Author: editor

‘Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.’ Luke 20:34-36(NLT)

‘So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ Genesis 1:27(NLT)

‘Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. ‘ Romans 6:5(NLT)

‘For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ Ephesians 2:6-10(NLT)

‘Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.’ Revelation 19:11-16(NLT)

We’re on the last day! I sincerely hope you’ve developed a new and deeper understanding of the bride and bridegroom relationship depicted all throughout the Bible. 

I want to end our study with a look at what it’ll be like to be married to Christ. We only have a limited view of what’s to come, so we can’t fully understand it all in our human minds, but what the Bible does reveal whets our appetites for a world we can’t even begin to imagine.

We won’t be married in heaven as we are on this earth. Marriage to another person passes away in the age to come. We’re immortal like angels and will be married to Christ. He’s our one and only groom.

When we get married to Jesus, we’ll come back to the earth with Him in the “Glorious Appearing” after the great tribulation. We’ll be given full authority to reign with Him in the new heaven and new earth.

We’ll be dressed in bright and clean white linen and have power and positions of great authority. We’ll be like kings and queens ruling the new earth alongside our Savior, enjoying all that is His.

Last but not least, we’ll be beautiful. Girls, let’s not pretend that this doesn’t matter to us! Just look at the world we live in: Being young and beautiful has taken on its own form of idolatry. We’re addicted to it. Sadly, outward beauty often takes precedence over inward beauty. 

It’s important for us to always keep in mind that while the standard of beauty here on earth is perverted, we’re lovely and gorgeous to God. He created us in His own image and has uniquely gifted each of us. He loves us. He sees us. He desires us. 

Living in this fallen world where we do get older and our bodies grow more feeble, we can be confident that the spirit of God in us is growing stronger and more beautiful day by day. We’ll reach our full peak of beauty in His kingdom and we’ll be gorgeous! 

We won’t be a humble, feeble bride. We’ll be a mighty, strong, and breathtakingly beautiful glorified body—pure as snow. We’ll shine in the love of our Savior and be glorious in His presence. 

•••••

Let’s revisit that girl we saw at the beginning of this study—the one at the wedding. 

She’s finally arrived and can’t contain her joy and passion. She’s sprinting down the aisle in all her splendor and beauty. She’s fierce and powerful, relentless in her pursuit to get to Him: Jesus. 

He’s watching in awe and bursting with pride at the sight of her. He’s a warrior who has fought for her and won. She sees him and knows that it was all worth the wait. This moment erases all her past pain, heartache, loss, and disappointment. 

That she is you! Your day and hour to be betrothed to Christ is here. 

You’ll be the girl running to Him and living in a beautiful, endless dream. All pain and loss will be gone, and the world we used to know will only be a faint memory. It won’t haunt you or hold you anymore. In Him, you are fully free. 

Jesus, our bridegroom, is down on one knee, asking you to share the cup of acceptance and be betrothed to Him forever. 

Say yes! The best is yet to come! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ John 19:30(NLT)

‘We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ‘ Hebrews 12:2(NLT)

‘We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ‘ 1 John 3:16(NLT)

‘I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.’ Hosea 2:19(NLT)

‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 15:55-57(NLT)

When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, He uttered the words, “It is finished.” I love the way this verse reads in The Passion Translation: “It is finished, my bride!”

The Hebrew word for “finished” used in this verse is the word “kalah,” a homonym that can mean “finished” or “bride.” I think this interpretation accurately depicts who Jesus accomplished this great and gruesome sacrifice for. He endured the brutal suffering thinking about His bride—you.

While the nails were being hammered into His hands and the crown of thorns pushed into His scalp, He had you on His mind. Every beating from the whip, every blow to the face, every word of shame and ridicule—He took it all for you. The power of this monumental moment will never be fully understood.

For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the suffering of the cross. He knew what was waiting on the other side of the cross: you and me. This is what true love looks like.

I love how The Passion Translation commentary explains Jesus’ continued work in our lives:

“Although the completed work of salvation was finished on the cross, he continues to work through his church today to extend God’s kingdom realm on the earth and glorify the Father through us. He continues to work in us to accomplish all that his cross and resurrection have purchased for us, his bride.”

We, the church, are the bride of Christ. He refers to “His bride” in a feminine context, but both male and female believers alike are “married” to Christ when we surrender our lives to Him. Our marriage to Christ is not a gender issue, but a full submission and eternal relationship issue.

Jesus laid down His life for us and gave Himself up for us. It is finished! His love mission has been accomplished—and even with His last breath, He called out to His bride, pleading with us to say yes to Him for eternity.

