Kempe's Christ as Bridegroom

Margery Kempe's writing contains vivid and odd descriptions of the deep intimacy she experiences with Christ. Similar to that of Julian of Norwich, her work deviates from traditional scripture and yet is still within its bounds. At one point, when conversing with Christ, Kempe writes that He spoke these words to her:

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"Therefore I must be intimate with you, and lie in your bed with you. Daughter, you greatly desire to see me, and you may boldly, when you are in bed, take me to you as your wedded husband, as your dear darling, and as your sweet son, for I want to be loved as a son should be loved by the mother, and I want you to love me, daughter, as a good wife ought to love her husband." (I.36.126-127)

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This depiction is certainly unusual because it combines the role of God the Father (and Kempe therefore is His daughter), Christ the Son (and Kempe is apparently His mother), and Christ the Bridegroom (the husband of Kempe the bride) all at once. (It seems that Kempe lists all the attributes of Christ except for Julian of Norwich's Christ as Mother!)

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This is the depiction of Christ in 15th century English literature. It is understandable, then, why some have found Kempe's work to be a strange read.