The Bride

Photo by Andrew Butko

  The bride in Scripture is vividly portrayed.  There are many references to God's people as his bride and God providing a wedding garment both in the Old Testament and the New.  In Isaiah 61 we have, "He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." And in 62 we have, "As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you."  Psalm 132 tells us, "I will clothe her priests with salvation . . . I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent."
  In Matthew 22 we have the parable of the wedding feast where we learn that guests were provided garments to wear to the feast. It was an intolerable insult for someone not to wear the garment provided. So when Jesus attends a wedding at Cana (John 2), we can't help but wonder what he wore.
  These images of brides and weddings continue in the book of Revelation.  Chapter 19 has, "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready, fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. . . . Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb."  Chapter 21 describes the New Jerusalem as the bride, the wife of the Lamb (21:9), adorned lavishly with jewels.  This is not to say that a city, mere buildings, are the bride, but that the members of the Kingdom of God are those who have deserved to become the bride of Christ.
   Why should we care about these images of brides, bridegrooms and wedding feasts?  It is often helpful to see ourselves as God see us.  If we are followers of Christ, disciples of Christ, intent on being part of the Kingdom, then wouldn't it be nice to see ourselves in the wedding garment we are being given?  Several people have reported to me that, in prayer, they have seen their wedding garment.  They don't all look the same.  They are not all white, but they are all beautiful and uniquely suited to the wearer.
  For Reflection:  Do I know how God sees me?  Have I ever asked God to let me see my wedding garment?
  Let us pray.  Jesus, I do want to know how you see me.  I want a garment of salvation, a robe of righteousness and jewels befitting your spouse.
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