Today began with an early morning teaching about the Hatan and the Mohar: the Bridegroom and the gift to the bride. Rabbi Jonathan did a beautiful job explaining this beautiful mystery and the deep symbolism of the bride being prepared for the bridegroom and the gift of the Matan: a special gift the bridegroom gives to the bride as a promise to come back for her at the end of their long engagement. Rabbi Jonathan explained that we too are the bride being prepared for the bridegroom, who is Jesus Christ, and explained that we too have been given an engagement gift of “promise” from our “Hatan” which means, “the one who wants to join himself to us”. This is so beautiful! Jesus is our bridegroom and he wants to be “joined with us” and to have a relationship with us! And it gets even better! Jesus, our bridegroom, has left us a gift of promise until his return: The Holy Spirit! We have this promise of hope until Jesus returns! Hallelujah! I really have not done this teaching justice, so if you’d like to read the full teaching, please go to hopeoftheworld.org.

Once Rabbi Jonathan taught this message, he then did something so precious! He invited up a beautiful couple who had become engaged just the day before at the Sea Galilee! Glory to God! So, I am thinking, this couple must be VERY ANOINTED OF THE LORD to get engaged to be married in Israel while standing on the shores of Galilee! JUST WOW!!! Rabbi Jonathan lead us all in praying a special blessing over the beautiful couple! Glory to God! For me, seeing this young couple, so pure, so fresh and full of joy and love—reminded me of my own innocence when I first married and softened my own heart, knowing that marriage is challenging but with Jesus at the center, husband and wife truly can overcome anything!

Finally, Rabbi Jonathan lead all married couples in a vow-renewal ceremony. With tears in our eyes and fresh love and joy in our hearts, Greg and I participated as well as speaking personal promises of love and commitment to one another.  I know this moment was ordered of the Lord, and I could feel God’s love all over us in this healing moment of unity, joy and pure love. Thank you JESUS!!!

Grace and Peace,
Ashley