A Bride From His Side
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”Genesis 2:21–23 (KJV)
The first wedding in the Bible happens in a garden. “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.” From Adam’s side, God made the woman and brought her to him.
Adam’s first recorded words are a love song: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” She came from him, and she was given to him.
Paul quotes this marriage passage and then says something remarkable: “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” The first marriage was a picture all along.
On the cross, the last Adam fell into the sleep of death. “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” From his side came the price of his bride. On a day the world gives to romance, remember the greatest love story. Christ gave himself for his church, and if you belong to him, you are loved like that.
Read it yourself
Read Ephesians 5:25–32. What does Paul say Christ did for the church, and why?
How does knowing you are loved like Christ’s bride change the way you see yourself today?
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving your church enough to give yourself for her. Thank you that I am loved like that. Amen.