He Proposed at the Cross

2 Corinthians 11:2,

At our couples meeting we heard this quote that stuck in my spirit, heart and mind...

He Proposed at the Cross

Stand and go with me to 2Corinthians 11

In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul writes to the church with a deep affection, saying, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”

Paul in this verse gives a brief metaphor that beautifully portrays the image of the church as the bride of Christ, chosen by God, betrothed to His Son.

Just as a bride is prepared for her wedding day, we, too, are in the process of being prepared for that glorious day when we will be united with our Bridegroom.

I want to take you on a journey through Passion Week, seeing how each day serves as a chapter in this divine love story.

The culmination of this love story is found at Calvary's Hill, where Jesus proposes to us through His sacrificial love on the cross.

And, as we wait for the wedding feast of the Lamb, He is preparing us, cleansing us, and perfecting us to be presented spotless and radiant.

I’m presenting this love story as a narrative for our subject today...

He Proposed at the Cross

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we gather today with hearts filled with gratitude for Your unending love and grace. Thank You for choosing us to be the bride of Your Son, Jesus.

As we journey through Your Word, open our hearts to see the depth of Your love and the sacrifice of Christ.

Let us be transformed as we reflect on Your divine plan to unite us with Jesus. We thank You for the promise of eternity and the gifts You have in store for us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

There was back in day a process of a relationship leading to marriage.

It begins with courtship—a time where two people get to know each other, where love is nurtured, and a bond begins to form.

The proposal is the pivotal moment where one person, with a heart full of love and vulnerability, asks the other, "Will you marry me?"

If accepted, the couple enters a period of preparation, looking forward to the wedding day, where vows are exchanged before the world that represents the inward conviction already made with each other, and they are united as one.

Now, let’s take this analogy and overlay it with the story of Christ and the church.

Jesus, in His love for us, initiated a divine courtship, inviting us to know Him. He proposed to us at the cross, offering His life as a sign of His commitment.

And now, as His bride, we are in the period of preparation, waiting for that glorious wedding day when we will be united with Him forever.

Take a journey with me and Holy Spirit through Passion Week as the story of this divine courtship and proposal, leading to our ultimate union with Christ, where we can celebrate the greatest wedding of all time.

1. The Courtship of Passion Week:

The relationship between Jesus and His bride, the church, began long before the cross. Each day of Passion Week can be seen as a step in this divine courtship, where Jesus demonstrated His love for us, drawing us closer.

Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem as a humble King, showing us that He is approachable and gentle. Much like in a human courtship, where gestures of kindness and humility win the heart, Jesus showed His willingness to be our King by meeting us where we are. Zechariah 9:9 foretells this moment, marking the beginning of His courtship.

Monday: Jesus cleanses the temple, showing us that His love is pure, and He desires a heart free of sin and clutter.

Just as a person seeks to be their best self in a relationship, Jesus is committed to our purity, to preparing us to be a spotless bride. His cleansing continues in our hearts today (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing

Tuesday: Jesus teaches about faith and the coming Kingdom. Like a person in love sharing their dreams for the future, Jesus shares His vision for our eternal life with Him. His teachings during this time reveal His deep love and desire for us to walk in faith and prepare for the life He offers.

Wednesday: Jesus is anointed at Bethany, a symbolic act preparing Him for His burial. This anointing shows the depth of His love, as He willingly prepares for the ultimate act of sacrifice, just as someone in love might go to great lengths to secure the future of their beloved.

Thursday: The Last Supper becomes the moment where Jesus seals His commitment to us.

He offers His body and blood in the new covenant, saying in Matthew 26:28, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." This is the moment where Jesus, like a groom, offers Himself fully, inviting us into a new relationship with Him.

2. The Proposal: His Walk to Calvary

Every love story has a defining moment, and for us, that moment on Friday was when Jesus carried the cross to Calvary. With each step, He was showing us how far He would go for love.

The cross was His ultimate proposal, where He asked humanity, “Will you be mine?” John 19:30 records His final words: “It is finished.” The price for our sin was paid, the diary, and the proposal was complete.

At the cross, Jesus didn’t just say, “I love you,” He demonstrated it by laying down His life. This was more than a proposal—it was the ultimate act of commitment. Just as a person might offer a ring as a sign of their promise, Jesus offered His life, sealing His love with His blood.

3. The Resurrection: Sealing the Promise

On that early Sunday morning, Jesus rose from the grave, making His proposal an eternal one.

