Throughout the world, wedding practices are as ingrained into different cultures as the words we use to say good morning.
In modern China, brides usually choose three wedding dresses and wear all three (although not at the same time). In India, the bride paints her hands and feet with intricate designs using henna. The designs remain for weeks.
A number of cultures literally jump over a broom to sanction the marriage union.
Jewish weddings often involve broken glass. British weddings have preadolescent bridesmaids. Peruvian guests pull charms from inside the wedding cake with slender ribbons. A fake wedding ring tells who is next in line for marriage.
Zulu brides are welcomed by slaughtered cows, and the bride places money in the stomach of the cow to cement her place in her new family.
What are our Christian wedding traditions? After all, the New Testament constantly refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ, and one day we will attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
In John 2:1-12, we read the story of Jesus at a wedding at Cana in Galilee. His mother was there, and when the wine ran out, she said to him, “They have no wine.”
His reply? “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
Yet, by the hand of Jesus, water was turned into wine, and it was better than what had been served before.
Jesus is our wedding wine. He is our tradition of excellence. He is the broom we jump, the ring from the cake, and the money we place in the cow’s stomach. When we show up at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we will have the travails of the Saints etched into our skin, and it will show to all the world the enduring beauty of their love for Christ.
We might even break a few glasses to celebrate the upcoming glory of God’s eternal union with his chosen people.
So, let’s lift our glasses and down our wedding wine. It’s good for our stomachs. It says so in 1 Timothy 5:23. “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” See? Jesus is good for us on every occasion.
When we drink Jesus, we dine on the best wine in all creation.
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