Mikvah
Brides in ancient Israel, as well as brides in Israel today, experience a mikvah prior to her wedding. The word ‘mikvah’ means a pool of living water that was used for ritual purification. This immersion and ceremonial washing in water is part of their physical and spiritual preparation for the wedding ceremony. The mikvah represents a separation from the old life to a new life. Figuratively speaking this was a re-birth into her new life as a wife and mother.
The Bride of Christ also goes to the living waters of the mikvah. When we, as believers in Jesus, are immersed in water baptism, it is a separation from an old life to a new life. Baptism is an outward expression of our new birth in Jesus and the washing, or regeneration, of our spiritual man – our inner most being.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17
Mark 16:16 reads, “He who believes and is baptized (goes to the mikvah) will be saved; but he who does not believe, will be condemned.”
Acts 2:37-39; ‘Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.’
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