Bought with a Price

Today's Daily Reading is from Stasi's new book The Ladder of Love, available now — order your copy today!

As Jesus was telling the disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to be killed, they were utterly dismayed, and understandably so. Remember Jesus’s comforting words to them and to us?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). He continued: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (vv. 2–3).

Jesus was drawing a deliberate analogy to the Jewish marriage customs of biblical times, which His disciples would have instantly recognized.

The first major step is betrothal. Betrothal began with the establishment of a marriage covenant. In Jesus’s time it was the prospective bridegroom who took the initiative.

The prospective bridegroom would travel from his father’s house to the house of the prospective bride. Once the bridegroom had paid the agreed-upon price, the marriage covenant was established, and the couple were regarded as husband and wife.

From this point on, the bride was considered to be consecrated, or set aside exclusively for her bridegroom.

After the marriage covenant was established, the groom would leave his bride and return to his father’s house. He would remain there separate from his wife to prepare living accommodations in his father’s house for her.

In Jesus’s day, when the work was done, the bridegroom would come back to take the bride to live with him. Although the bride expected her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact time he would arrive; therefore, the groom’s arrival would be preceded by a shout.

See it? It’s astounding. It’s also glorious. Blush away.

Jesus left His Father’s house, setting aside His glory, and in humility took on our humanity forever to come to the home of His prospective bride in order to win her. To woo her. To capture her. Because He wanted her and only her.

Just as the Jewish groom would pay a price to purchase his bride, Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. The price was high. It was necessary. It was His blood. “You were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20 esv).

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