Ancient Hebrew culture: man would pour a glass of wine, extend to the his intended bride – if she chose to drink it, she accepted his proposal – he would then make arrangements for a “dowry” – if she did not “drink the cup”, he would gather his things and leave
Sound familiar? Jesus asked His disciples “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?” (Matthew 20:22) – Does that mean something different when we think about the proposal tradition?
Take that further: if the young woman agreed to marry the man, he would return to his father’s house and begin preparing a place for her – sometimes not much more than a room added to his father’s house. The room was often referred to as their “mansion”
But the young man could not determine the timeline for completion of the addition – only the father could determine when the addition was complete and permit his son to go get his bride – when townsfolk asked about the wedding date, the groom replied, “Only my father knows.” Making more connections now?
Keep going: grooms often went to claim brides in the middle of the night. This increased the suspense and excitement of the event. The bride-to-be had to be ready to leave with her groom at a moment’s notice.
Mark 2:19f: disciples of John the baptizer asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t fast, as they and the Pharisees did. He answered by characterizing Himself as the bridegroom. “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”
Church is the “bride of Christ” – we are to be ready – He will come for us at a time when we don’t expect Him – John 14:2-5: like that groom of old, Jesus is “going to prepare a place” for us. “In my Father’s house,” He says, “are many mansions – When asked about the timing of last days’ events, He replies, “Only the Father knows.”
Jesus sounded the wedding note from that first wedding at Cana throughout His ministry on Earth. Even in Revelation, His angel speaks of the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. The Bible is the Creator’s letter of love to His creation – it’s all about a wedding! And every one of us has the very real hope of being a part of the church – the bride of Christ.