EXCERPTS FROM THE PRESENTATION
Excerpts from the Presentation:
In Judaism, the prospective bridegroom pops the question by pouring a cup of wine for his beloved, then anxiously awaits her response to his proposal. If she sips from the Kiddush (sanctification) cup, she shows herwillingness to enter this union by saying "yes" to his proposal. Their shared cup of wine at a Jewish betrothal ceremony called Br'it (covenant) symbolizes the sealing of their marriage covenant in blood. The betrothed couple, for
all legal purposes, is married.
We see Yeshua drinking from the B'rit cup with His disciples after the Passover dinner, sealing the marriage covenant with His bride. Lifting the cup with His right hand, Yeshua recites the Jewish blessing over the wine. As the True Vine speaks, He blesses the fruit of His Father's vine and praises the Creator for His bride-His choice fruit. He continues saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:27-28 KJV).
In biblical times, it was customary for an Israelite to pay a mohar, or price, for his bride to her father . . . As His beloved bride, we too have been bought with a price and no longer belong to ourselves. We are His totally.Treasure the priceless gift of Yeshua's love; Hold it close to your heart. He paid it for you!
For that solemn night in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Yeshua knew that in just a few hours He would not be lifting up a cup of wine to share with His bride, but a heavy cross that only He could bear. It was for us, His bride, that He drank this cup of suffering. And now, as only we can, we accept His marriage proposal and drink from His cup.
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It is finished. Fitting words spoken from a bridegroom to his bride. In Hebrew, the root word for finish is ka'lal, (complete, make perfect, or finish). It also shares the same root for bride which is kallah. With Yeshua's final and dying words, He sealed the marriage covenant to His beloved with His blood.
In a traditional betrothal, the engaged couple enters into a covenant with the signing of the ketubah. In this marriage contract are the terms of their agreement, such as the bride price and provisions the bridegroom agrees to make. It also names the wife as the heir to the estate, should he die.
It is for this reason that they have a wedding ceremony-to sanctify and bless the contract. Properly signed and witnessed, the document is given to the bride, and she is instructed to keep it with her at all times, since there can be no marital relations if it is lost or destroyed.
Rich in commitment, the ketubah is read aloud for all to hear of their mutual devotion toward one another. The custom of reading the ketubah aloud is rooted in the great wedding between God and Israel, when Moses received the Torah. In Exodus 24:7 it says, "Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, We will do everything the Lord has said; We will obey."
Just as a bride cherishes her beautiful ketubah for its rich promises, the Bride of Christ must cherishes her ketubah, the Torah & B'rit Hadashah (New Covenant or Testament), which is full of promises from our Bridegroom,Yeshua. If we do not keep our covenant, we will be as like the foolish, unable to enter in and consummate the marriage. For there can be no marital relations if it is lost or destroyed (not fulfilled).
Prior to her wedding, the bride immerses herself in a body of living water, such as a river or lake, in a ceremonial washing as a symbol of spiritual purification. A celebration follows, where she is regaled with wine, sweets, and blessings as friends and relatives rejoice with the bride in her new marital status. She now belongs to her husband and is under his authority.
Today, New Testament believers follow a similar ritual of the mikvah in water baptism. As a proclamation of what we believe, followers of Yeshua are baptized, testifying to the inward change that has taken place. Though water immersion only cleanses the outward body, it is by our confession of faith that our hearts are cleansed and our sins are washed away. Separating ourselves from the old life, we are no longer under the authority of sin and death and subject to Satan, the father of lies, but we become a new creation, betrothed to Yeshua.
