Betrothal In Ancient Jewish Marriage

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If the bride price listed in an ancient Jewish ketubah was agreeable to a young woman 's father; the young man would have poured a cup of wine for the young woman. If the young woman drank from the cup, it would have indicated her acceptance of the proposal. Drinking from the cup sealed the contract, or the ketubah. This tradition was known as “a cup of acceptance.” At this point, the young man and the young woman would have been officially betrothed, or engaged. In ancient Israel, betrothal was as legally binding as an actual marriage was. The only difference was that the marriage was not consummated before the actual vows were spoken. A typical betrothal, like an engagement today, would have lasted for about a year. During that time, the …show more content…

The purpose of these gifts was to show the bridegroom 's love for the bride. The gifts were also intended to serve as a reminder to the bride that he was thinking of her while they were apart, and that he was going to return for her. Jesus’ fulfillment of this portion of the ancient custom is the gift of the Holy Spirit. "…gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge…," (2Corinthians 1:22 NASB). He pledged His love to you! We are told this in 1John 4:13 NIV, "We live in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His spirit." Jesus described this gift in John 14:26-27 NIV, "but the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." The Holy Spirit is a gift of love, and helps you to remember the reality of His presence, even though Jesus is away. The various gifts that the Holy Spirit offers to you, serve to remind you that Jesus is also thinking of you while He is away. He left you with a gift far more valuable than a chest filled with precious …show more content…

In Hebrew, mikveh is the same word used for a collection of water. The mikveh that Jesus provides for His bride, the church, is baptism. The baptism or cleansing bath is not only in water, but it is also a baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:4 NIV, when Jesus was eating with His disciples after the Resurrection, He commanded them, "do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:1-4 ESV reads, "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Holy Spirit fell on the disciples at Pentecost, and the church began! Jesus’ pledge of love brought tongues of fire, breath of faith, and dunamis power to spread the gospel message of the coming Kingdom of God while He is away. Dunamis is a Greek word that means strength, power or ability. Christianity was the first evangelical religion that was taken to people all over the world. That task took some power and some faith! It was and it still is

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