Before we continue our discussion of the coming Fall Feasts of the LORD, it is important to discuss the Jewish marriage covenant. Jesus repeatedly spoke of Himself in terms of a Bridegroom, but because the Church has divorced itself from its Jewish roots, we often fail to see the Jewish construct from which Jesus taught.
The Jewish wedding covenant was at the time of Christ, and still is today, a legal contract called a Ketubah (example shown above). The prospective bridegroom brings the wedding contract to his hopefully future bride's home, along with witnesses. In the actual wedding covenant or contract, the groom promises to provide security to the bride, and puts up his property as assurance for the future protection and security of the bride, even in case of divorce. The bride, of her own free will, choses whether she will accept the groom and the marriage covenant. The groom also brings wine with him to seal and celebrate the accepted covenant, which they drink during a shared meal.
The Apostle Paul also describes the relationship between Christ and the Church as a marriage relationship:
"Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,; but that it should be holy and without blemish (see also Rev. 19:7 referring to the bride of the Lamb)...For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Eph. 5:25-27, 30-32
This is the same commission concerning marriage that the LORD gave to the first man, Adam (Gen. 2:23-24). Jesus further affirmed the marriage relationship as a joining through which two individuals become one flesh:
"And (Jesus) said, "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh...Wherefore, they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Mt. 19:5-6
From the beginning (Mt. 19:8), marriage is the only relationship whereby two separate individuals can become one flesh (echad). This union is the purpose between Christ and the Church- that the two, through marriage, become one.
Jesus has provided the required security for the Bride in His marriage covenant, or Ketubah, with His Church. He provided our protection and security with own His blood (1 Cor. 6:19), and with His own inheritance:
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ...". Rom.8:17
As a Jewish Bridegroom, Jesus further assures the security of His bride by preparing a dwelling for her in His Father's house:
"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 unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also...You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice..."
Jn. 14:2-3, 28a
Even the return of Jesus, to which we all look forward, is a promise given in the context of the Jewish marriage covenant, the Ketubah, as you can see in the above scriptures. As with the Jewish wedding, great rejoicing is associated with the groom coming for his bride.
As we stated previously, in the Jewish custom of the Ketubah, the bridegroom comes to the bride's house. If she agrees to the marriage covenant, they share a meal together with the family:
"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20
The bridegroom also brings witnesses with him to witness the terms of the Ketubah contract, and the bride's acceptance of them. In the same manner, Jesus provides the Holy Spirit as a witness of His marriage covenant with us:
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter ("parakletos"- called to one's aid, helper, aider, assistant), that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Jn. 14:16-18, 26
This special witness, the Holy Spirit, this helper and assistant, is sent by Jesus' Father, on His, the Groom's, behalf. In the Torah, there is a type and shadow of this special Witness and Helper in the marriage covenant. Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer ("God is Help"), to secure a bride for his son, Isaac. Once Eliezer, through God's help, identifies the perfect candidate for the son's bride, he presents her and her family with gold, and his master's great possessions, which he brought with him on ten camels (Gen. 24:10, 22, 53). As required with the Ketubah, the bride, Rebekah, consented to the marriage of her own free will:
"And they called Rebekah and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man?" And she said, "I will go." Gen 24:58
This is the same with each of us. We each had to accept the (marriage) covenant which Jesus offered to us. It is a free will choice.
According to the promise that Jesus made, as Abraham sent Eliezer, the Father sends His Helper, the Holy Spirit, on His Son's behalf, to the Bride with great gifts and possessions, even His power from on high (Acts 1:8). It is the marriage covenant witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that assures our security as joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17).
Finally, as the Jewish bridegroom comes to his future bride's house to gain her agreement to the Ketubah, he brings with him wine to seal and celebrate the marriage covenant. The first miracle of Jesus was turning water into fine wine at the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11). Jesus also sealed His (marriage) covenant with us in wine, His blood:
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit, until that day when I drink it with you in My Father's kingdom." Mt. 26:27-29
In the Jewish marriage ceremony, wine is also used twice. At the beginning of the ceremony, the bride and groom sip wine to acknowledge their sanctification, and the sanctification of the wedding day. They don't drink wine again until later in the ceremony after the seven marriage blessings are said, and thanking God for the privilege of joining together in marriage.
As we see the significance that the Jewish marriage customs play in Christ's relationship with us, we can understand why marriage is under such attack today. The world has tried to change the whole meaning, character, and spiritual importance of marriage, because the world cannot receive, or know it (Jn. 14:17). Certainly those who do know Christ, should understand the depth, the spiritual richness, and prophetic example of the marriage covenant.
The Jewish people often compare the marriage covenant contract, the Ketubah, to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, which was God's joining to the people of Israel. The Church also, can now understand that the Torah, as well as being the Book of the Law, is the Ketubah marriage covenant between Jesus and ourselves.
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