Pictures of Jesus in Genesis Page 3

Today we turn the page in our dusty old album and find wedding photos.   The day of the first wedding, ever.  I love a wedding, don’t you? I love the planning and ceremony of a wedding. It’s an important day to the two people who vow to love each thru thick and thin. Marriage is important to God. After all, it was His idea in the first place.  Marriage is important because reflects a picture of God’s character. Or at least it should!

One of the first things we learn about God’s character from looking at marriage is that He is long-suffering. What marriage doesn’t have its ups and down and times of suffering?   But we are called to endure during these times, even if we have to “suffer long.”  Just the same way God endures the things we do, that cause Him grief. God is love…the world should see love when they see a marriage. God is patient. They should see patience. I could go on and on…but I’ll save that for another post…

God created Adam and it was not good for him to be alone.   We need a bride to have a wedding….. So, God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam and took a rib from his side and built him a Bride. There are many places in the New testament where Adam is contrasted with Jesus…but in this story Adam is a picture of Jesus. Adam said when he saw Eve for the first time…

“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.  Therefore shall and man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:23-24

This is a picture of Jesus that we can’t really fully understand without looking back from the New Testament. It is in the New Testament that the full meaning of this passage is made clear.  Ephesians 5:30 “For we are now members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I am speak concerning Christ and the church.    This is almost a direct quote from what Adam said when he was presented with Eve leaving us no doubt it’s a picture we see in Genesis of Jesus and God’s plan for the future.

God put Adam into a deep sleep and took from his side a rib. From that rib he fashioned a woman. When she was fully complete God brought her to Adam. Jesus was put to death and his side was pierced and by the work of the Holt Spirit a bride is being fashioned for Jesus. When the bride is finished we will also be presented to our groom.

Ephesians makes it clear when Paul says:…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he night sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word.  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that it should be holy and without blemish. ….This is the great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the Church. Ephesian 5:25-32

Adam is a perfect picture of Jesus to me. Jesus left his Father’s house to gain a bride at the price of his own life.  Jesus, like Adam, was ‘put to sleep’ to purchase His bride, the Church. He was dead, in the tomb for three days and three nights. Jesus’ side was opened, after he had fallen asleep.  The justifying blood and cleansing water spilled out. And out of that wounded side redemption would bring forth for Him a Bride….the church.

Next week we will see how Adam gave his life to save his bride.