The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ephesians 5:31-32,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church."
As Paul discusses the nature of the relationship between husbands and wives, he points to the relationship of Jesus Christ with the church. Just as a man cares for his own body, so it is as if the wife has become a part of his own body, he should care for her - just as the church has become the body of Jesus Christ and he cares for her. Using this metaphor, he speaks of the posture of submission wives are to assume as the church is submissive to her Lord and of the love the husband is to express to his wife just as Jesus Christ laid down his life for the church.
No greater example of love can be provided than that which was expressed by Jesus Christ. He left his exalted position in heaven to come and live as a part of his own creation that we might have a place at his table. He died a horrible death willingly in order to save us from God's own wrath for our sins. He died that we might live.
No greater grounds for submission can be leveraged than the gratitude and appreciation that should be expressed in the willing submission of those who have received the wonderful love of Jesus Christ: the church to her Lord and Savior.
What is striking about this analogy is that Paul's metaphor also carries with it, in the reverse direction, the unmistakable nature of intimacy within the relationship the church enjoys with her Lord. The marriage relationship is the most intimate of all. Ideally, it is within this relationship that happiness and fulfillment are found. It is this relationship that carries trust, loyalty, honesty and closeness above any other. Such is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church.
How remarkable for those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, that we be known as both the children of God and members of the bride of Jesus Christ!
As Paul discusses the nature of the relationship between husbands and wives, he points to the relationship of Jesus Christ with the church. Just as a man cares for his own body, so it is as if the wife has become a part of his own body, he should care for her - just as the church has become the body of Jesus Christ and he cares for her. Using this metaphor, he speaks of the posture of submission wives are to assume as the church is submissive to her Lord and of the love the husband is to express to his wife just as Jesus Christ laid down his life for the church.
No greater example of love can be provided than that which was expressed by Jesus Christ. He left his exalted position in heaven to come and live as a part of his own creation that we might have a place at his table. He died a horrible death willingly in order to save us from God's own wrath for our sins. He died that we might live.
No greater grounds for submission can be leveraged than the gratitude and appreciation that should be expressed in the willing submission of those who have received the wonderful love of Jesus Christ: the church to her Lord and Savior.
What is striking about this analogy is that Paul's metaphor also carries with it, in the reverse direction, the unmistakable nature of intimacy within the relationship the church enjoys with her Lord. The marriage relationship is the most intimate of all. Ideally, it is within this relationship that happiness and fulfillment are found. It is this relationship that carries trust, loyalty, honesty and closeness above any other. Such is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church.
How remarkable for those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, that we be known as both the children of God and members of the bride of Jesus Christ!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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