This year at IgniteJHDC, we are focusing on “Jesus at the Center.. The word “bride/wife” used throughout this devotional is a metaphorical play on words to describe the intimate relationship between God and humanity. Now that I have your attention, let’s dive into Hosea 2:16, “And it shall be, in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master.’” This verse is just one of the many promises from God found in this chapter, to be His possession.

Over the next several days, we will explore the mystery behind this profound statement and what it truly means for us to be Jesus’ Bride. Together, we’ll uncover the significance of Jewish marriage traditions and how it parallels the Return of Jesus. We will also examine Biblical revelations and dive into scriptural stories to see where the Spirit leads us.

I invite you to join me on this journey through God’s Word as we seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Before we start today, I would like to take the soft, unassuming approach. Starting off, the word Husband according to Google is defined as “a married man considered in relation to his spouse.” Whereas in the Biblical context, a husband is referred to “as a male partner in marriage, with significant responsibility for leading, providing for, and serving his wife.” It is important for us to have a uniform baseline understanding of what a husband is meant to be, in relation to His Bride, as God originally defined it, and not what society has twisted it to be. 

Also, Jesus was a Jew, born of a Jewish mother in Galilee. Cool? Great!

Okay, now we’ve got that out the way, the Jewish marriage customs is not something I can honestly say I ever really thought about, until conducting this study. And dare I say, this is probably one of the most beautiful, honorable marriage traditions I've ever heard of. But enough of me teasing you; let’s dive deeper. 

In the ancient Jewish culture, marriage was not just a simple ceremony but a structured, multi-step process that had deep significance. The customs involved several key stages that closely parallel the relationship between Jesus and His followers. 

The first step in the Jewish marriage culture is called Betrothal (be·troth·al), known as kiddushin. This step was more than just an engagement—it was a covenant between the bride and groom. The groom would go and visit the bride’s home and offer a bride price, better known as a dowry, as a symbol of his commitment. Once this agreement was made, they were officially considered husband and wife, although they had not yet lived together or consummated the marriage.

In the same way, Jesus, through His sacrifice, has already made a covenant with His followers. His death on the cross was the “bride price,” securing the relationship between Him and those who believe in Him. Just as the betrothed bride belonged to her groom even before they would live together forever, believers are already considered the “bride of Christ,” waiting for His return.

After the betrothal, the groom would leave to prepare a home for his bride. This was often an addition to his father’s house, where the newlyweds would live. The groom’s departure could last for an extended period. However, the bride did not know exactly when he (the groom) would return. During this time, she remained watchful and ready, as the wedding feast could take place at any moment.

This mirrors what Jesus told His disciples. In John 14:2-3, He said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms... I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.”

Just like the Jewish groom, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His bride—the Church. His followers do not know the exact time of His return, but they are called to be ready, living faithfully in anticipation of His coming.

1. Have you ever sat and thought about what Heaven will actually look like?

During the groom’s absence, the bride was expected to remain faithful and true to prepare herself for the wedding. She would gather her bridal garments, lamps, and other necessary items while watching for signs of the groom’s return. This period of waiting was not passive; it was an active time of preparation. And it's not preparation alone, as Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 states, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

This aspect is crucial for believers today. Jesus emphasized the importance of being spiritually ready for His return. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), He describes a wedding scenario where some bridesmaids were prepared with enough oil for their lamps, while others were caught unprepared when the groom arrived unexpectedly. This illustrates the importance of being spiritually vigilant, keeping faith, and living in readiness for Jesus’ second coming.

One of the most exciting elements of Jewish marriage customs was the surprise arrival of the groom. When the groom’s father determined that the preparations were complete, he would send the groom to collect his bride—usually at night (1 Thessalonians 5:2 "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.") But the groom and his companions would approach the bride’s home with a loud shout and the sound of a trumpet to announce his arrival. The bride, along with her attendants, would then quickly gather their belongings and join him for the wedding feast.

