As we remember the Last Supper - the Passover seder that Jesus shared with His apostles - the Scriptures call our attention to the 3rd cup of the meal. This cup - the cup of redemption - Jesus said, is the New Covenant in His blood. No doubt, the connection of a cup with a covenant caused those at the table to think of the betrothal process.

In ancient Israel, when a father sought a bride for his son, both father and son would visit the home of the young woman. After negotiating a bride price, the son would hand a cup of wine to the young woman and say, “This is the cup of my covenant”. If she chose to drink it, she became betrothed to the young man. She was seen as the man’s wife, but they would not know each other in the Biblical sense until after the wedding day, The marriage vows were - and are still today - exchanged with another glass of wine.

Interestingly, we do not see Jesus drinking the fourth and final celebratory cup of the Passover. Instead He said after the cup of covenant, “I will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” Like the betrothed couple, our wedding day with Christ has not yet arrived.

Jewish tradition teaches that one can drink as much wine as they want between the 1st and 2nd cups, and between the 2nd and 3rd cups; however there is to be no drinking between the 3rd and 4th cups.

In Exodus 12:42, we read that the night of Passover, “all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.” How fitting that that night Jesus asked His friends to “watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation.” As we wait for the fourth cup at the marriage supper of the Lamb, where we will be forever united with Christ, may we remain sober, watching and praying, and found faithful when He returns for His bride.