Check out yesterday's message from Christ Connection (www.christconnection.net/id3.html) that my friend sent me a link to.  What an AWESOME MESSAGE (and timely as well as we enter the Passover).  This an absolute must read, as it is short but VERY touching!!

 

YbiC, Mathman

 

THE DAY JESUS PROPOSED

 

Did you know that Jesus -- our precious, lovely Jesus -- ACTUALLY PROPOSED to someone?

 

Don't look so shocked...

 

Contrary to what has been stated in recently published, fantasy-laden, unsubstantiated trash, it wasn't to Mary Magdalene.

 

Jesus proposed to His Church.

 

If you're a born-again believer in Christ, He proposed TO YOU!

 

WE ARE THE LUCKY BRIDE!

 

The proposal took place during the Last Supper, when Jesus ate Passover with his disciples at the Upper Room, in Jerusalem.

 

In Jewish tradition, the Groom acquired his Bride by offering money, or some object of value, then entering into a binding contract called the ketubah. Once the Bride accepted, the Groom would go away to "prepare a place for her".  Before leaving, however, he would offer her a cup of wine. If she accepted that cup, she was accepting his proposal.  The bride would veil her face and wait for the groom to return and take her to that place he'd prepared. Then the marriage would be consummated.

 

This is EXACTLY what took place during the Last Supper. Jesus promised to go prepare a place for us [John 14:2].

 

He offered THE BIGGEST dowry IN HISTORY -- NO LESS than His precious Blood -- His VERY OWN LIFE (Hebrews 9:11, 12).

 

He presented a wedding contract called Brit Hadasha, (The New Testament), which is our ketubah (or prenup) (Matthew 26:26-28).

 

He then offered the cup of wine, which represented the indescribably precious Blood he poured out for us [Matthew 26:27,28].

 

The disciples accepted the cup and drank the wine on behalf of His entire Church, since it's built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being its Chief Cornerstone, as well as its Capstone (Ephesians 2:20).

 

Shortly thereafter He ACTUALLY PAID this unimaginable price for His Bride, namely His own Life.

 

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, with the promise He will return and "receive us unto Himself" [John 14:2, 3].

 

Every time we take Communion, as they did at the Last Supper, it's a reminder of our betrothal (engagement) to Him.

 

It's also a reminder of the ENORMOUS, INCALCULABLE PRICE [dowry] He paid for His Bride.

 

It's a reminder that WE BELONG TO Him and are supposed to BE READY, eagerly and excitedly awaiting His Appearing.

 

The Church has been betrothed to our Lord FOR 2,000 YEARS!!!

 

Now, that's A LONG engagement!

 

TOO LONG, if you ask me.

 

Our Lord's return to bring His Bride home is overdue, which means it WILL happen in the VERY near future.

 

For all intents and purposes, our marriage to Him, is A DONE DEAL.

 

All that's left is THE CONSUMMATION.