Why? All because He loves you. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land. Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.’ Genesis 2:4-25(NLT)

‘The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”’ Genesis 3:1-11(NLT)

God designed earthly marriage and He blesses marriage. It was no coincidence that the first miracle Jesus performed on earth was at a wedding! Marriage gives us a physical picture to grasp onto to help us understand the intimate love relationship Jesus wants to have with us.

God formed Adam from the dust of the earth, then formed Eve from his rib. The Bible says that “for this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” What does this tell us? Adam and Eve were created to be married, united, and in full submission to one another. That was God’s design from the beginning.

Have you ever seen the reality show called “Naked and Afraid”? I haven’t either (and I don’t ever want to), but the title definitely makes me laugh. It also sums up how we often feel about intimacy with each other—and at times, with God. We’re afraid to be exposed or vulnerable.

Adam and Eve started out completely exposed to God and to each other, but they felt safe. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Not the naked in public part (ha!), but the feeling that you’re perfectly loved and don’t have to hide who you are. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve didn’t know or understand shame.

 

Satan, our accuser, exposes us and embarrasses us. He wants us to hide from God and feel isolated and alone in our guilt. Jesus fights for us and purifies us to cover our shame. He wants us to be completely vulnerable and safe with Him. 

This physical picture of marriage mirrors our spiritual relationship with Christ. When we get married in this life, we’re bound together with our husbands and become one flesh. We’re joined together physically in the most intimate act of sex, and we’re joined emotionally as we lean on one another and battle through the ups and downs of life together. 

As the bride of Jesus, our spiritual intimacy with Him won’t be a sexual union. But like the act of sex, we’ll reach full spiritual intimacy with Christ. We’ll be completely “naked” before Him and feel no shame. Our union in the physical mirrors our union with Christ in the spiritual. 

In Jesus, we’re completely accepted and loved. Our marriages here on earth are stained with sin, and as a result of living in a fallen world, we experience pain and heartache, even in the happiest of unions. 

In our spiritual glorified bodies, though, there will be no sin to stain our relationship with Jesus. We’ll be presented to Him as a pure bride, washed completely clean of sin. It’ll be better than any love we’ve ever known. 

To sum it all up, we see the first example of a marriage relationship in Adam and Eve. The two become one flesh, and they were naked and unashamed. But when sin entered the world, they felt ashamed and exposed. 

God clothed Adam and Eve with flesh, just as Jesus clothes us with robes of righteousness, our wedding garments. Now, we await the hour when we’ll meet our bridegroom face to face as husband and wife. What a moment that will be! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ‘ Matthew 24:29-30(NLT)

‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”’ Revelation 21:1-8(NLT)

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ‘ Ephesians 3:20(NLT)

Today, we’re going to discuss the second phase of the second coming of Christ, the “Glorious Appearing.” After Jesus marries His bride, He’ll return to earth to reign with her in the Millennial Kingdom. He’ll come back to earth as a mighty warrior and all the earth will see Him in His glory.

The Glorious Appearing will occur at the end of the horrific seven-year tribulation. Jesus will come again with a mission to set up an everlasting kingdom. The world will literally come face to face with the One they rejected. Every eye will see Him and mourn Him.

In the second phase of His return, Jesus will set up a kingdom on earth where He’ll reign with us, His bride. He’ll be the head of this new kingdom, just like a husband is the head of the home.

Jesus came to earth the first time as a lamb that was led to slaughter, but He’ll return as a lion: bold and fierce. He’ll reign in the Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 years and we’ll be with Him, ruling alongside Him.

This may sound strange, but it’s the truth of the Bible. God is the creator and He exists in an eternal realm. He knows the complete story and how it will end. He’s the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end. He set time in motion, and we’re always moving forward in His timeline until we reach the end. It’s imperative for us to understand that the clock is ticking.

Jesus has magnificent plans for us that we can’t even fathom from our limited worldly perspective. We can dream, hope, and look forward to a romantic fairytale bliss. In a world full of disappointment, we can know that in the end, we won’t be disappointed.

Every good dream will come true, every need will be met, and every heartache will be mended. The rapture, the wedding, the Glorious Appearing, the new heaven, and the new earth will all result in a place of perfect peace and unity with Jesus, our husband and king. He’ll reign on the throne in a world with no pain. He’s spelling this all out for us in His Word. 

He wants you there, and trust me—you’ll want to be there, too. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ‘ John 14:1-3(NLT)

‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.’ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18(NLT)

‘Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. ‘ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2(NLT)

‘Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”’ Revelation 1:7-8(NLT)

‘“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”’ Acts of the Apostles 1:11(NLT)

‘And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.’ 1 Thessalonians 1:10(NLT)

We’ve learned so far that Jesus is our bridegroom, that we’re His bride, and that a wedding is coming. Scholars may differ on certain interpretations and timelines regarding this coming wedding and feast, but we can all agree that it’s going to happen. 

