The Mystery of Marriage - by James Pruch

When most of us think of "Christian marriage," we think of a marriage between a man and a woman that is, generally, kindhearted and pleasant, filled with fidelity, and a steady diet of church, Bible study, and other Christian activities. 

But is that all marriage is? Ephesians 5:22-33 tells us that God purposefully designed marriage to be a life-action dramatization of how Jesus relates to his church. Certainly that has implications for us! Paul ups the ante for Christian husbands and wives when he tells them what their roles really mean. The husband is to imitate Christ, who died for his Bride. The husbands, then, are to die to themselves by denying the desires and needs that do not benefit their wife. The wife is to imitate the Church, who lovingly adores and submits to Christ, her Husband. The wives, then, are to not play the role of doormat, but should defer ultimate leadership in the home to her husband. After all, any football team knows that two quarterbacks make for divided allegiance.

Marriage then is a picture of a far greater reality. That reality is the gospel. Marriage should be held in high regard, but it is not the ultimate thing. Christ and his Bride is the true marriage, the true matrimonial reality. When we see that the gospel is our true hope for lasting fulfillment, and when we see that relationship with Christ is the only relationship that will truly satisfy, will will then (and only then) pursue this high calling of Christian marriage.