For Dan Brown, who caused the millions of those who read his novel Da Vinci Code, to raise eyebrows or chuckle, or pull the book closer for a better view, Jesus' espouse was Mary Magdalene.
For me, Jesus having a espouse was a potential possibility - He couldn't marry and He didn't marry. However, had He been given a chance to live longer beyond his age of 33, He could have married and had children.
For most traditional Christians, the mere thought of a espouse for Jesus is a heresy. How great it is that we don't live in Joan of Arc's bygone era of inquisitions anymore, where they used to burn heretics at stake.
That was in a certain past.
Could Jesus have married?
Well, you can raise some more eyebrows, chuckle, or better still, lean forward and perk up reading.
Today's generation is more open to possibilities.
Let's examine Jesus' Marriage, or, more correctly, the potential for it.
Jesus spoke of it in the Parable of the Marriage Feast: Everyone from the Master's choice of guests was invited, but refused to come; They were too busy. Somebody just bought a cow and somebody's getting married, too. Then, out of the master's frustration, he invited even the poor, the blind and the lame...they came, but those who came improperly dressed for the occasion were thrown out to the darkness outside - where there were gnashing of teeth.
Of course, you are very much familiar with this parable.
You're right about whom Jesus referred to as the Master who was getting married - Himself.
That's the Master getting married - Jesus getting married in his own story.
Yes, of course, a parable...
Here's another marriage instance in the scriptures where we can find the Lamb getting married, and who it is obviously referred to: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Rev 19:7)
Well meaning Christians know what or who the Lamb refers to. Behold the lamb who takes away the sins of the world - Jesus.
Sounds familiar?
It was spoken from the mouth of John the Baptist, referring to Jesus. For Catholics, it is part of a hymn, "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on your people..."
We don't know to whom the "wife of the Lamb who has made herself ready" refers to - could be anyone's guess, hypothetically.
If one is after the moral lesson, which is what the parables are supposed to teach us so as to be practically meaningful, you're right again - we'd better be prepared for the coming of the Lord for He comes when it's least expected... a good point to understand. But if we just focus on this point, we neglect another important one - the Lamb of God is getting married upon His Return.
Are there other instances in the Gospel that Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom?
Check these out.... Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. (Matt. 9:15, Mark 2:19, Luke 5:34)
In The Parable of the Ten Virgins, (Matt 51-10) Jesus is the most awaited Bridegroom.
There are more than enough scriptural references for us to relax our raised eyebrows, and understand that the term "Bridegroom" as used in the Bible - is in reference to Jesus.
I don't agree with the idea in the novel that Jesus had an offspring - more so of one that survives today; but that there was that potential had the Lamb had the chance to marry.
Er Nuylan
http://www.thefirstchristmas.info
Er Nuylan is a teacher with varied interests - from simply walking a dog to History and Literature, Sciences, Philosophy, Religion and Spirituality, but claims expertise to none - the average Joe in the average neighborhood.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Er_Nuylan
No comments:
Post a Comment