The return of Jesus Christ is prophesied a whopping 329 times in the Bible. There are 129 prophecies regarding Jesus’ first coming, so His return is prophesied almost three times more than His first coming. These numbers can assure us that He’s coming again! 

According to Tim LaHaye, a popular author on endtime events, the second coming of Christ will occur in two phases, beginning with the rapture of the church. Then, at least seven years later, Jesus will physically come to the earth in what LaHaye calls the “Glorious Appearing.” For this study’s sake, I’m going to align with the interpretation in Tim’s book “The Merciful God of Prophecy: His Loving Plan for You in the End Times” to help us develop a foundational understanding of these prophecies.

Today, let’s focus on the rapture, when Christ will come back for His bride, the universal church. When God the Father gives the order, He’ll come at a time no one suspects and snatch His bride out of the earth. With a shout and the call of a trumpet, we’ll meet Him in the sky. And just as the Jewish bride wanted to be found ready, we too need to be ready to meet our bridegroom face to face. 

In the rapture, the spirits of already deceased believers will receive glorified bodies, as will the believers who are alive on earth. I firmly believe that we’ll be raptured up to heaven with Jesus before the great tribulation, a time of unprecedented evil on earth when the antichrist will rule for seven years. 

We can look back throughout the Bible and see that God consistently rescued His people from destruction. For example, he saved Noah and his family from the flood. He saved Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and He saved Rahab and her family from the destruction of Jericho. 

This leads me to believe that He’ll save us, His believers, from the coming horrors of the tribulation, too. 

I know it sounds cruel that those who aren’t betrothed to Christ will remain on earth during this horrific time, but love without free choice isn’t really love. Just as the Jewish bride had the choice of whether or not to accept her bridegroom, Jesus offers us each the personal choice to become His bride. 

If we say yes, we become a member of the universal bride made up of all believers, just as a university has one student body consisting of many students. Jesus wants us for His own and loves each of us as if there were only one of us. 

Like a thief in the night, the rapture will be sudden and unexpected—much like the Jewish bridegroom would come at a time the bride didn’t expect. Jesus will take us to His Father’s house, where we’ll celebrate “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

This wedding and feast will be holy, magnificent, beautiful, majestic, and full of love and joy. It’ll be beyond anything we could ever imagine! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “ I Am the Messiah!”’ John 4:21-26(NLT)

‘Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”’ John 4:39-42(NLT)

‘But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”’ 1 Samuel 16:7(NLT)

‘But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”’ Matthew 15:18-20(NLT)

‘Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. ‘ James 4:8(NLT)

‘Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.’ Psalms 51:10(NLT)

“I am he.” I don’t know about you, but this line from Jesus to the Samaritan woman gives me chills. Today, let’s see how this story concludes and how we can apply it to our lives. 

At this time in history, the Samaritans had built a temple of worship to rival the one in Jerusalem. They had a long history of political and religious rivalry. Unfortunately, we still see that same attitude of rivalry and division among denominations and churches today. It’s easy to get caught up on the wrong issues and become divided. 

Jesus wants us to focus not on our different backgrounds, church affiliations, and worship styles, but on the one Lord who unites us in spirit and in truth. He wants His church to be whole, not fractured. Why? Because He knows that our spiritual enemy wants the church to be focused solely on division and competition. 

Besides Jesus Himself, Satan’s worst nightmare is a unified bride. Notice that we’re always called “the bride of Christ” (singular), not “the brides of Christ” (plural). Jesus is monogamous, and He’s coming for His one bride. 

As Christ’s church, the way we worship doesn’t matter so much as why we worship. Above all else, Jesus desires a pure heart that seeks Him. Remember, we learned before that it’s the inside of the cup that needs to be clean. 

I love the Samaritan woman’s response after Jesus revealed Himself to her. Her physical needs lost all importance at the knowledge of meeting Christ, so she left her water jar. For the first time in a long time, she felt loved. She found her true love in Jesus! 

She was a broken woman who was lost and longing for a love she couldn’t seem to find. But after she met her true bridegroom, she had a purpose and wanted this news to reach her community. She could hardly wait to share what she had learned and ran to tell others about her experience. 

Jesus offered her the true source of life, met her in her desperation, and gave her life new meaning and dignity. He does this for us, too. We’re never too bad or too broken to be restored and used by Him for His good purposes. 

Jesus came for us—sinners in need of a Savior. And when we say yes to Him, He doesn’t just change our own lives. He uses us to reach and impact people all around us.  

