And Jesus said to them, "You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days." (Luke 5:34, 35 NASB)
According to bible.ca, ancient Jewish weddings consisted of three stages. The first was "ketubbah"and was basically the time of arranging the marriage and making the contract. It was binding, but the couple did not live together as man and wife until later. The husband-to-be could not have his bride until he had made provision for her.
The second stage was the "chuppah". At this point, the groom had fulfilled all the conditions set out in the contract, and all the arrangements for the care of his new bride were made. He and his companions would go to claim his bride at her home, where her companions also waited. There was much joy, and the couple could then consummate their marriage. When the "proof of consummation" (blood was shed) was done, the next phase was the celebration and feast.
Jesus was describing his time with the disciples as "chuppah" time, during which He and His disciples were like the groom and his attendants coming to claim his bride. That's exactly what Jesus had done. He had come to claim His bride the church with much joy. Why would they consider fasting at such an exciting time?
Even more exciting is that WE are the bride of Christ! The bride he was coming to receive was His church - you and me. It's an amazing thought, isn't it? Right there, with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was claiming us and defending us. When the time for shedding of blood came to prove the relationship, Jesus would shed it Himself. THIS is the "match made in heaven".
As we pray for our loved ones today, remember that the Bridegroom came to seek and to save those who are lost, including those we love. Pray that the seeking will not end until the chuppah finding is accomplished and the celebration can begin.
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