Forming the Bride

I have been under the knife more times than a man of my age should. I’ve had bone spurs removed on multiple occasions. I’ve had a splenectomy, various bone repairs, lots of mouth work and metal put in and taken out.

I remember around the time of my very first surgery people were telling me that coming out of it would be funny. I would act weird and say crazy things. In more recent years you can look up video’s online a see people coming out of anesthesia in very fun and humorous ways.

The funny think is, that’s never been me. I’ve never woken up goofy, or at least goofier than I already am. I’ve never been anything more than very aware of my surroundings and fully in my mind.

You may have a different waking up experience than me and that’s okay. Kati was put under once and I wish I has recorded it. It was very humorous.

But aside from waking up, the one thing that is always the goal of going under the knife is that something is going to be done to you to make you better. In the world, it doesn’t always work that way, but that is the goal.

Today we are going to discuss the very first surgery in all of human history and we are going to talk about marriage. Not something you immediately think of going hand in hand, but there are some wow moments in our study today. At least when I was going through these passages I had some wow moments. Just remember that when I come up here and teach something, there is a good chance I’ve just learned it recently myself. Today is one of those days.

Our reading today was from the last book of the Bible and pretty close to the last chapter, matter of fact. And of course when dealing with John’s vision in the Book of Revelation we have to wise and humble in it’s interpretation. Some is easier some is harder. Thank fully today we go with easier.

Revelation 19:6–8 (ESV)

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

In this text we are given a pretty straight foreward bullet list

God Almighty Reigns

Okay, we know that. There is no one higher than God

The Lamb is getting married

Now, if this is the only Bible verse you’ve ever read in your life, you’d be confused. But most of us probably know who the Lamb is.

Jesus is getting married.

Jesus is getting married, and to whom is he getting married. Don’t spoil for those who don’t know.

and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure

The Bride is ready, and here is a neat note. it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen.

This was not her own effort, someone else did the work to get the Bride the fine linens. The bride just gets to wear the best clothes.

Now, I’ve never been a bride. But I do know that when women go shopping for dresses they often have to look at the price tag when looking and they find the dress they love within their budget. But I’ve also seen enough photos of women trying on dresses outside of their price range. Dresses they would love to wear, but can’t.

Here in Revelation Jesus provides the very best for his bride at no cost to the bride. He paid it all and did it all.

The linens also carry the characteristics of the deeds of the saints.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

A Christian or a saint if you will ,can’t do a single good work without Jesus. Every good work you do is thanks to Jesus being your God and King.

So the wedding garment is as pure as it is because of Jesus and his work, in his life, on the cross and beyond.

So, who is the Bride?

The Church is the Bride

Anyone who is a follower of Jesus is the Bride of Christ. When we get to this point in eternity, those who are followers of Jesus will become the Bride. Yes, us too men. But it’s not the same kind of marriage between a man and woman, but between God and his creation.

Now, that’s the last marriage. What about the first marriage. Open up to Genesis 2 and let’s see what the first marriage looked liked.

While you are finding Genesis 2 I’m going to read a bit from John 19 for some future context. John 19:31-37

John 19:31–37 (ESV)

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Alright, good keep that in mind as we look at Genesis 2 and make note of John 19:34 as it’s important to what we’re about to review.

Now that we are all at Genesis 2 look back a few verses to Gen 1:27

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We talked about this last week that man had three really special things about his creation.

Man was made in the image of God Man was formed from the dust of the earth Man was given life from the breath of God

No other living thing was made in his image and no other living thing was given life through his breath. We are special unique, and loved.

On to Chapter 2. In chapter 1 we see the broad overview of creation. God created all the things and then rested from creating. Every thing that has been created from nothing has been created. there will be no more creating until the new heaven and new earth. But what Chapter 2 does is shows us how he created man. Check it out.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

We saw this verse last week, but there is more to the forming of man than this verse.

