No Greater Love

Day 1... Today—a love story…try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20a

Before the sun was up she was awake. As a matter of fact it had been hard to sleep at all the night before…and even though darkness had fallen many hours ago… sleep still would not come. From the moment she had been born until now, her 14th year of life, she had never had such a hard time falling asleep.

So much had happened yesterday…with one sip from the cup, her life had changed…things would never be the same again. It had all felt like a beautiful dream…but that wasn’t possible…for to dream you must sleep.

When they arrived yesterday her father had been there, at the door. He had greeted the visitors with all the hospitality a man had to offer. She remembered peaking around the curtain to get a glimpse of them. The older man’s eyes had sparkled…but the son…oh my…dark hair…dark eyes…a few stray curls decorating his forehead…handsome… strong…and that smile…since the day she had met him at the well she had never forgotten it.In her amazement she had hardly been able to think…in her excitement she had hardly been able to breathe.

She thought back to the scene from yesterday. They were here for her…she was to be a bride…would her father agree? What bride price would be asked for…would they be willing to pay? Her father’s voice was low…it was so hard to hear… what was the amount he had asked for … surely she had heard him wrong…the price was too high. Never before in the village had such a price been asked. For a daughter to leave a family was a great loss…for the father to set a price to cover that loss was normal…but one this high?

She knew that her father loved her but she never dreamed that he thought her so valuable.She listened as he agreed to pay the price… and before she knew it, she was called into the room and all eyes were on her. The one from the well held a cup in his hand…and as he drank from it his eyes never looked away…and then he stretched out his arm and offered the cup to her. Everyone there knew that if she took it and if she drank from it …she was his and he was hers.She smiled to herself remembering the look of relief on his face when she had taken the cup and had brought it to her lips…and as he had watched her drink it he slowly exhaled and began to breathe again.

The covenant was sealed and although he still had to return to his father’s home and prepare a place for her…and she still had to wait for him and learn how to be his bride they were bound to each other for life.As she prepared for him to return, she knew that one evening she would hear the blast of the trumpet and see the light from the torches and he would come. He would claim her as his own…and he would take her home to be with him as his bride. Now as she waited…he was no longer just “The Man from the Well”…he was her “Beloved Bridegroom”… and she was no longer just a maiden from the village… she was known as the one who had been “Bought with a Price”.

This week we will learn about a bride and a bridegroom…a proposal and an engagement…a cup and a cross…a price and a payment. No matter who you are… you are part of this story…this love story.

Good for you…You finished Day 1. As go to sleep tonight I am going to remember my Bridegroom and his wonderful smile.


Day 2… It’s so popular today….waiting to see if he will propose…you know…on those reality TV shows…will he ask…will she accept…how big is the ring…will it last? There is no proposal greater than the one we will hear about today…stay tuned. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20

Are you married? If you are...how were you proposed to? Was it simple? Was it fancy? No matter what it was I am sure you heard words similar to this… “Will you marry me”? Well…it was different in the land of the Bible long ago.In ancient Israel…when it was time for a man and a young woman to marry…the man didn’t just “go pop the question.” The prospective groom and his father would come to visit the young woman and her father. Both fathers would then negotiate a bride price.

At first it might seem to you that the young woman’s father is selling her….not at all. To lose a daughter in marriage was a precious loss. To make up for this loss a bride price was paid to the bride’s family.Now for the proposal…taking a cup of wine, the groom would drink from it and then offer it to the young woman. This was his way of saying that he wanted to make a covenant and would be willing to give his life for her. The young woman could then accept the cup or reject it. If she took it, she sealed the engagement by drinking from the same glass. From that moment on, she was referred to as one who was “bought with a price”. This meant that she was engaged.

