The Wedding Feast

When Jesus spoke of returning to take His people to Himself, He did not express Himself in mysterious terms. He used Jewish wedding imagery that His listeners understood immediately.

Here’s how this custom works—and how Jesus used it to teach: At a Jewish wedding, the groom first paid a bride price to secure his bride. Jesus drew on this when he said that he would give his life as a ransom and that we had been “bought with a price.” (Mark 10:45)

Next, the bride and groom sealed their covenant with a cup of wine. From that moment on, the bride legally belonged to him, even if they were not yet living together (just as we do not yet physically dwell with Christ). Jesus reflected this at the Last Supper when he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20)

After the engagement, the bridegroom set out to prepare a place for his bride—usually an extension of his father’s house. Jesus used the exact language of this custom when he said, “I am going to prepare a place for you.” The bridegroom could not return on his own schedule. Only the father decided when the house was ready, which is why no one knew the day or the hour of the groom’s return. This explains why Jesus said that even he did not know the time, but only the Father did.

When the time came, the groom returned suddenly, often at night, announced by a shout and the sounding of a trumpet. The bride was brought to him to be with him.

Paul later describes the same imagery when he speaks of the Lord coming down with a loud shout and the trumpet of God, and the bride being caught up to meet him. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

For the original listeners, this was not a symbolic mystery; it was a familiar pattern. Jesus not only promised to return, but He also described how He would come. First, to take His bride to be with Him, and later to return with her in glory.

That is what we Christians are waiting for, and we rejoice in it! God bless you!