Genesis 29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
John 19:1-30
1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe,3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote Him with their hands.4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the Man!6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.10 Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee?11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this Man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh Himself a king speaketh against Caesar.13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!15But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.16 Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away.17 And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:18 Where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews.22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted My raiment among them, and for My vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!27 Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the Ghost.
In the first passage, we see how very much Jacob loved Rachel. He was willing to make extreme sacrifices for his bride.
Moving forward, we see the depth of love the extent Jesus went to for us! Not only did He die for His Bride… Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. He conquered DEATH for Her!
It is great to be THE BRIDE! The planning, all that leads up to that “big day” makes for a special occasion!
Our preacher, told of how his sweet wife surprised him with a song she sang on their wedding day! They have been married several years now, yet the impact that made on him was clearly preciously profound! It was clear when he spoke of it, how he cherished those moments and still holds them tenderly as priceless jewels in his heart!
How precious it is to think of singing praises to our Lord as we walk toward Him and He sings over us!
Isn’t your heart pounding with excitement as you approach the Groom, Christ Jesus, standing there, smiling, anticipating our lives in eternity together with Him!
Even if you did not have a wedding filled with joy and celebration, Children of God, You WILL!
PRAYER
Thank You, Almighty God
For the amazing honor it is to be Your Bride!
Father, how we appreciate learning through our ancestors, what was and was not honoring to You regarding marriage
You Are The Example of how a husband should love his wife
Likewise, Lord, You give wives instruction to honor our husbands
As our hearts fluttered with excitement preparing for our wedding
How much more so, we await the Day we are joined with You for eternity!
You Are our “Soul Mate”!
We yearn to be with You!
Keep us pure and beautiful for You, Lord!
We love You because You first loved us!
To the extent of dying that we might be Yours
As we are drawn nearer to You
With goose-pimples and racing hearts
May we be consumed with appreciation and awe
For our Groom has not only authority over life, but victory over death!
Who is like our God!
Praise You, Jesus!
Amen!
SONG
“In Christ Alone”
credits: God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Scripture
Ability and opportunity to share God’s Word
verses and chapters from the Word of God
Becky & Tim for allowing me to use an except of their special day.
Experiences and stories from family and friends and my own.
Encouragement from the Lord, family and friends
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