Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

6 6 /

F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

nature of God and his relationship with his people from the lessons learned in sync with its chief characters. The example of Adam and Eve, and their union together as man and wife is a symbolic representation of the great unity between Christ and his people, who, amazingly according to this text, is his bride. What an amazing lesson for us today, one which reveals God’s heart for humankind as it has been fulfilled in the Church. Almighty God has determined from the beginning of time to gather from among all peoples a peculiar possession for Jesus of Nazareth. Here this text reveals a profound mystery: at the heart of the universe lies a marvelous cosmic drama, a divine romance, a marvelous and epic true myth and legend of an undying love relationship between an Almighty God, and a people. We are living witnesses of it, and as those who believe in the truth of the Gospel regarding Jesus of Nazareth, we too have actually become a part of that people, called and chosen to live out that drama of the divine romance. What is the nature of this divine romance? You see it in the Old Testament between God and his people Israel: Isa. 62.5 - For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Again, we read of the Lord’s determination to delight in his people like a bridegroom: Isa. 62.4 - You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. The righteous of the Lord will be adorned as a bride at a wedding–his wedding. (Cf. Isaiah 61.10 : “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”) The God of heaven sees his people as a bride, and himself as her bridegroom and lover. This same dramatic image is seen most clearly in the drama of Christ and his Church, with our Lord as the bridegroom and the Church as his bride. The following texts give a sampling of the reference of Jesus as the bridegroom of his people:

2