scripture is RICH indeed.
Mac an Rothaich: Do read up. :~D
Judy424: Welcome to Marriage Monday. So happy you could join us.
Ann Onymous: I appreciate your strong support. :~D
Kim: Thanks, friend. :~D
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