The Dowry Jesus Paid

 

 

The dowry Jesus paid

Was the price for his bride

Just like in Old Testament times

When such was applied.

 

Prior to the marriage

The dowry was to be paid

And such had to be presented

At the betrothal stage.

 

Just as in engagement,

The presentation of a ring

Is now a similar betrothal gesture

Of this dowry thing.

 

It was a compensation

To the bride’s family

For in a sense, depriving her kin

Of her familial duty.

 

 

The wealthy would pay

An enormous dowry

Hoping such a generous amount

Would appease a family.

 

It was Jewish law

Under which Jesus came

And he too presented a dowry

To stake his claim.

 

This bride was the church,

His chosen bride

And he made the presentation

When he died.

 

Purchasing his bride

With his precious blood,

He gave an infinitely greater dowry

That anyone could.

 

Which bride groom

Came back from the dead

And in remarkable circumstances

His bride did wed?

 

 

Only Jesus, I tell you,

You know how he died

When on that cross at Calvary

He was crucified.

 

Back on Mt Calvary

Where he was crucified,

Was the dowry that Christ paid

For the church, his bride.

 

A chaste virgin she was,

Presented to Christ,

What an infinite price it cost him!

What a sacrifice!

 

Yes, the holy Jerusalem

Which apostle John saw;

A bride adorned for her husband

Without a single flaw!

 

Unlike the old Jerusalem

That was given so much

Yet preferred the life of a harlot

And a Roman crutch.

 

Choosing Emperor Caesar

Rather than the Christ

And visiting on all God’s prophets

Their deeds of vice.

 

Such vice filling up

The measure of their fathers

Whereupon Jesus likened them

To a generation of vipers.

 

 

A dowry of infinite cost

The Lord Jesus paid

But he rose again from the tomb

Where he was laid.

 

No other could pay

The price of sin’s dowry,

It required the blood of a sinless one

And Jesus was that entity.

 

Stewart Russell © May 30, 2025