Theology 101 — Bridegroom

Theology 101 — Bridegroom

Christology Through Figures

Having considered in prior weeks the figures of Word and Lamb to speak of Christ, we could almost miss the figure of bridegroom if we did not look closely at the words of John the Baptist. When he began preaching in the wilderness, people speculated about whether or not he might be the long-awaited Messiah. John’s response was straightforward: “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him” (John 3:28).

He then explained further his connection with Christ by using the figures of a bride and a bridegroom. He called himself “the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him” and “rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.” John was identifying Christ as the cause for his own rejoicing.

Bride of Christ

Elsewhere in the New Testament, believers in Christ are collectively termed the “bride of Christ,” the heavenly bridegroom. In today’s customs, we would say John the Baptist was the best man and the Church is betrothed or engaged to this bridegroom.

In the customs of that day, the marriage itself was associated with a marriage supper. So we would say the figure of Christ as the bridegroom suggests the Church is in a period of awaiting the heavenly marriage supper that is yet to come, according to Revelation 19:7–9. We read in that passage that when Christ returns for His bride, the Church, it will be a time of blessedness for believers, characterized by gladness and rejoicing. God Himself will join the rejoicing in keeping with the words spoken by Isaiah: “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (62:5).

Watch for the time

In His parable about the wise and foolish virgins, whom we would term today as bridesmaids, Jesus envisioned the coming of the bridegroom for the marriage supper as a time when the bridesmaids would go out to meet Him.

Jesus in His parable issued a command to those who comprise the bride of Christ: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matt. 25:13).

The figure of Christ as the heavenly bridegroom has the practical application that all who comprise His bride, the Church, are to live in daily expectation that He is coming for His bride at an unknown but appointed time. Christ’s own words about this blessed hope are, “Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).