“You may kiss the bride!” The words are spoken, the smack resounds, and the newly pronounced man and wife turn to the audience. Two have become one. Usually, the Miss has become a Mrs. and a new name, shinier than the ring on her finger, transforms her maiden moniker. Oneness is established as the husband’s name symbolically draws his wife beneath his wing of protection, to his side in partnership, and near his heart as soul mate. “What’s mine is yours,” this says. The custom dates back to the first man and woman. Genesis 5:1-2 (KJV) says, “…In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” God gave the first couple a singular name to represent their interconnectivity. In the context of relationship, a shared name is special.
The name that first belonged to the man was shared with the woman. The name Adam was a constant reminder of their union. Adam looked at his wife and remembered his rib, a piece of himself woven into the fabric of his help mate’s being. “Mrs. Adam,” on the other hand, marveled at her husband, that he, so whole, had been broken for her. Within her was his missing piece, his essence, the bone and flesh that was he, the part that completed him. In Matthew 19, Jesus said, “Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said ‘For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and the twain shall be one flesh?’ Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Lest we assume that God was only interested in romance between the man and woman he had formed on the sixth day of creation, consider His attention to the minute details of their lives and see the personal applications that lie within their context. With God, nothing stands alone. Every aspect of his plan unfolds a greater revelation. Adam and Eve, among other things, are beautiful symbols of Christ and the Church. Figuratively, the Bride of Christ was taken from Jesus’ wounded side. She is nothing without Him. Nonexistent without His sacrifice. His wounding made her possible. Yet when He beholds her, He sees in her a part of Himself. Like a rib that draws her to his side, His Holy Spirit within her and His name resting upon her tucks her within His embrace, securing her to Himself in unity and love.
Jesus, who is perfection, is pleased to have been broken in order to present to himself a glorious church (Eph. 5:27). When He beholds His church, He sees His body, an extension of Himself. Ephesians 5:30-32 says it plainly, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” Isaiah 43:7 foretold the mystery: “… everyone that is called by my name; for I have created him for my glory,”
Like the first woman given to the first man, we, the church, have been presented to Christ as a helpmeet. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). “For we are labourers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). “…but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor.11: 7). Furthermore, like the first woman, we have the love of our namesake (Eph. 1:6). We enjoy fellowship with Him (Matt. 18:20). Lines of inferiority are erased because of His name (Luke 9:48). We bask in the security of being brought under His wing (Psalm 91:4). We know oneness (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:17,19; John 14:20) because He became like us and empowered us to be like Him (Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 3:20, 27; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We enjoy a shared likeness (Rom. 8:29, Col. 3:10) and a common paradise where we will be heirs with Him (Romans 8:17; James 2:5) and where “we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim 2:12.). Soon, we will join our groom, whose name we proudly wear, and in the city bejeweled with pearls and sparkling like diamonds, we will celebrate the romance of the ages.
Tip/Tidbit: There is no relationship more satisfying than a relationship with Jesus. What a privilege to be loved by Him. Invest in that relationship today.
The name that first belonged to the man was shared with the woman. The name Adam was a constant reminder of their union. Adam looked at his wife and remembered his rib, a piece of himself woven into the fabric of his help mate’s being. “Mrs. Adam,” on the other hand, marveled at her husband, that he, so whole, had been broken for her. Within her was his missing piece, his essence, the bone and flesh that was he, the part that completed him. In Matthew 19, Jesus said, “Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said ‘For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and the twain shall be one flesh?’ Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Lest we assume that God was only interested in romance between the man and woman he had formed on the sixth day of creation, consider His attention to the minute details of their lives and see the personal applications that lie within their context. With God, nothing stands alone. Every aspect of his plan unfolds a greater revelation. Adam and Eve, among other things, are beautiful symbols of Christ and the Church. Figuratively, the Bride of Christ was taken from Jesus’ wounded side. She is nothing without Him. Nonexistent without His sacrifice. His wounding made her possible. Yet when He beholds her, He sees in her a part of Himself. Like a rib that draws her to his side, His Holy Spirit within her and His name resting upon her tucks her within His embrace, securing her to Himself in unity and love.
Jesus, who is perfection, is pleased to have been broken in order to present to himself a glorious church (Eph. 5:27). When He beholds His church, He sees His body, an extension of Himself. Ephesians 5:30-32 says it plainly, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” Isaiah 43:7 foretold the mystery: “… everyone that is called by my name; for I have created him for my glory,”
Like the first woman given to the first man, we, the church, have been presented to Christ as a helpmeet. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). “For we are labourers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). “…but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor.11: 7). Furthermore, like the first woman, we have the love of our namesake (Eph. 1:6). We enjoy fellowship with Him (Matt. 18:20). Lines of inferiority are erased because of His name (Luke 9:48). We bask in the security of being brought under His wing (Psalm 91:4). We know oneness (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:17,19; John 14:20) because He became like us and empowered us to be like Him (Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 3:20, 27; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We enjoy a shared likeness (Rom. 8:29, Col. 3:10) and a common paradise where we will be heirs with Him (Romans 8:17; James 2:5) and where “we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim 2:12.). Soon, we will join our groom, whose name we proudly wear, and in the city bejeweled with pearls and sparkling like diamonds, we will celebrate the romance of the ages.
Tip/Tidbit: There is no relationship more satisfying than a relationship with Jesus. What a privilege to be loved by Him. Invest in that relationship today.
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