Jesus knew how much people loved weddings. He knew how special it was to be “bought with a price” and before Jesus died on the cross, he had a special meal with His disciples. This meal was not an ordinary meal…it was one that they celebrated every year to help them remember the time God brought the Jewish people out of slavery. It was a meal where they only ate certain foods and each food had a special meaning. It was the Passover meal. There was a cup of wine during this meal that becomes especially important to our “wedding story” today.

Jesus took the cup and he picked it up…he stretched out his arm to His disciples and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” Luke 22:20. The disciples knew this language…it was wedding language…the words were filled with image of a marriage proposal. Now we know that Jesus was not asking the disciples to marry Him, so what was he saying? He was placing Himself in the position of the Bridegroom and He was placing His followers in the position of the bride. The essence of his words meant, “I love you as my bride, so I’ll pay the bride price.”

If you have become a follower of Jesus…received His cleansing and forgiveness…taken His cup…you are His bride. If you haven’t they can be about you if you will just reach out and take the cup of salvation that Jesus offers.Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 together.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price… 1Corinthians 6:19-20

What does it say about being our own? What does it say we have been bought with?The bride price for us was a very costly price. As a matter of fact there has never been a bride price that was higher. The Bible says that we have all sinned and that the payment for that sin is death. We deserve to die for our sins. Jesus loved us so much that he paid the price for our sin. He died in our place.What does that say about the value that God places on each one of us?

Right before Jesus gave up his spirit and died on the cross he cried out. The Bible tells us that He said “It is finished”…the true meaning of the phrase is…“the debt has been paid.” With His arms outstretched on the cross He took our punishment...He paid our bride price.Did you know that the Heavenly Father thinks you are so valuable that it cost Jesus His life to pay your bride price?

Good for you…You have finished Day 2. Have you ever felt like you are not special to one single person on this earth…I have good news for you…you are special to Him!

Day 3... Have you ever been lonely? I mean really lonely? Have you ever moved somewhere new and you didn’t know anyone? Sometimes we can live in a city and not feel like we are part of a community at all. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3

In America today we live in many different types of homes and apartments. Big homes…little homes…fancy apartments…plain apartments…lots of places…lots of choices. In Jesus’ time families usually lived in buildings that were connected to each other. In the center of all of them was a courtyard. This type of place was called an Insula.When a young man became engaged…his work really started.

Now, engagement back then was really different than it is now. It was a commitment equal to marriage. To break an engagement you had to get a divorce. Even though a couple was engaged…and the commitment was binding…they could not be together as husband and wife until the young man had prepared a home.Back then you didn’t just go out and rent an apartment…you didn’t just move in with your parents…you built a house. This house was a special type of house though…one that we don’t see today.

The young man would return to his village and build new rooms onto his father’s home. These rooms were for him and his bride. His brothers would have built onto the father’s home as well. Are you getting the picture...grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…someone to talk to when you are lonely…someone to share the load…someone to hold the babies when they are crying?The young man would work and work and work to get this place ready. He knew that one day, his father would tell him that the building was complete. On that day, he could finally go get his bride and bring her to their new home.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-4

What was Jesus talking about?He was talking about us…His bride…and He was talking about our future home together...Heaven. What a beautiful picture of Heaven…God’s insula…grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…people to talk to…people to celebrate with…people to worship with. There will be no loneliness in Heaven…no tears…no death…no pain. It will not be boring…it will not be dull…it will be something greater than anything we can think of.

The Bridegroom is there right now…getting it ready for us…his church…his bride.One day the God the Father is going to tell Jesus to go get His bride. He is going to take us home to be with Him in the place He has prepared for us. Have you accepted His proposal?

Good for you…You finished Day 3. I cannot even begin to imagine how wonderful Heaven will be. God created this earth in 6 days…Jesus has been working on our place for 2,000 years.

