presentation of the bride

We recently attended the wedding of our nephew and his bride in the San Diego area.  It was a beautiful wedding in every respect.  The young couple clearly love the Lord as well as each other.  I was touched by the foot washing ceremony that they built into the service.  But the biggest impression that was made on me was the presentation of the bride in the early part of the program.  The groom and his best man and groomsman all were up front already.  They had made a quiet entrance together from a side door in the front of the church with the pastor.  But then a glorious pipe organ started the wedding march and one by one the bridesmaids majestically stepped forward followed by the four year old twin flower girls and then the gorgeous bride, arrayed in white and escorted by her father strode down the aisle with eyes fixed on her groom, and his eyes glistening and locked on hers.  I thought about the great beauty there is in the presentation of the bride to her groom.  It represents the climax of preparation in each of this couple's young lives to find and be joined with their life partner, to continue the rest of this life's journey no longer alone with the promise of joy and the fulfillment of bringing new life into the world.  Of course I couldn't escape the parallel to the Bride that is being prepared for presentation to the Lord.  The Church of redeemed people, who have placed their trust in the saving work of Jesus, is also described as His Bride.  I thought of the eyes of Jesus glistening with joy as He views His Bride being prepared and then coming down eternity's aisle to be joined forever with Him.  We, who have come to experience the forgiveness and restoration of our Lord, are coming down the aisle and we are challenged to keep our eyes fixed on His as He beholds our now-spotless wedding clothes and soon will receive us as His Bride for eternity.

Revelation 19:7 

Let us be glad and rejoice,
    and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
    and his bride has prepared herself.

blessings,

Rob Smith