The trumpet announcing the coming of Jesus Christ can sound any day now. Throughout scripture we read about the signs, signaling the soon return of Jesus.  

When his disciples asked Him, what signs they should look for, He compared His return, to the traditional Galilean wedding.

Because about 70 percent of the Gospel took place in Galilee, and Jesus and his disciples were Galileans, it is obvious that He would teach them, about this most important event, in the Galilean vernacular, which carries a prophetic message concerning His return.

The wedding process started with a betrothal, an engagement in our language. The groom-to-be and his father, would arrange to meet the young lady and her father at the city gate, where the elders of the city met and anyone who would like to witness the event, could participate. The groom’s father would read out a proposed “ketubah,” a marriage contract, in which the conditions were spelled out to the future bride and her father. If she accepted the offer and conditions, the groom would fill a cup with wine from a pitcher, called “The cup of Joy,” and hand it to her.   By accepting the cup and drinking the wine, she would indicate that she accepted the marriage offer.  The groom would then also drink from the cup, signifying that they were now betrothed, joined as ONE!  He then says something quite profound: “You are now consecrated to me according to the law of Moses and I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again, until I drink it anew with you in my father’s house.” 

Do these words sound familiar to you?  In Matthew 26:29 we read that Jesus spoke these words at the “Last Supper.” His disciples fully understood what He meant, as they were accustomed to their wedding traditions, and they knew a wedding was coming. The heavenly Groom will come for His earthly bride.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are betrothed to Him, we are His bride-to-be, also called “The Church”. 

Ephesians 5:25-27 puts it beautifully: “… as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her … having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present her to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle…” Verse 29 follows through with, “For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church…” Verse 31-32: “… and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the Church,” His bride. 

At this point, the groom’s father presents the young lady with gifts. He gives her enough money to prepare for her wedding day and take care of herself, until that day.  The money also served as surety should anything happen to the groom before that day. This custom was unique to the Galilean wedding.

John 14:1-3: (Paraphrased)

“My Father’s house has many dwelling places … I go to prepare a place for you and when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.”  This was part of the Galilean Betrothal, and every disciple understood what it meant, and that Jesus was going to His Father’s house to prepare a place for His bride, just as an earthly groom would go and prepare a place for his early bride.

Then they separated for about one year. The groom had to build a room onto his father’s house, make furniture and buy everything that was needed for the wedding celebrations. When he had completed the preparations, he would notify his father and indicate that he was ready to fetch his bride.

Next, something quite prophetic would happen. Nobody, but the father knew when it was time for the groom to fetch his bride. At his discretion, he would wake his son in the middle of the night and say: 

“Go fetch your bride.” Wow, how awesome is that!

A beautiful lesson, one of provision, can be drawn from this phase of the Galilean wedding for us today:

Matthew 6:31 reads: “Do not worry or be anxious saying, “What are we going to eat, or what are we going to drink, or what are we going to wear?” Verse 32 says, “for your heavenly Father knows what we need.”  Verse 33: “But first and most importantly seek His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you also.”

That is truly amazing!  The moment the young lady accepted the offer, she was given enough money to take care of herself until the wedding day.  This is exactly what she did, knowing that all the costs were covered by the father of the groom. She was so convinced of adequate provision, that she could focus fully on preparing herself and being ready to meet her groom. Thus, meeting the conditions of the “ketubah.”

This is where we find ourselves as born-again children of God. Remember, His promises are true, He is faithful and true, and He means what He says! (2 Cor 1:18-20) He will take care of you. You only have to meet the condition of seeking Him first. What an awesome God we serve. Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for speaking so clearly to me today. I lay all my burdens at your feet and trust that You will take care of them. Help me to seek You with all my heart and help me to prepare for Your soon return.  Amen.