The Bride

Isaiah 61:10

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, 10 My soul shall be joyful 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 with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

The most wonderful day in a young woman's life is her wedding day!  She never looks more radiant and beautiful than she does on that special day that she's been dreaming of for her whole life.

Now that day is here!

A vision of loveliness in her own rite, she is dressed in her wedding gown, decked with beautiful, sparkling jewels.  The bridegroom is completely captivated by her!  His heart belongs to her as completely as hers belongs to Him.  
You can see it in their eyes as she walks down the aisle.  The love each has for the other is almost tangible!  Even though there's a whole crowd of witnesses, in their eyes, there's no one else in the whole universe except the two of them.

The Bride; Not "The Wife."

Jesus calls us, His Church, the "Bride of Christ."  Ever wonder why we are called His bride and not His wife?   Well, as many of you who are married may know, after a few years, love can mellow.  Your appearance can change "somewhat," not to put too fine a point on it, and there may have been a disagreement.....or two; maybe three or four....or five.....since that magical day.  The point is, love is never as fresh, as beautiful and as unspoiled as on your wedding day. 

Jesus' love for His Bride is forever just like the very first day:  Eternally fresh, eternally beautiful, as unspoiled and vibrant as on the day we were wed to Him.  He is our Bridegroom and He is altogether lovely!  He is as captivated, head-over-heels in love with us as we are with Him.  

 

And that, Church, is why we're not called "the wife of Christ."  We are called "the Bride!"