The resurrection was the confirmation that death could not hold Him, and nothing could separate us from His love. Romans 8:38-39 assures us that nothing can come between us and Christ’s love—not even death.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The resurrection is like the engagement ring that guarantees the wedding to come. Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we have the assurance that we will be united with Him.

4. The Waiting Period: Our Preparation and Cleansing

After the proposal comes the engagement period, a time of preparation. In our relationship with Christ, we are in this engagement period, being prepared and purified to meet our Bridegroom. Ephesians 5:25-27 reminds us that Jesus is continually sanctifying us, cleansing us through His Word, so that He might present us as a radiant bride, without stain or wrinkle.

Just as a bride prepares for her wedding day, we are being prepared for the day when we will be united with Christ. This time of preparation is not passive—it’s a time of growing in holiness, faith, and love, as Christ molds us into His image.

5. The Wedding Day: We Will Be Ready?

Revelation 19:7 paints a glorious picture of the wedding day: “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.” This will be the moment we have been waiting for, the culmination of all the preparation.

On that day, we will be dressed in fine linen, bright and clean, symbolizing the righteousness given to us through Christ. The wedding will be unlike any we’ve ever known, as we are finally united with Jesus in a celebration of love and eternity.

The wedding party will be the heavenly hosts (angels)

The multitude of saints (believers from all nations)

Old Testament saints

The apostles and prophets

God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The best man will John the Baptist.

He said in John 3:29 “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”

Break it down Pastor: Help The People

John affirms that Jesus is the one who has the bride—the people of God—indicating that Jesus is the central figure of God’s redemptive plan.

The Friend of the Bridegroom: John sees himself as the friend the best man, not the main focus, but one who assists and rejoices in the union of the bride (God’s people) and the groom (Jesus).

Complete Joy: John finds his joy in hearing the bridegroom’s voice, which symbolizes Jesus beginning His relational ministry. He is content with his role and overjoyed at the success of Jesus’ mission.

6. Let me get to the good part

Just as a wedding night is the culmination of the bride and groom's journey from courtship, through engagement, and into marriage, Christ's union with the church is the fulfillment of His promise to redeem and gather His people to Himself.

On the wedding night, Christ embraces His church, fulfilling every promise He made for our salvation and eternal life. In this moment, all of the waiting, preparation, and anticipation comes to fruition in perfect communion.

The wedding night is marked by openness and vulnerability between the couple, Christ’s relationship with His church involves complete spiritual intimacy, where nothing is hidden, and the church is fully known and loved. Revelation 21:3 says that God will dwell with His people—no more separation, just eternal closeness and communion.

Just as the wedding night marks the beginning of a lifelong covenant between husband and wife, Christ’s union with His church marks the eternal covenant of salvation.

His love and commitment are unbreakable, sealed by His sacrifice on the cross and the resurrection.

After the wedding night, the party is still on, the celebration, a feast, where joy overflows, and the union of the bride and groom is celebrated with loved ones. The Bible speaks of the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9), which will be a time of great rejoicing and celebration in heaven when Christ and His bride, the church, are united.

What happens after the wedding?

'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'"

We begin to open the wedding gifts! And the gifts we receive from Christ will be beyond anything we can imagine. In eternity—the gifts, the future glories of heaven, we can't yet see or understand. It’s a message of hope and encouragement that now is inviting believers to trust in God’s perfect wisdom and love.

Eternal Life (Romans 6:23): The greatest gift, life with God forever.

Perfect Peace (Isaiah 26:3): No more pain, no more sorrow, only peace in the presence of God.

God’s Presence (Revelation 21:3): We will dwell with Him, and He will be our God forever.

A New Name (Revelation 2:17): A personal, intimate sign of our identity in Christ.

The Crown of Life (James 1:12): A reward for those who have remained faithful.

These are the gifts that await us as we are united with Christ, our Bridegroom, for eternity.

The story of Christ and the church is the greatest love story ever told. It began with a courtship, where Jesus invited us into a relationship with Him. It reached its climax at the cross, where He proposed to us with His life. And now, we wait in anticipation for the day when we will be united with Him forever at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

As we wait, let us continue to be faithful, allowing Him to cleanse and prepare us, so that when the wedding day comes, we will be ready to meet our Bridegroom. And when we finally stand before Him, we will open the gifts of eternal life, peace, and the joy of being with Him forever.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for the beautiful love story You have written for us. Thank You for choosing us to be the bride of Christ and for the sacrifice Jesus made at the cross. Help us to be faithful during this time of preparation, allowing Your Word to cleanse and transform us. We eagerly await the day when we will be united with You in eternity, rejoicing in Your love and the gifts You have prepared for us. In the name of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.