This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:32

Anna Ruth and I married in 1949 and have lived together as close friends, soul-mates and dedicated lovers for over 67 years!  That is hard to believe, but true.  It is a miracle of love, both divine and human.  I am devoted to her and she to me. That bond is a mystery, indeed.  We have many interests, many relationships, but nothing comes close to our love for one another and our commitment to one another.

Our brother in the Lord, Paul, uses such human bonding to provide an insight into the spiritual, eternal bonding between Christ and the church, often described as a husband/wife relationship.

The mystery of marriage bonding is helpful when we consider our bonding with our Lover, Jesus Christ.  No love is greater than his love for us, the church, the body of Christ on the earth.  He died for us, remember?

Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  That is how we should love our spouse!

This morning, once again, I humbly bow before that mystery, the love of Christ, and breath a prayer of thanksgiving for the fact that I am bonded to Jesus and he to me in a love that is even stronger and more precious and more costly than my love for dear Anna Ruth! To be sure, I am confounded by our love for one another.  But there is a greater mystery, This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

I, and you, are in that!  Let us just praise Him with all our hearts and serve him forever.