Marriage, A Picture of Christ and His Church

On Monday March 31, 2008 Richard Williams, a dear brother in the Lord passed immediately into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, for there is nothing that separates us from the love of God in Christ, not even death itself. Richard left behind his wife of 55+ years, Mrs. Evelyn Williams, a lovely lady who was loved by her husband. On Thursday I fly, with my wife, to San Clemente California to participate in the renewal of marriage vows for Joe and Lene Tucker at the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary. Joe and Lene were married before coming to faith in Christ and now want to renew their vows in the presence of friends and family for the glory of God in Christ.

As I have reflected on both of these providences this week, one with grief yet hope, and the other with joy, I realize that in both of them God is glorified in Christ. Mrs. Evelyn Williams suffers because her husband, who read God’s Word, prayed with her every morning and every evening, and loved her, is gone from her side. He broke bread with her and washed her in the Word, they lifted their hearts together in prayer before their Lord who welcomed their love and helped them in their time of need. And it was in this marriage that we see Christ and his church as He loves His bride. He nourishes her and cherishes her just as Mr. Richard did for Mrs. Evelyn. However, in Joe and Lene’s renewal there also is Christ and His church. They will renew the vows that God has been gracious to allow them to keep, and yet in those vows there is the picture of Christ and his church. He has entered into covenant love with her by His blood, His resurrection, and His ascension, and now He sits enthroned over His bride to rule over her and bring her into His kingdom forever dressed in robes of righteous glory. Both of these marriages are a picture of Christ and His church.

When God ordained marriage and revealed His will in the garden of Eden He had in his mind Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:22-33). And when Richard and Evelyn remained married “till death do us part” and Joe and Lene repeat those same vows, His will is for His glory to be manifest in the earth as a covenant keeping God who never leaves nor forsakes His people. Mrs. Evelyn’s heart is heavy because Mr. Richard is not there to open the Word and pray with her and love her as Christ loves the church. “For this reason, ever since I heard about your (her) faith in the Lord Jesus and your (her) love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you (her), remembering you (her) in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you (her) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you (she) may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your (her) heart may be enlightened in order that you (she) may know the hope to which he has called you (her), the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:15-19a). Joe remains in the earth for Lene that he may lead her to her glorious Savior and Lord each day that she may find her joy in Him, and in this way God demonstrates to the world His glorious grace in marriage.