This directly parallels the Biblical description of Jesus’ second coming. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul writes: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

Just as the Jewish bride did not know the exact moment of her groom’s return, believers do not know the precise time of Jesus’ second coming. However, His return will be announced with a great trumpet sound, just like in the Jewish wedding tradition. Matthew 24:36 says “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” 

I recently came across a video on TikTok depicting a diagram of Bible verses cross-referenced to one another in the Bible. The diagram indicated 63,000 connections from this same Bible written by 40 different men across three continents in multiple languages over the span of 1,500 years. Isn't that just amazing?!? Like how humanly possible is that? It's not, but only by divine intervention. God, the perfect storyteller. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Is there a proper way to wait on the return of Jesus?

After the groom collected his bride, they would go to the groom’s home for a grand wedding feast, which could last for several days. This was a time of great joy and celebration, marking the beginning of their life together.

Similarly, the Bible describes a future event known as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:6-9. This feast symbolizes the final union between Jesus and His Bride. It will be a time of overwhelming joy when believers are finally united with Christ forever. By understanding these Jewish marriage customs, we can see that Jesus’ return is not meant to be a terrifying event but a joyful reunion. Just as a bride eagerly awaited her groom’s arrival, believers should look forward to Jesus’ return with excitement and anticipation. 

Instead of fear, this should encourage us to be:

• Hopeful: Jesus’ return marks the fulfillment of His promise to be with His people forever. Hope, that one day, this will all make sense.

• Ready: Just as the bride prepared herself for the groom’s arrival, believers should live faithfully, keeping their hearts and lives aligned with God’s Will. Yes, it is hard to always be on guard and carry your cross daily, but in Haggai 2:9 the Bible says “The Glory of this present house will be greater than the Glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

• Joyful: The wedding feast represents eternal joy in God’s presence, where there will be no more suffering, pain, or separation. Read Luke 14:12-24, the Parable of the Great Banquet. 

Jesus’ second coming closely mirrors the structure of an ancient Jewish wedding. From the betrothal (salvation) to the groom’s preparation (Jesus in heaven), the bride’s readiness (believers living in expectation), the sudden return (the rapture), and the grand wedding feast (eternal life with Christ), the parallels are striking.

This understanding shifts the perspective from fear to joy. Jesus is coming back—not as a judge to condemn His bride, but as a loving groom returning for the ones He loves. His return is a celebration, a fulfillment of a long-awaited promise. For believers, this should be a source of hope and excitement, motivating them to remain faithful and prepared.

Rather than dreading the unknown, we can embrace the future with confidence, knowing that Jesus’ second coming is the glorious moment when He will gather His people to Himself for eternity.

Reflection

1. What are you looking forward to most during eternity with your Creator?

Now that we better understand the Jewish marriage customs, we will spend the next couple of days making it applicable to us. 

In the book of Mark 10:7-8, the Bible says ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.’ Before we get into this, I love how each new experience you go through in life brings new revelation to Scripture. This passage, originally referencing the union of a husband and wife in marriage, also beautifully parallels the relationship between Jesus and His people.  

God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit our Helper. Jesus, our example, who shows us how to live a life pleasing to the Father, with help from the Holy Spirit. Queues “You came from Heaven to earth, to show the way” ….The Way, The Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). The verse taken from Mark is a perfect image of what we are called to do as it pertains to marriage and also what Jesus did for us. By His Spirit we are made one (1 Corinthians 12:13); no longer called strangers but called His Own. Just like in most cases when a man and woman marry, the woman inherits the name of the man, just as we did when Jesus paid the price for our salvation. Just as a husband and wife become "one flesh" in marriage, Jesus and His followers are united in a deep, spiritual bond. Our old identity (name) is gone, and we have become one with our Husband (The Lord). 

Like we noted above, the groom would leave his father’s house to be united with his bride. This reflects what Jesus did when He left His heavenly home to come to earth for His people. Philippians 2:6-8 describes how Jesus humbled Himself, leaving the Glory of heaven to pursue and redeem His bride. 

The next time you read Mark 10:7-8, let it reflect the deep, mysterious union between Jesus and His people. Just as a husband and wife are joined as one, believers are joined to Christ in a bond of love, commitment, and eternal unity.

Reflection: 

1. In what areas of my life am I fully united with Christ, and where am I still holding back from becoming 'one' with Him?