Hints of heaven.

On this Ash Wednesday, I am stunned with gratitude for the people that God has surrounded me with in my family. In 38 and 59 days our two oldest sons will marry these precious women. As Lent begins today, my heart is filled with anticipation. When Lent 2018 comes to a close, we will, Lord willing, be at our oldest sons wedding weekend. As their wedding weekend closes, we will enter into Holy Week as we journey towards the cross and the passion of Jesus for His bride. Then one more week passes and the following week we will head into the wedding weekend of our second son. I am excited. I am sober. I am grateful. And I'm needy.

In the Bible book of John (chapter 13), we see that Jesus' closest friends have just found out that one of them will betray Jesus. It has gotten really thick, really quick. They are staring at each other in disbelief wondering who it is, probably hopeful that in some crazy way that it's not them. Irony.

God's teaching in the midst of troubling times are His words. I am so thankful for this. Jesus does not miss the chance to teach us in the midst of trouble. In that same bible book of John, chapter 14, verses 1 through 3 we get to see Jesus being deliberately intentional about teaching His friends right in the midst of trouble. What will He say to them at this intersection of betrayal, confusion and gut wrenching, group changing trouble? "Don't worry or surrender to fear. You've believed in God. Now trust and believe in Me also." And what follows is such an important intersection for all of us. What does He point to in the midst of the trouble that He is aware of in their hearts?

His return.

"My Father's kingdom is like a house with many dwelling places. It if were otherwise I would tell you plainly because I am leaving soon to go and prepare a place for you to rest. And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you with Me so that you will be where I am."

A place for you to rest. Rest. Yes.

The Jewish readers of these words would have burst forth with contextual understanding. They would know the boundless richness of the preparing of a place to rest and what it entailed.

A Jewish marriage began with betrothal. A prospective bridegroom would take initiative and would leave his father's house and go to the house of his prospective bride. He would negotiate with the father of the young woman to determine the price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. Once he paid the father, the marriage covenant was established in that moment. They were husband and wife. The groom and bride would drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal blessing would be pronounced. The groom would then leave his bride at her home and return to his father's house. He would remain there separate from her for 12 months (yikes!). This 12 months gave the bride time to prepare for her married life and the groom the time to prepare living accommodations at his father's house for where he would bring his bride to live with him. At the end of the 12 months, the groom and his male friends would leave in torch light procession and go to the house of the bride. She was expecting the groom, but she just didn't know when. As a result, the groom's arrival was preceded by a shout, letting the bride know it was time! The groom and his men and the bride and her attendants would travel back to the groom's father's house. Upon arrival they would find that many wedding guests had assembled. As they arrived, the wedding party would escort the groom and bride to the bridal chamber (huppah). The bride has remained veiled the entire time so that no one could see her face. The bride and groom would enter alone and celebrate their physical union and consummate the marriage that was established a year earlier. After the marriage was consummated, the groom would emerge alone to announce the consummation to the wedding party waiting outside (cozy!). Upon receiving the good news, all those gathered would feast and celebrate for the next 7 days, the "7 days of the huppah". During these days the bride would remain hidden in the bridal chamber after which the groom would bring his bride out of the bridal chamber, now with her veil removed, so that all could see who his bride was.

Wow.

Now, hear this truth from God's word. This is for you and me today.

And Jesus….your Bridegroom.

We are called the Bride of Christ. Ephesians 5:22-23

Jesus took initiative and left His Father’s house and came to earth. John 1:14

He came to earth in order to establish a covenant with us. Hebrews 7:22

He instituted communion with His disciples. This cup is the new covenant in my blood...the price to pay for His bride, the church. 1 Corinthians 11:25

The church has been declared to be sanctified and set apart exclusively for Jesus. Ephesians 5:25-27

So Jesus left the earth and has remained separate from us and is NOW preparing dwelling places for us.

John 20:17, John 14:2

Jesus will come back and take His church to live with Him forever. John 14:3

This will include the procession of Jesus and an angelic voice from the heavenlies. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

The church doesn't know the exact time that Jesus will come for us. Matthew 25:13

His arrival will be preceded by a shout. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

The church, His bride, will return with Jesus to His Father’s house in heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

This gathering will include those already present and those joining in that moment. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

There will be spiritual union with the church and Jesus in the arrival in the Father’s house. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

The proposal.

I, Jesus, take thee sinner, to be My bride. And I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be thy loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom. In sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in faithfulness and in waywardness, for time and eternity.

The acceptance.

I, sinner, take thee, Jesus, to be my Savior. And I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be thy loving and faithful bride. In sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in faithfulness and in waywardness, for time and eternity.

His plan. His invitation. His love. Epic love. Love beyond all.

He and the Father determined the price to pay in order to purchase His Bride.

His life.

Bask.

There's more.