As we wrap up this story, I want you to know that there’s an everlasting love that will satisfy your every longing, and it can only be found in Christ. Open your eyes to the bridegroom before you today. Jesus is revealing Himself to you as the ultimate answer. He’s telling you, “I am he.” 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”’ John 4:20(NLT)

‘When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”’ Mark 2:17(NLT)

‘For the Son of Man#19:10 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. came to seek and save those who are lost.”’ Luke 19:10(NLT)

‘The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ‘ 2 Peter 3:9(NLT)

‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.’ Isaiah 61:1(NLT)

 

Let’s start today by going back to Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana. Do you remember what His first response was to His mother Mary? He said, “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.”

 

When we look at the verbiage He uses with the Samaritan woman in today’s reading, we see that He uses the same line! He was saying to her, “Believe me, the hour is coming when my spirit will be poured out and you’ll marry me.” 

Remember, when Mary asked Jesus at the wedding to help fix the wine situation, He was agitated because He couldn’t yet marry his bride and share a cup with her. But now, He’s telling the Samaritan woman that the hour is coming when He can be betrothed to His bride, and the hour has come when He’s met His bride. 

Again, the Samaritan woman is a representation of the bride of Christ. She symbolizes who He came for: the sinners, the sick, the lost, the poor, the brokenhearted, and the prisoners. 

Through this encounter, we see that Jesus’ bride is anyone who has sinned and needs a Savior. His bride is anyone who’s messed up and needs freedom from the bondage of sin and shame, which is all of us. 

Jesus reminds us here that if we drink the cup of acceptance and choose to say yes to Him, we’ll be washed clean by His blood and set free from the power of darkness. We’ll have a seat at His banquet table and a room in His Father’s house. We’ll be married to Him for eternity. 

The hour is now and our time is short. Jesus is offering you His hand in marriage—and believe me, the hour has come for you to accept His offer! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ‘ John 4:16-19(NLT)

‘So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.’ Hebrews 4:16(NLT)

‘For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ‘ Jeremiah 29:11(NLT)

‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10(NLT)

‘But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ‘ Romans 5:8(NLT)

Ready to pick back up on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman?

When we look at this woman’s relationship status, we can see that she had a complicated and dysfunctional love life. We don’t know what all has happened, but we can probably all agree that love had failed her. She had gone from relationship to relationship and come up dry.

Given her reputation with men, she would’ve definitely been looked down upon and ostracized in her society (and even in our society today). We live in a fallen, sinful world. People mess up, and life and love are painful.

This woman had surely experienced an enormous amount of pain, brokenness, and shame. She had five previous husbands and was living with a man that wasn’t her husband. She probably felt not good enough, not worthy of love, and like a failure—and it sounds like she may have given up on the idea of marriage.

Let’s look at how good God is to her and to us. He met her in her brokenness and didn’t heap judgment upon her, but showed her the way to freedom and restoration. He gave this woman the keys to unending love by inviting her into an eternal marriage.

Jesus offered her His hand and essentially said, “I can see that you’ve given up, but please don’t lose heart. My love for you won’t run dry. I’ll satisfy the scorched places in your heart. I’ll bind up the wounds and heal the broken places within you. I’ll bring you lasting love and joyful life. I want you as my bride.”

 

This story is for those of us who have ever found ourselves in the same boat as this woman. Maybe you’re in a loveless marriage. Maybe your husband left you, or maybe you left him. Maybe you’re single and can’t find someone to share your life with. Maybe you’re divorced and it was awful and messy and you feel like a failure. 

Whatever your situation, God’s love covers it. His love doesn’t run out. 

Jesus knows your story just like He knew this woman’s story, and He’ll never give up on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re married or single, divorced or widowed, with someone or alone. The bottom line is that He wants you as His bride. He’s saying to you, “Trust me! I’ll never leave you or forsake you. I want you!” 

Jesus didn’t rebuke or judge the Samaritan woman. He revealed to her how to be spiritually right with Him. He showed her the keys to His kingdom and filled the longing in her soul. He loved her. 

Know this today: You can’t out-sin God’s grace. He loves you no matter what. He covers your shame, leads you to healing, and has big plans for your life. The Samaritan woman is who Jesus came for, and so are you. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”’ John 4:10-15(NLT)

‘On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)’ John 7:37-39(NLT)

‘So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”’ Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11(NLT)

‘When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ‘ Mark 16:19(NLT)

‘‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ Acts of the Apostles 2:17(NLT)

Yesterday, we saw Jesus starting up a conversation with a Samaritan woman by asking her for a drink. He told her that if she only knew who it was that had asked her for a drink, then she would’ve asked Him for living water, and He would’ve given it to her. It was a wedding proposal.

