The Bride of Christ

The book of Esther is more than a love story. As Christians, we can get a better understanding of our own lives as we read about her life.

After Queen Vashti insulted her husband, King Xerxes, he began a search for a new queen. The Bible is full of types and shadows. Stories which have double meanings and are a reflection of things to come. 

Reading about the dethroning of Queen Vashti reminded me of the Jewish people and their disregard for Jesus as the Messiah. They rejected Him as their king and He called others (Gentiles) into His kingdom. He is the King of Kings and is searching for a suitable replacement to be His bride. 

The "church" is referred to as the bride of Christ over and over again in the New Testament. Jesus is coming back someday to take His bride to heaven with Him. Even now He is preparing a place for us. But before that day comes, the "church" must undergo beauty treatments.

Esther was selected as a candidate for queen from among many others but before these women met face to face with the king, they had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments. 

"Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name." Esther 2:12-14

The "church" has been established by Christ Jesus as His bride. We are in the process right now of beauty treatments. Not necessarily the same type of treatments that Esther had to endure, but more of a purification process. Our hearts and minds are going through a cleansing and we are becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts and deeds. The oil of the Holy Spirit is being applied to us daily, preparing us to stand before King Jesus. 

"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made he queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality." Esther 2:17-18

Revelation 19:7-9 puts it this way; "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints). Then the angel said unto me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God."

The "church" has been selected as the bride of Christ but we are still in preparation for that glorious wedding day.  

For Queen Esther her responsibility increased once she became queen. She was asked to go before the king to plead for the lives of the Jewish people. Her adopted father, Mordecai, explained it like this: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:13-14

What a responsibility we have as the bride of Christ. He is expecting us to share the gospel message and save people from eternal damnation. The world needs Jesus more than ever before and maybe, just maybe we have been called "for such a time as this."

A note about this post: I have been asked if this means that the "church" replaces Israel as God's chosen people and the answer is "No!" Although the "church" has become the bride of Christ, the Jewish people have not been rejected by God. He still loves Israel and we (the Gentiles) have been included in His grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus.