Reading: Ephesians 5:22-33
Now anyone that knows me, knows that I have a heart for marriage, to see marriages restored that are broken, and to see couples walk along united with God in their marriage. I have read through these verses of Ephesians many times as I love to read God’s design for marriage. Yet God is talking about more than marriage in these verses.
Jesus the Head of Church
First, we see that it calls wives to submit to their husbands. Now this goes further pointing how husband are head over the wife. Now first that does not mean he should lord over her like a dictator, as some would think. Rather husbands are the authority and head in the home, just as Jesus is the head and authority of church. As wives we are to look to our husbands to lead and guide our family. Similarly we are to look at Jesus and only Jesus to guide the church. He is the head of the church, the cornerstone, our rock. We as the church have to submit to Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Christ our Husband
Next is the call to husbands and this is when I see the heart of Christ at work. “Husbands are to love their wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her.” (vs. 25) Christ gave up His life for us because of this love. He loves us and wants more for us. Isaiah 54:5 states, “For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.” Christ is our redeemer, our husband. He is God of the whole earth and He loves us.
Our husband wants to sanctify and cleanse us, the church body, with the washing of water by the word. When we are in the word it cleanses us of the filth of the world. Jesus is the word and when we read of His life and ministry and also read the prophetic words in the Old Testament that reveal Him, we are being sanctified and cleansed. I love to imagine what this looks like so I hope you will sit and think about this and let these words soak into your soul. We, the church, are to be presented having no spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. Jesus paid the price for our redemption and to go back and say we are anything but what He has called us would be an insult to Him. We were once of the world, but we have now been set apart, not by anything we have done, but rather by of His grace. Now that is such good news.
Jesus Love Us
It goes on to say, “husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies.” (vs. 28) Jesus loves us, as he loves himself. Think about that. Jesus our husband is to love us as himself. Wow, those are deep words. I hope you can feel the love that Jesus has for you coming through these words because I cannot express to you how amazing this is.
Furthermore, the word states, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” (vs. 29) The word for nourish is ektropho to cherish or train: bring up, nourish. The word for cherish is halpo (to warm); to brood, to foster: cherish. When you look at this Jesus wants to nourish and cherish us, as well as brood over and foster us. These words show his love yet again. We are to be cherished and cared for. Now that does not mean he wants us to be sick or harmed as some would think. If my husband wanted sickness put on me and wanted me to suffer; what kind of husband would he be? That does not sound like the loving husband God is talking about in this passage.
One With Jesus
Furthermore, verse 30 shares that, “we are members of His body, of His flesh and of his bones.” We have become a part of Him. We are no longer alone but we walk with Jesus everywhere we go, and in all situations, and circumstances. His body was broken for us, so that we might be saved. He was beaten and took stripes so that we would be healed. That is love. He is a husband that has compassion on those that are sick and healed them all. He is a husband that cares for His bride and will go to no ends to show His love for her.
In conclusion as the two are to become one in marriage we are to become one with Jesus Christ. He is in us and guides us and helps us to make decisions as a husband would do in the home. Yet we must seek out His guidance, in His holy word, His truths are there to be found. He will answer when we ask and will lead us when we seek direction. Trust in Him alone and He will not fail you.