Day 4... Have you ever had to wait for someone? It is not always easy. Sometimes it is really hard. I remember one time I was waiting to be picked up for a date. I waited and waited and waited and he never came. Today we will talk about what to do while we are waiting for the One who will keep His promise and return for his bride. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on these verses.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:36, 42

After a young woman became engaged she had to wait for her groom to return…it could be 6 months…it could be 1 year…it could be longer. I am sure it was not easy. What did she do with all that time on her hands? How did she prepare? How did she know when he was coming?There were basically 2 choices a girl had back then. She could be a wise bride-to-be or a foolish bride-to-be.

The wise bride-to-be made preparations right away for the wedding. She got her wedding clothes ready…she got her bridesmaids ready. She spent lots of time learning how to run a home and be a good wife. She didn’t know when the bridegroom was coming back and she wasn’t going to be found not ready.The foolish bride-to-be didn’t rush around and make preparations to get ready for her bridegroom…she didn’t do much of anything. She took her own sweet time. Can you imagine what it is going to be like for her when the bridegroom returns and finds her not ready?

As followers of Jesus, we are in exactly the same place as the waiting bride. Jesus has come to earth and he has extended his cup to us and we have accepted it. He died on the cross and paid our bride price and then He returned to Heaven to prepare a place for us. And now, we are waiting for Him to return.Sometimes it can seem as if the Bridegroom will never return. Sometimes it is hard to wait.

They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

We are told not to forget a very important thing…did you see it there in verse 8?That’s right, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” It has been two thousand years since Christ returned to Heaven to prepare a place for His bride … but God’s word tells us that those two thousand years are like 2 days…that’s right 2 days. God’s time isn’t like our time. He has waited to come for us for a reason …and that reason is found in verse 9.Now let’s look at 2 Peter 3:9.

Is the Lord slow in keeping his promise?Why is the Lord patient with all of us?That’s right…He doesn’t want any of us to perish. He wants us all to come to Him in repentance. He wants as many people as possible to be part of His bride…He is waiting because He is still out there searching the lost lambs.

I want you to know that right now…as you read these words…there is not one person…that has ever lived…in all of the history of time…that is closer to the return of Christ the Bridegroom…than you are. Don’t lose hope…prepare yourself for Him for He is coming as He promised.Let's reach out together and share his love love with others. Not just with our words, but with our actions...feeding the hungry...caring for widows and orphans...visiting the sick...liberating the oppressed. Loving the world with the love our Bridegroom has shown to us.

Good for you…You finished Day 4. What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, as I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace…what a day, glorious day that will be.

Day 5… I hear it….can you….it’s the bridegroom’s trumpet…I think I see him on the edge of town. He’s so handsome with the light of the torch shining on his face. She’s so lucky to have him. There’s not another man from any of the villages…that can equal him. Every girl’s dream was to be chosen…by someone just like him.Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on these verses.

“…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed…and this mortal will have put on immortality…Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:52, 53b, 58

When the bridegroom’s home was finished, the day he had waited for finally came. His father looked at him and said, “Son…go get your bride.” With torches lighting the darkness...he and his friends formed a procession. He held the shofar to his lips…and with a blast of the trumpet…he let the entire village know that he was claiming his bride. The lighted torch was held high…his wedding garments on…the flowers…the garlands…the wine…the oil…everything was prepared.

His procession began to make its way to the bride’s home. She hadn’t known what day he would come…but she was ready…and so were her bridesmaids. As the joyous parade got underway… sounds of celebration…filled the night.He thought of the moment he would arrive at his bride’s home…and how he would claim her. Then the procession would make its way back to his father’s house…to the new addition he had prepared… just for her.

As all the other guests waited outside…in the courtyard...the bridegroom and his bride would enter the wedding chamber…and close the door. They would then consummate their marriage…for until they were one flesh…they would not be husband and wife.The bridegroom knew that his friend, the one that attended him, would be waiting outside the door to hear his voice. The bridegroom would call out to his friend..."we are married!"…and then…his friend would face the crowd and with a joyous shout declare, “They are married!”

