Marriage is one of the ways by which God shows His love for all men. The Bible uses a marriage relationship between a man and a woman to explain to us how much Christ loves us. I cannot agree with this more.
Ephesians 5:25-30 tells us how Christ loved us.
"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body."
That passage, friends, is more than just a message for husbands. It's a message to the church.
What Marriage Teaches Us about Christ's Love for Us
We find in that passage several truths that are important for us to remember and put to heart.
First, we find there that Christ didn't simply die so that our sins would be forgiven and God's wrath be satisfied. He actually died so that He could make us "holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word." He died so that we could be clean and acceptable enough for God to make us His very own children.
Second, Christ gave His life so that He could have us for Himself. To "present [us] to himself" simply means that He desired us. He wanted us, like how a lover pursues his beloved.
Third, He wants us spotless, blemish-free and blameless. Sure, we're a flawed and imperfect people, but Christ knows that – and is willing to work in us to bring us to perfection until His return, the time when He will take us with Him. (see Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28)
Unfathomable Love
Knowing that He loved us enough to die for our sake is quite amazing, right? Actually, His love goes far deeper and more intense than words can put on paper. Let me explain.
I am a husband myself, and I can attest to the fact that marriage sure is hard work. Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. That is no simple command. In fact, it's quite impossible, and only Christ can enable any husband to do that.
Can I love my wife to the point of dying for her sake? Can I perfectly stop my mouth from saying harmful words that will hurt her and make her feel unloved? Can I focus my attention on her all the time, not giving any attention to other people and things as we live?
To be honest, that's how Christ loved us, and more. I found it hard to deny my comforts, but He denied Himself to save me. I find it hard to serve my wife at times, but Christ served me by taking my place on that cross. I might say that I'm doing a good job at loving my wife, but in all honesty I know I fail and give her reasons to cry. Christ, however, hasn't failed and will never ever fail to love me at any time.
As a husband working my way to loving my wife the way He loved me, I know His love is so great, too great that it's hard to completely imitate by myself. Great thing is that He is with me, in me, and will help me do that. (see Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; Romans 8:10)
Not just me, but you, too. His love truly is unfathomable.
