The Two Most Important Symbols I have saved what I believe are the two most important symbols for last. These are:
• The kiss. It symbolizes the sealing of a legal contract or bond. The kiss is also a symbol of commitment, which is why it is so important that a person not kiss before marriage. When a girl kisses many guys before marriage, she is making a mockery of a most holy contract. That is why Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. His was a hypocritical act that took the sacred symbol of commitment and turned it into an appalling act of betrayal. When a girl kisses before marriage, she is doing the same. She is betraying her own commitment to her future husband.
• The veil. Before my wedding, I thought about not wearing the veil over my face for some silly reasons like the fact that I did not like the way it pushed against my face when I walked or that I thought it might mess up the front of my hair. I immediately changed my mind when I discovered the meaning behind why a bride wears a veil over her face. I Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Hebrews 9:3 says, “And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all.”
Hebrews 9:6, 7 continues, “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone.…”
As I mentioned before, the bride’s body represents the temple of Christ (the body of believers purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ). The groom represents Jesus, Who, as the High Priest, is the only One who has access to the temple and to the Holiest tabernacle of all. Wearing the veil over your face represents both modesty and respect. The veil symbolizes the sanctity and exclusiveness of the marriage covenant and reminds everyone present at the wedding that the physical relationship between husband and wife is sacred and that the High Priest is only one who has the right to lift that veil. And, this only after the vows are completed. So on your wedding day, when your groom lifts your veil and kisses you, you are saying that he, as the high priest, is the one and only man who may enter into the Holy of holies—your body, which is the temple of Christ.
Once I knew the true meanings of the symbols, I knew I wanted to use them in such a way as to bring honor to God. My attitude about the way I looked at things really changed. I hope this new knowledge will make your wedding take on a greater meaning as well.
(As of this writing, Candace Schaap, author of this article, has been married to her husband Ken all of nine months. He is on staff in full-time Christian work in Hammond, Indiana.)
This series is an excerpt from Mrs. Hooker’s book Your Body Is Not Your Own Volume 1.
