An Ancient Jewish Wedding

John 14:1-3 Have you ever heard of an ancient Jewish wedding? Interestingly enough the teachings of Jesus in John, chapter 14, illustrate the ancient Jewish wedding. The Lord, being raised in a Jewish home knew the traditions of His people. Some of them were good and lined up with the Word of God. Yeshua used illustrations, familiar to the people as parables, so His listeners could understand His message.

In the 14th chapter of the book of John the Lord makes a great point which portrays to the ancient tradition of the Jewish nation - the wedding.

Faithfulness is just as important to God as faith is. Marriage was created for the continuation of life on earth and, as a result is sacred to God. Therefore, faithfulness is important.

Let me begin with the ceremony of a traditional Jewish wedding. There are three parts to the Hebrew wedding: Schadchan - matchmaking, Erusin - the decision of the date for the wedding and Nesuin - the consecration.

The Schadchan: In those days the children were totally dependent on their parents. Usually they were young when the matchmaking began. A thirteen year old boy - Bar Mitzvah age today and a girl at her puberty.) They had no right to choose their own mate. We see in Genesis 24, for example, where Abraham sent his servant to his relatives to find a bride for his son Isaac:

• The children had total trust and were obedient to the wishes of their parents.

• The bride had the right to reject the match.

• The father of groom was the one responsible to look for the bride.

• The bride needed to be willing and was purchased, Gen. 24: 53 & 58.

• The parents made a toast. They would drink wine and seal the contract.

• They waited until the children matured to the point where the betrothal could be broken if that was the bride’s choice.

The Erusin: The date was chosen. The Ketubah was written. The contract was signed. The dowry decided - all these were rights to protect the bride, not the groom.

• The bride needed witnesses to sign the ketubah.

• At this point the marriage was official.

• The groom would return to his father’s home to build an extension for his bride.

• He would build this with joy and anticipation.

• The father would go periodically and oversee the work just to make sure that all was being done well since the groom might have the tendency to hurry things to get his bride sooner.

• When he deemed the room ready, he would give the son the go ahead to get the bride, and only then could he go.

• The bride would be at her parent’s home with a lamp in the window waiting.

• During this time she was preparing all things for the inside of the home and the wedding - the dress, the food etc., gifts for the guests. She would be beautiful for her groom. A group of ten maids would help her. Her parents wanted to be sure during this time that the bride was a virgin. She would be watched closely. The groom would come with a group of his friends, blowing the shofar, making noise to get his bride. There would be no surprise.

The Nesuin: "the carrying-on".

A reception took place. There would be a procession where they would be carried on a chair. The whole community took part. Immediately, the bride and groom would return to the home he prepared. The father had a party going on and he gave them his blessings. They would consummate the marriage and the sheet would be held up to seal the covenant with blood.

This example of a Jewish wedding could be easily seen in the 14th chapter of the book of John. Yeshua said:

"Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also."

I believe there are three things God wants us to know:

1. God has bought us to Himself.

2. The marriage contract, the ketubah, already being signed

3. Our Lord and Messiah went to the Father to prepare a place for us - His bride and is coming back to take us there.

Now we are waiting for His coming. The oil is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, burning inside of us that keeps us from falling a sleep. The Holy Spirit keeps us awake so that we will be ready for the coming of the Lord.

Jesus is making us ready by purifying us each day so that we would be without spot or wrinkle. He will come for His bride who will be ready for Him, beautiful and undefiled!

Dear friend! Let us continue to peruse the goal, the Lord has laid before us, not getting weary or doubtful. Let us stand in the faith. Yeshua is coming soon. Keep trusting Him and make yourselves ready.

May God richly bless you!

Shalom!

By: Messianic Rabbi Gennady Livshits