marriage – God – relationship

I just finished an amazing, soul-stirring book by rob bell titled, sex god:exploring the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality.
There are so many things that I could write about this book, but the one that is filling me with amazement is something written in the last chapter that was a big “ahhhha” moment for me.
I never did understand why Jesus used the seemingly materialistic analogy of a mansion, etc in the following passage from John 14.2-4:

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that were I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.

rob bell writes that this is a marriage analogy! it’s all about the relationship he offers to us! that this ties back to a very common custom…let me just give you some of his words:

In the first century, generally a young woman would be married in her early teens, often at thirteen or fourteen. It would become known that she was now ‘of age,’ and her father would entertain offers from the fathers of young men who were interested in marrying her. If the fathers agreed on the terms of the marriage, there would be a celebration to onor the couple and announce their engagement. At this celebration,the groom would offer the young girl a cup of wine to drink.
But she doesn’t have to drink it.
She can reject the cup. She can say no to his offer of marriage. Even though everything has already been arranged, she can still say no. It’s up to her.
Can you imagine the pressure on the young fella?
…If she says yes, the groom gives a sort of prepared speech about their future together.
Because if she takes the cup and drinks from it, that only means that they are engaged. They aren’t married yet. Something still has to happen.
Or to be more precise, something has to be built.
If she says yes, then the groom goes home and begins building an addition onto his family’s home. This is where he and his bride will start their new family together…
And so when she takes the glass of wine at their engagement party and drinks from it, the groom says to her: ‘My father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so…’ (p 169, 170)

You will have to read the book to catch all the ties of the analogy that Jesus uses here, but I think you can get the idea. Jesus is preparing a place to take us to the WEDDING FEAST!! He desires intimacy with his creation and has made the way through his sacrifice to bring us back to him.
at the same time I am doing some reading through the book of jeremiah and can’t help but notice the overwhelming language of God’s people being his bride, and how his bride has broken his heart, but how he is not giving up on her!
we have reduced God to this rule mongor and have often left out the passionate lover that he reveals himself to be as well. our God is a jealous God, who deserves and desires all of us for himself.