Genesis 2:18 ESV

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

עֵ֫זֶר

This is the word ezer. It seems I’m getting into the habit of teaching you one Hebrew word a week. I’ll see if I can keep that up.

This is the word we translate helper. God said it wasn’t good for man to be alone so he decided to make a helper for him. This word we translate helper means to assist and be there to help. And often times help means to be strong where the other is weak. God made for Adam someone to be strong with him. To help him. But how was this helper made?

Genesis 2:20 ESV

The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

After Adam does his first job. A little side note, the oldest profession on the earth for a human is taxonomy, the naming of things. Don’t let anyone else tell you different.

Taxonomy

And there was not found for him a suitable helper. Now, I know almost everyone here has a dog. And dogs are great. They are man’s best friend. But they are not a suitable helper in all things. So now we come to the very first surgical procedure.

Genesis 2:21 (ESV)

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man,

A deep sleep fell upon Adam. In other words, he got knocked out. And that’s a god thing too, because there is about to be an extraction. The neat thing about this deep sleep is that we will cover it again later in Genesis 15 when God makes his covenant with Abraham. This is no ordinary sleep. If I’m taking a nap and Kaia jumps on me, I’m not going to be asleep anymore. Or if someone jabs me in the side, I’m going to wake up.

This deep sleep is more akin to being mostly dead. Nothing is going to wake you up.

Adam does not wake up, but this is what happens.

Genesis 2:21 (ESV)

and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.

This is a surgical procedure. Instead of God forming from the dirt another person, he opened up Adam and removed a piece of him and then closed him up.

I talked about my wow moment earlier. Right here at this moment in scripture, when God opened Adam’s side. Adam was a perfect sinless human being. Maybe write that down. Adam was a perfect sinless human being. Then his rib was removed and this happened.

Genesis 2:22 ESV

And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

And from Adam’s perfect rib was formed his bride. Adam gave of himself to form a bride, and not just any bride a perfect spotless bride.

Now, we know they don’t stay that way. But right here in this moment Perfect Adam gave of himself and Perfect Eve was made. If you were wondering at all why John 19 was part of our study today, I bet you aren’t anymore.

Jesus is the only human being to ever walk the earth and never sin. It does help that he is also God, but he is also fully human. And in John 19 he was nailed to a cross and died for the sins of mankind and remember the verse I said to write down John 19:34

John 19:34 ESV

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

Upon his death, and remember Jesus often calls death, sleep. So one could say in this moment of deep sleep, Jesus’s side is pierced and he gives of himself to make his bride.

So many people, Christian’s even say the Old Testament is the old news. That we don’t need it. We just need Jesus. And while it is true we just need Jesus. Quick show of hands. Who understands what Jesus did on the cross a little better because of this passage. It’s okay if you don’t, we’ll get there. But I know when I was studying this, it was like fireworks going off in my head. It was mind blowing to me and I’ve read Genesis 2 probably 500 times and never made the connection.

Jesus is often called the second Adam

1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Adam had a hand in creating his bride. And the job of his bride was helper. T be strong where he is weak. Or to be along side him in his life. Now, Adam did fall short, he sinned, as did Eve. Therefore we too are tainted with their sin and our own.

But Jesus, on the cross, shed his blood and created the Bride of Christ. And what is the job of the Bride. To be a help to the groom in his work.

Jesus spent his ministry on earth sharing the gospel and telling people of eternal life. As the Bride of Christ it is our job to continue that mission. And believe it or not. It all started in Genesis 2.

To sum up. God created Man in his image, from the dust of the earth, breathed life into him. Then he knocked the man out opened up his side, removed a rib, and from out of the man he created a bride to help him in his work.

Then the creator of the universe took flesh upon himself, came to earth and lived the sinless life Adam failed at. Died on the cross, had his side pierced and from his wounds made it possible for us to become his bride and helper to bring the gospel to all that we meet. And that is another picture of Jesus in the Old Testament. Let’s pray.