Will You Marry Me?Sample

It Is Finished, My Bride! 

When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, He uttered the words, “It is finished.” I love the way this verse reads in The Passion Translation: “It is finished, my bride!”

The Hebrew word for “finished” used in this verse is the word “kalah,” a homonym that can mean “finished” or “bride.” I think this interpretation accurately depicts who Jesus accomplished this great and gruesome sacrifice for. He endured the brutal suffering thinking about His bride—you.

While the nails were being hammered into His hands and the crown of thorns pushed into His scalp, He had you on His mind. Every beating from the whip, every blow to the face, every word of shame and ridicule—He took it all for you. The power of this monumental moment will never be fully understood.

For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the suffering of the cross. He knew what was waiting on the other side of the cross: you and me. This is what true love looks like.

I love how The Passion Translation commentary explains Jesus’ continued work in our lives:

“Although the completed work of salvation was finished on the cross, he continues to work through his church today to extend God’s kingdom realm on the earth and glorify the Father through us. He continues to work in us to accomplish all that his cross and resurrection have purchased for us, his bride.”

We, the church, are the bride of Christ. He refers to “His bride” in a feminine context, but both male and female believers alike are “married” to Christ when we surrender our lives to Him. Our marriage to Christ is not a gender issue, but a full submission and eternal relationship issue.

Jesus laid down His life for us and gave Himself up for us. It is finished! His love mission has been accomplished—and even with His last breath, He called out to His bride, pleading with us to say yes to Him for eternity.

Why? All because He loves you.