Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. – Genesis 2:22-25
During the past several weeks, we shared on the picture of joy that Christ saw of His Bride and Wife, the Holy City. From that picture, we get a glimpse of our future Kingdom roles as His helper in governing nations and their market places. Furthermore, we saw that as His Bride, we have a market place responsibility today to prepare for the Wife’s role, as the “helper” in Christ’s Kingdom.
Last week, we began to dig deeper into the idea of the “wife” and how that speaks of the relationship Christ desires with us. When Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom rule, a wedding will be held to signify His relationship with the Church. What does this mean? We get some insights by looking back to the very first wedding God officiated in Eden, where the scriptures describe His intent for the marriage institution. This first marriage between the First Adam to Eve represents a model that foreshadows the Last Adam’s relationship with the Church.
It seems unimaginable. But in declaring us as His wife, Christ conveys a connection of intimacy with us as “bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh”. And as “a man leaves his father and mother to be united to his wife”, so Christ commits Himself to our partnership, to our Kingdom destiny. We become the center of His heart, His focus and priority, just as a husband dedicates himself to his wife. Although our relationship with the Father has been cut off by sin, but through this marriage with Christ, we become the Father’s children. And there is no shame because His love has overpowered any fear of judgment in us. We will be judged, but there will be no fear in it.
Why Christ would save us from eternal condemnation by His grace is already beyond our comprehension. But even more incredible, He intends to elevate us to the position of His Wife, His Helper, as Eve was Adam’s helper. This is beyond unconditional love! This is illogical love – a love that cannot be explained or justified by reason! This love that establishes the New Jerusalem, will become our template, our model to further establish nations in Christ’s Kingdom. Such fruit of His love, through the cross, is the joy set before Christ.
Next week, we will ponder on the significance of being Christ’s Kingdom “Helper”, as Eve was Adam’s kingdom “helper”.
Market Place Prayer
May the Lord grant the 10,500 market place leaders a foretaste of the Bridegroom’s love – the “illogical love” that establishes the Holy City, the center of Christ’s Kingdom, His treasure possession. Let us see a foreshadow of the splendor of our market places as we reflect the glory and honor of Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:24-26).
