tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647439199332403059.post5178393484346896239..comments2018-04-19T04:31:15.748-07:00Comments on Walking with Emmanuel: cortneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10766917676974355174noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647439199332403059.post-48321034382603227562010-05-28T18:17:30.458-07:002010-05-28T18:17:30.458-07:00I'm so grateful when you give me the chance to...I'm so grateful when you give me the chance to do some scriptural digging! <br /><br />First, I agree with you that most weddings these days show the mark of our sadly secular culture. However, I don't really agree that the entrance of the bride diminishes from the groom. And I get to use the Bible to tell you why! :)<br /><br />Revelation 21:1-2 -- "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."<br /><br />V. 9-11 -- "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife...having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal."<br /><br />The groom, in representing Christ, has his glory in the glory of the bride. If he fulfilled his calling as a suitor, he has begun already to shepherd her in holiness, to make her beautiful as a lamb without spot or blemish (Eph. 5:25-29), ultimately prepared for her heavenly Lord. He's not marrying the woman he "earned" or "won," but rather he's marrying the woman he has begun to prepare as an offering to the Father. Christ sacrificed Himself that His Bride might be glorified and recieved by the Father. Likewise, the groom sacrifices his personal glory and rather basks in the glory of his bride.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16973414838717670061noreply@blogger.com