God chose the Jewish people as His own and set up the law, prophets, and Old Covenant through them. Through the seed of Abraham came Christ, God’s one and only son. However, in this significant encounter at Jacob’s well, we see Jesus opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles, too. They’re also His bride.

In today’s other passage in John, we see again that a feast is coming, and that in order for Jesus to send His spirit to us, He had to be glorified. At this point in John, He had not yet been crucified or ascended into heaven. 

Once the ascension took place and He sat down at the right hand of God the Father, then and only then, He poured out His spirit on all who would drink the cup of salvation. There was a divine sequence to these spiritual events. 

Today, we’re in a period called the “Church Age” where the Lord has poured out His spirit. The Holy Spirit is now available to any who will receive Him. Just like at the wedding in Cana, we are to drink in His spirit that He poured out for us, His bride. 

When we drink in His spirit and accept the cup of living water He offers, we’re born again, making us new and alive in Christ. His spirit takes up residence in us and we’re saved from our sins. This is a spiritual occurrence. 

The Samaritan woman didn’t fully understand the spiritual meaning behind Jesus’ living water because she took His words literally. I love that she says she wants the water so she doesn’t have to keep coming to the well because, whether she realized it or not, her response also carried spiritual meaning. 

Here’s how: The Jews had to continually perform sacrifices at the tabernacle so their sins could be atoned for. Only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies to communicate with God and intercede on behalf of the people. In other words, the people had to keep doing the works required to get to God. 

In the New Covenant, we don’t have to do works anymore. It’s a new system based on grace. Jesus took our punishment, and as a result, we now have direct access to Him. We don’t have to “go to the well” and draw from the water of works or religion because we have His living water dwelling inside of us. Jesus is with us and in us at all times. 

For this Samaritan woman, the trips to the spiritual well have become unnecessary. She’s becoming the well that can hold the water of the spirit of Jesus and learning how to be His bride. All she has to do is ask for it. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”’ John 4:1-10(NLT)

‘And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks. But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks. When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?” “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.” “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.” Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. ‘ Exodus 2:15-21(NLT)

‘Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’ Romans 10:12-13(NLT)

Today, we’re going to start exploring the story of Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman at a well, which is probably my favorite story yet. It’s full of rich symbolism and fascinating parallels! 

It’s no coincidence that Jesus sat down to talk with this woman at the same well where Jacob met his bride Rachel. We also see in Exodus that Moses met his bride Zipporah at a well. Remember, wells were a common betrothal scene then. 

In this culture, Jews and Samaritans were enemies. By sharing a cup with a Samaritan, a Jewish person would actually become ceremonially unclean. What Jesus was asking this woman to do would’ve been completely countercultural. Jews and Samaritans weren’t even permitted to speak to each other, much less share a cup. 

On another note, she was a woman. For a man to speak to a woman he didn’t know in public was most unusual and greatly frowned upon. The intimate exchange between Jesus and this woman would’ve been deemed inappropriate and socially awkward. 

Remember how a Jewish woman would accept a man’s proposal to enter into a betrothal? We keep seeing this running theme: A cup of wine would be poured for them to share. If she agreed to his terms, she would drink the cup of acceptance. 

Do you see it? Jesus and the Samaritan woman were alone at a betrothal scene—the same one as other patriarchs of our faith—and Jesus was asking her to share a cup with him. I think it’s safe to assume that He was inviting her into a spiritual marriage contract. 

She’s of course thrown off. She’s confused by why this man is even talking to her at all, much less why he’s asking her for a drink. He tells her that if she only knew the gift of God and who was asking her for a drink, then she would ask Him for living water, and He would give it to her. 

So, what does this mean exactly? He’s offering her to share a cup of something infinitely better than the well water: His living water! This is the same living water foreshadowed at the wedding in Cana when Jesus turned water into wine. It’s a vivid description of His spirit that was coming soon. 

 Jesus was essentially offering this woman a marriage contract in eternity! He was also demonstrating the model of salvation to us: He pours out His spirit (the living water), we drink it (by saying yes), and we become forever betrothed to Him. 

Don’t miss this: In this interaction, Jesus was clearly inviting the Gentiles into His plan for salvation. We’re all included—the Jew and the Gentile alike—and all we have to do is accept His invitation. He came from the Jews, but the Gentiles have been grafted into this plan. 

Jesus asking this Samaritan woman to share a cup is symbolic of what His church will look like: people from all tribes and nations. He paid the bride-price for all of us with His blood. 

Amazing stuff, huh? 

from Will You Marry Me?