The Happiness of Christ in His Bride
The second half of Ephesians 5 gives direct instructions to husbands ands wives as to their respective responsibilities to each other. It also offers the setting and purpose of these responsibilities as the great living metaphor of the relationship between Christ and the church. And yet this passage while giving instructions to husbands and wives is not about either of them.
This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32)
Ephesians 5 is about Christ and the church. It is about husbands and wives living forth the image of Christ and the church.
I have grown to love and appreciate verse 28, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” As John Piper has illustrated in his chapter on marriage in Desiring God this means that the happiness of the husband is wrapped up in, even wedded to, his pursuit of the happiness of his wife. I love this truth and have long let it speak to me about my relationship with my wife.
And then comes verse 29, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.” This is the kicker. This is the rising glory to be found in this passage. Here we see Christ forever wedding His own joy in the joy of His bride. And He pursues this joy with all the passion of Song of Songs’ Lover for His Beloved.
Charles Spurgeon in is Morning by Morning (May 14) reflects on this reality this way:
He deems His happiness completed by His people sharing it. “The glory that you have given me I have given to them (John 17:22).” “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11).” The smiles of His Father are all the sweeter to Him because His people share them. The honors of His kingdom are more pleasing because His people appear with Him in glory. More valuable to Him are His conquests since they have taught His people to overcome. He delights in His throne because on it there is a place for them. He rejoices in His royal robes since they cover His people. He delights all the more in His joy because He calls them to enter into it.
Just look at what our God has done! How sure is my joy! My happiness is forever resting on the surety of the eternal bliss of my redeemer.