“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” Ephesians 5:24-31.
Seeing Jesus in the family means a marriage filled with the Spirit and one that seeks to Glorify the Father. It is a marriage where submission is joyful, and love is sacrificial. “Sure,” you may be saying, but what marriage is like this in real life? Remember, we aren’t talking about perfect marriages, but biblical marriages. Since we first said I do, my wife and I have not pursued perfection but godliness within our marriage. Postmodern feminism will tell you that because of the wickedness of some, the whole of the Christian message regarding marriage and women are oppressive and wrong; however, the man is commanded to love like Jesus.
How did Christ love?
• He humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant.
• He laid down his life for those whom he loved.
• He washed feet and even served those who were his enemies.
Ruling over or mistreating their wives is not what a godly husband are called to do. The Christian husband is called to a higher level, not simply a romantic love, but is willing at any moment to self-sacrifice for his wife. While the wife does love her husband, she is not called to
protect, lay down her life and love in this way. As my wife and I began having kids, we had to make serious financial and career decisions. After child number two, was she going to return to work or focus her work at home? As we prayed through our decision, we believed the Lord was leading her to remain at home. Financially the responsibility was on me to provide for our home. My wife and kids looked to me to carry this load and to lead in a Christ-honoring way. Husbands are called to make this part of their duty in the home.
In Jewish custom, the bride would have a prenuptial washing; she was perfumed and anointed and dressed in her wedding clothes. She was then set apart for her husband. When the Lord talked about redeeming Israel in Ezekiel 16:8-14, he spoke of them as a wayward woman who was given new garments, washed, and anointed with oil. It is the husband who is committed to the total well-being of the wife. Yet not just in providing financially, but loving holistically, this includes seeing them flourish spiritually. The Bible tells us, “He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.” Eph 5:27. How can a husband know if they are protecting, caring, and loving? The Scripture tells husbands, “Love your wife as your own bodies.” Men may not pamper themselves, but men indeed love themselves and care for their bodies. How do we do this? We ensure we have the food we need, a place to live, and strength when we are weak.
Christ cares for His church and provides daily bread. When she is broken, He listens, covers her sin, keeps no record of wrongs, and makes way for her. He does this because we are members of his body. Is it any wonder a man has one wife, not multiple wives? The Apostle Paul goes back to Genesis; The wife is now part of your body just as the church is part of Christ’s body. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Eph 5:31.
“This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.” Eph 5:32–33.
Marriage is God’s design, and His design starts with Christ and is found paralleling his love for the church. The abusive husband should be just as much of an oxymoron as the disrespectful wife. Seeing Jesus in the family means we view our spouse the way the Lord commands us. We are called to have marriages that speak to the world that we belong to the Kingdom of God. Even the best marriages face immense hurdles, yet the grace of God is available to struggling and strong marriages alike.
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Love reading my son pastor writings.
I grew up with him but now I’m a proud Mother and Grandmother with an additional Daughter Seane. My love’s . Keep Strength Loyalty and Loving your Family.