I had an uncomfortable experience at a wedding recently. Everything was going along as planned until it came time for the minister to ask that all-important question of the bride, "Do you take so-and-so to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Just then, for some unknown reason, there was an incredibly long and unbelievably awkward silence. No one, at the time, knew for sure if the bride had just zoned out for a moment, or if she was actually contemplating how she wanted to answer. I certainly hope it was the former, but not being a close friend, I never found out.

As many have observed; God's love is like a wedding ring, it has no beginning and no end.

The church is given many titles throughout Scriptures: the Body of Christ, God’s Building, the Flock of God, the Beloved, Kings and Priests, Sons and Heirs. All these many titles are intended to convey various nuances of who we are and what we have in Jesus. God uses examples from our human experiences to give us a point of connection with Himself. At best these are imperfect pictures of God’s perfect plans.  Let's attempt to wrap our limited human minds around the beautiful imagery God paints for us by calling us, His Church, the Bride of Christ.  

In John 3:29, John the Baptist identifies himself as one like a friend of a Bride Groom (the Best Man, you might say) who is heralding the arrival of the Bride Groom to the ceremonies.

In Ephesians 5:25-33, the Apostle Paul challenges husbands to follow the example of Christ, who loved his beloved, us the Church, so much that he literally laid down His life to care for her needs.

In Revelation 21:9, the Church is revealed as the Bride of Christ who inhabits the city of the New Jerusalem, the eternal habitation that Christ has prepared for her.

These references, among others, present tremendous imagery of both a process and a promise.

Let’s look at the process first:

In Biblical times there were several key elements that, together, formed the component parts of a marriage:

-The Proposal:  Traditionally, the head of household (usually the father) of a perspective groom would go and scout out the best prospect they could “afford” based on their own wealth and position.*  Then they would present their proposal to the prospect’s head of household (again, usually the father).  The Proposal would spell out the qualifications of the prospective groom, as well as the details of the price the groom and his father would be willing to pay for the honor of securing the bride.  It speaks not only of his own wealth, but of the value he places on the prospective bride.  If the proposal was accepted, then the agreed upon price would be paid.

-The Mohar: Confirmation of the agreement: made by way of oaths and guarantees the groom would follow through on all his commitments.  The couple was now “officially” bound to each other.  The marriage covenant was secured.  But the union was not yet consummated. 

-Betrothal Period: Once the promises were sworn by oaths and guarantees, the groom would leave, sometimes for an extended period of time, to prepare a home for his bride.  Not until all his preparations were completed would he return for her.  When everything was ready, he would travel to the home of his awaiting bride, “claim” her as his own, and take her away to the home of his father, where he had prepared a special residence for her.

-The Marriage Supper:  Upon arrival, they would celebrate with a great feast, often lasting as long as a week.  For the first time, they would enjoy intimate union with each other.