Honestly, it IS a strange concept… to be “married to Yeshua.” For those of us who were not raised in the Church, biblical understanding and lingo takes time to get used to. Even Believers, who have been serving the Lord for a lifetime, have questions. However, I believe God loves answering our questions. In fact, Yeshua was a rabbi. The literal translation of the word rabbi actually means “teacher.” So around here we love to embrace great questions like, “What does it mean to be the ‘Bride of Christ?,’” or “How is it possible to be ‘Married to Yeshua’”?
Frankly, we find that many Believers’ haven’t quite wrapped their brain around this topic as well. This is why we meet at the House of David during the appointed Feast Days—these are pictures, visual aids, to help explain what the Lord is doing and has done on our behalf.
Likewise we can learn valuable things from Jewish traditions, passed down over the centuries, from one generation to the next As you know, Yeshua and His disciples were Jewish – meaning that much of the imagery in the Bible comes from a Jewish perspective.
What can we learn from the Jewish Ketubah?
The ketubah is a unilateral agreement drawn by witnesses in accordance with Jewish civil law. The ketubah restates the fundamental conditions that are imposed by the Torah upon the husband, such as providing his wife with food, clothing, and conjugal rights, which are inseparable from marriage. It includes the husband’s guarantees to pay a certain sum in the event of divorce, and inheritance rights obligatory upon his heirs in case he dies before his wife. ~ The Jewish Way in Love & Marriage
The Ketubah is a formal marriage contract, drawn up by the bridegroom. Once the contract has been prepared it is delivered to the father of the bride. If the father sees that the contract not only promises to provide for his daughter financially, but also lines up with who she is as a person, then he will place the document before her with a glass of wine. The future bride then has the power to say yes, or no. Upon reading the document, if she is fully satisfied, she will take the family wine glass and either drink the entire glass, or not touch it all. If she drinks, she is saying yes. If she doesn’t… there will be no wedding.
The Jewish Wedding
During a Jewish wedding ceremony, once again, wine is used. For the Jewish community, wine is a symbol of great joy and celebration. Both the bride and groom will drink two glasses during the ceremony, one following the betrothal blessings, and the other after the seven blessings that link the couple to God, family and one another. [i]
The bride traditionally walks around the groom three or seven times when she arrives at the Chuppah. This may derive from Jeremiah 31:22, “A woman shall surround a man”.
You see, just like the Jewish bride, our Bridegroom, too, has given our heavenly Father a Ketubah for our betrothal. The Word of God contains all of the covenant promises that Yeshua has fulfilled on our behalf. When He died on the cross, He took care of our sin, which kept us from entering in to the presence of His Father—the King of kings. The blood of Calvary gives us access to His heavenly Kingdom, and He invites us to partner with Him in bringing the Kingdom of His Father to earth.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
“Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ‘And at midnight a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, saying, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” and while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But He answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”’”— Mathew 25:1-13
Preparing a Place
In ancient tradition, once the Ketubah had been agreed upon, the Bridegroom would begin building a home for his future wife. There were many plans to settle, in order to insure that the promises that had been made were substantial. At times, the bridegroom would need to be away from his beloved, but once he returned, the wedding WOULD take place.
The Body of Christ is currently waiting for the Bridegroom to return. We walk by faith that ALL that He has promised to us is valid. We prepare our hearts daily by the washing of the Word, so that when He arrives we will be ready. We remove doubts and fears from our mind by putting on the Whole Armor of God.
“When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”— Luke 22:14-19
Isn’t it interesting that on the final Passover before the death of Yeshua, He refused to drink the wine? What was He saying to the twelve… and to ALL Believers?
Is He painting yet another picture? If He will NOT drink the fruit of the vine UNTIL the Kingdom of God comes to earth, as Believers in Messiah we can take solace in knowing that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Although the Bridegroom has gone to prepare a place for us with His Father, He WILL return… When that day comes, there will be much rejoicing, and these appointed Feast Days will have been the dress rehearsal for that appointed time. What a day of REJOICING that will be when the Son drinks from the cup once again!
