Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

This is quickly becoming the season in which the nativity story is told throughout the world. Great and wonderful things are talked about and celebrated considering this advent. Yet one of the more distant symbolisms seems always to escape the telling. This may be overlooked because the promise given is hidden neatly within the language and phrasing so as to be easily overlooked.

Espoused wife, the bride of promise, one to be treated and considered as the bride but the wedding feast, the marriage in the truer sense, the unbreakable bonding, was not performed until after Jesus was delivered.

The symbolism of betrothal is vital to those of us that have accepted Christ proposal and we are His betrothed, but the wedding feast has not yet happened. Sure we are treated as a daughter by God which is His Old Testament command and we partake of Christ which is the promise within the New Testament, but we are but betrothed, espoused, not yet married.

As such we should understand the meaning of our betrothal, our rights, duties, privileges and responsibilities as one espoused to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Matthew 22:11-12 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

The garments are those we cannot obtain for ourselves but are issued in relationship with our betrothed.