Anytime I start messing around Krazy Glue, I’m in big trouble. First of all, it means I’ve broken something important (probably something that belongs to my wife!). But things get really sticky (pun VERY much intended) when I take the cap off that tiny tube. No matter how careful I am, the glue goes everywhere EXCEPT WHERE I NEED IT TO GO! My hands. The counter. The wall. The dog (Sorry, Spiffy). The only place it’s not is on what I’m trying to fix. Paul says that when Jesus opens up a tube of His supernatural Krazy Glue, He knows exactly how to use it. It’s what He uses to join a husband and wife. It’s what He uses to join Himself to His church. “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (v31-32). These relationships are permanent.
That’s Krazy Glue faith.
Let’s back up just a bit for a little perspective. Paul pops this crazy idea about Krazy Glue faith as he wraps up his picture of human marriage. He’s writing to his friends in Ephesus about what it looks like to be “imitators of God” (Eph 5:1). To “walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). To “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph 5:18). Any discussion of the relationship between a Christ following couple begins with their mutual submission and obedience to Jesus (Eph 5:21). As he paints the picture of human marriage, he continually refers back to the wedding picture of Jesus and His bride. The wife is to lovingly obey and respect her hubby just like the church does Christ (Eph 5:22, 24, 33). The husband is to love his wife in the same sacrificial way that Jesus loves His church (Eph 5:25). Our Savior loves His bride by tenderly giving her everything she needs, nourishing and cherishing her (Eph 5:26-27, 29). The apostle talks about the supernatural union between married couples (Eph 5:28). They are so closely joined that when the man cares for his wife, he actually cares for his own body.
Suddenly Paul flips back the pages of history to drop a quote from Genesis. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (v31; Gen 2:24). Moses, the writer of Genesis, makes this divinely inspired observation just as the first wedding concluded. God had just pronounced them as husband and wife when Mo made this statement about what all matrimony means. The man from Tarsus reaffirms God’s original design for marriage. One man. One woman. One flesh. Intimate. Unbreakable.
The Lord hasn't used paste from preschool to put this together. This is supernatural Super Glue. When the apostle writes “hold fast,” he uses the Greek verb proskallao. It means to glue or cement together permanently, stick to something or fasten firmly. Jesus talked about His spiritual glue that holds married couples together when He busted the Pharisees chops over divorce (Mt 19:5; Mk 10:7). As a matter of fact, He quotes this same verse from Genesis. The only other time we see the term is when Paul’s mentor Gamaliel reminds the Sanhedrin about the time Theudas falsely claimed to be Messiah “and about 400 joined (Gr. proskallao) him” (Acts 5:36).
It’s because of the intimate and permanent nature of the marriage relationship that God has such strong feelings about divorce. It absolutely breaks His heart (Mal 2:14-16). He hates it because it flies in the face of His original design. He hates it because of the horrible pain it causes couples who pull apart what He’s made into one. He hates it because of the damage it does to His image bearers. He doesn’t sanction it but He does begrudgingly allow it (Mt 19:5-9). But let’s be VERY clear. While, God may absolutely abhor divorce, it is NOT the unforgivable sin. If you’re divorced, Jesus is waiting right there with His grace and forgiveness. He’s a much better Savior than I am a sinner. That includes divorce.
Paul goes on to say God’s supernatural Super Glue that sticks husbands and wives together is a picture of something far greater. “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Jesus and the church” (v32). In other words, everything that the apostle has just said about marriage is actually found to be perfectly true in the relationship between Christ and His bride. He uses the term “mystery” (v32). He’s not talking about some sort of complicated puzzle that can’t be solved. The Greek word musterion means some reality hidden in the past that is later revealed. This was a mystery because it was completely unknown until God revealed it through Jesus and the writers of the New Testament. Before the Son of Man made His search and rescue mission to earth, no one had the faintest clue about this deal we call the church. It’s one of the great unfolding revelations throughout the NT. Jesus calls it His and promises to build it (Mt 16:18). First century folks are freaking out about the inclusion of non-Jews into it (Acts 15; Eph 3:4-5). Nobody among the the OT prophets saw this coming. And it’s not just a garden variety secret but something “profound” (v32). This is the word megas. The relationship between Jesus and His bride is a mega-mystery!
Human marriage is a reflection of the beautiful and glorious union between Jesus and His bride, the church. Sadly, marriage between a husband and wife may not be so sticky. But Jesus faithfulness to His bride will never fail. It will never falter. It never waver. Christ is in it for the long haul. He’s in it for eternity. He’s made a covenant commitment to the church that nothing can break. When Jesus says He’s going to do something, you can take that to the bank. We might jack it up. As a matter of fact, we WILL jack it up. But He’s completely and absolutely steadfast in His dedication to His church. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:13).
That’s Krazy Glue Faith.
What a GREAT reminder of the Gospel! We place our trust in the One who’s faith never flinched even at the darkest hour. We place our trust in the One whose faith will never, EVER fail. We place our trust in the One who lived the perfect life when we completely failed. We place our trust in the One who died the death for our sin and disobedience that we certainly should have died. We place our trust in the One who rose to a spectacular new life that we in no way deserve. This is NOT about the strength of my faith. This about the strength of the One in whom I place my faith. Nothing can ever pry me from the love of Christ (Rom 8:38-39). How could it be up to us when “He chose us before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4)? Some smart dudes call this the “preservation of the saints.” It’s where we get the idea of “once saved, always saved.” I prefer to think about it as “IF saved, always saved.” Why in the world would Jesus do it? It’s mega-mystery!
That’s Krazy Glue Faith.
So what do we do with this? We need to understand just how seriously God sees marriage. It’s a big deal. I mean a VERY big deal! He joins brides and grooms together with a supernatural and eternal bond. It’s meant to be permanent. It’s meant to be intimate. To pull it apart is going to cause a lot of pain and damage. And we need to remember that human marriage is a picture of the greatest marriage. Jesus and His church. I bring glory and honor to Christ by honoring my own marriage. I toss mud on the wedding gown Jesus’ bride by treating my marriage with contempt. As husbands and wives, let’s remember the supernatural Super Glue that God has used to put us together. Let’s lean on His Krazy Glue Faith.
So what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Drop a comment below and let's chat.
So what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Drop a comment below and let's chat.
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