Now that it is officially summertime, it is also officially wedding season. We should all be very familiar with what the Bible teaches regarding marriage in terms of its foundational importance for our earthly life. The marriage between husband and wife is the foundation of human society.
However, Scripture also teaches that earthly Marriage is a reflection of the Gospel- the Good News of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 2:24, we read that once a man and a woman are married, they become one flesh. In reference to this union of husband and wife, St. Paul writes, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). When you look at the Greek, and especially the word which is translated into English as, "refers to," we find something remarkable. What Paul is saying is that earthly marriage was designed by God to ultimately point us to, and be a reflection of, and a symbol of, the eternal marriage between Christ and His Church. Paul’s saying that from the very beginning, this was the ultimate purpose of earthly marriage. Before God created the world (and earthly marriage), He had already willed an eternal marriage to exist between His eternal Son and the Church. We must remember that at the wedding ceremony of an earthly marriage, the vows include "until death parts us," but when it comes to the marriage between Christ and His church, it was the death of Jesus which ensures that His union with His Bride, the church, will never end.
Again, in Genesis, we read that God put Adam to sleep and formed Eve from his rib. Then, He woke Adam up, and Adam and Eve became husband and wife (Genesis 2:22). After Jesus was put to death on the cross His side was pierced, and water and blood came out from it (John 19:34). This was meant to be a sign that the church, like Eve, is born from her Bridegroom’s side. Just as Eve was formed from Adam’s side as he slept, so too the new Eve, the Church, is formed from the side of the New Adam as He slept in death for her sake - to institute their eternal union. It isn't simply a coincidence that our Lord's side was pierced as He slept in death. His side was pierced to give ultimate meaning and fulfillment to Genesis 2:22.
The water and the blood are significant, because through the water of Holy Baptism we become members of Christ’s church. And, in the Sacrament of the Altar, where Jesus gives us His body and blood, His Church is forgiven, renewed, and strengthened. Ancient Christian artwork often depicted a picture of Christ hanging from the cross, with water and blood flowing from His side into a Baptismal font and a Communion chalice. This is because the early Christians understood well that these Sacraments are the very means by which the church is created, renewed, and strengthened. They are the means by which we become “one flesh” with Christ, the New Adam. And, of course, on the third day, God “woke” Jesus up. He raised Him from the dead. So that now all those who are in Christ by faith are in union with Him for all eternity. Nothing in all of creation, not even death, can separate Christ's Bride from Him (Romans 8:38-39).
And, the way in which husbands and wives treat each other on a daily basis also reflects Christ’s relationship with the Church. St. Paul writes, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). There was no selfishness in Christ’s sacrifice for us. He did everything and continues to do everything selflessly for our benefit. A husband is to love his wife in the way Christ loved the church - and that means sacrificial love.
To wives, St. Paul says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). He isn’t saying that one person should dominate the other, however. As sinners, that’s how we read it because we are obsessed with power. And, we tend to believe that true greatness comes from being served rather than serving. But, our Lord has taught and shown us that the greatest is the one who serves (Luke 22:27). There's no doubt that it is God's will that the husband is the leader of the family. But, he is to lead in the way of Christ which means living sacrificially for the sake of his wife and family. The husband is to take the lead in not keeping a tally of faults and wrongs; he is to take the lead in going above and beyond in serving the needs of his family. This means he is to provide for them in every way - especially in making sure that they are spiritually fed and grow up to fear, love and trust in God above all things. For what would be gained if every physical and material need was met but there was no relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the only way to the Father? (Matthew 16:26; John 14:6)
Of course, we are all sinners and do not live up to God’s design. That is why husbands and wives must always be ready to confess their sins to one another and receive forgiveness for their sins for Jesus' sake. Sometimes, it can be as hard to receive forgiveness as it is to forgive - because it means admitting you were at fault. But, we must remember that we are children of God through the forgiveness of sins. God has so graciously and freely forgiven us on account of Christ’s sacrificial death that we are compelled by His love to forgive one another and receive forgiveness from one another. We must always remember what God did for us. He sent His only Son to pay for our sins. Even though we didn’t deserve it in the least. In this way also, through confession and forgiveness, marriage becomes a reflection of the Gospel- the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Finally, we must remember the promise of everlasting life on the new earth - in our Resurrected bodies - where we will live in righteousness, innocence and blessedness with one another and our Lord, forever.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:1-2)
As we look forward to that blessed Day, let us live by faith in our Lord and in Christian love for one another!