The celebration would begin…a feast for everyone…and it would last for 7 days.Jesus calls himself the bridegroom…John the Baptist is the friend that attends him…and those that have turned to Jesus, and trusted him for their salvation…are the bride.Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them?” Mark 2:19

(John the Baptist speaking) “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” John 3:28-29

He promises us a joy that is complete…a joy…that is complete. He is there now…working on our home…and one day…his trumpet will sound…for us.

Good for you…You finished Day 5. Oh how I long for my bridegroom…and I know that in a moment…in the twinkling of an eye…he could come for me…even today...and bring me to his father’s house.

Day 6…Today is such a special day. Today we get to peak at our "spiritual wedding" with the Bridegroom Jesus. It hasn’t happened yet but God’s word tells us what will occur. Christ will come for us...and He chose to use wedding language...to describe it.

When the Bible tells us about the future it is called prophecy…and the Bible’s prophecy always comes true. It is one of the wonderful gifts God gives us to help us know that He is real. Listen for the "wedding language" as we peak through the window of Isaiah 60, 61, and 62...and see our "spiritual wedding" with Jesus...I can hardly wait.

Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy…Isaiah 60:1-5

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Isaiah 60:19-20

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim ….the year of the Lord’s favor” Isaiah 61: 1-2a This is Jesus…the scripture is talking about Him. Luke 4:16-21 tells us that Jesus read this in the temple at Nazareth and he told the people that this scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing. Jesus stopped at verse 2a because everything that happened after 2a would be at His second coming…when He returns for His bride. Now let’s peak through that window into our future

.… to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:2b-3a No more ashes…instead…a crown. The crown of beauty was a garland of flowers…wedding flowers…the oil…wedding oil…and the garment…a wedding garment.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:3a-4 We get a new home. Let’s skip down to verse 7.

Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance and so they will inherit a double portion in their land and everlasting joy will be theirs. Isaiah 61:7 This will be a joy that has never been experienced at any wedding yet.

Let’s skip down to verse 9b.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels. Isaiah 61:9b-10 The delight and rejoicing of the bride and Bridegroom…as well as all the beautiful wedding garments. Let’s skip down to 62:1

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn , her salvation like a blazing torch. Isaiah 62:1 We, the bride, are lit up by the light from the torch of our Savior…the Bridegroom.

The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. We get a new name!

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. We will be a garland of splendor for our Lord.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (which means “My delight is in her”), and your land Beulah (which means “Married”); for the Lord will take delight in you and your land will be married.As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you (this means that Israel will reposes her land) Let’s skip over to verse 10.

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. The procession is getting to the gates of the Father’s House. The wedding banner is being raised!

The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth; “Say to the Daughter of Zion, See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” He is finally here…My Bridegroom the one who paid my bride price…the one I have waited for!

They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed (He has bought me back with a price) of the Lord; and you will be called “Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted" parts of Isaiah 62:2-12 All the tears of rejection will be wiped away…all the broken places in my heart will be healed…I will never be deserted by anyone again…because my Savior…my Bridegroom has sought me out…paid my bride price and brought me to live with Him in His kingdom.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (remember the abyss?) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “ I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21: 1-5

God chose one of the most beautiful and personal images to show how much he loved us. There was not a happier occassion in the ancient land of the Bible than a wedding. We are the spiritual bride of Christ...and one day we will make our dwelling with him. We will be his people...and He will be our God...we will never be alone again. As we finish our lesson…our "spiritual wedding"…I hear the words of the Bridegroom in Revelation 22:20… “Yes I am coming soon.” And I say “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Good for you…You finished Day 6. My prayer for you all is that God will truly bless you with the knowledge of how much He loves you.
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Never forget...you are Sought After.

Until next time,Cynthia

For those who want to dig a little deeper…The Insula (the father's house) - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2094Wedding Plans - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2096Jesus the Bridegroom - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2097Marriage Customs - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1608The Passover Cup and Marriage - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1642
Picture of an Insula -
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=3414