The Ultimate One Woman Man

“the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” (v6).

He’s the perfect husband. He’s the example ever other husband is to follow. He’s the ideal. The model. The quintessential. At first this might sound like some sort of Lifetime movie. But this man is the real deal. Jesus is the Ultimate One Woman Man. When Paul gives Titus instructions to look for spiritual leaders with unquestioned integrity, he tells him to check out their lives at home. What’s his marriage like? Is he a faithful husband? Is he a faithful dad? Is he a faithful worshiper of God? In other words, does he look like Jesus? 

He’s the Ultimate One Woman Man.

It’s our man Paul who wrote to his Ephesian friends about this very same idea. When he was teaching believers to “be imitators of God” (Eph 5:1), he had specific instructions for hubbies. Be like Jesus. Imitate the perfect Husband. “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior” (Eph 5:23). That doesn’t so much mean that the husband is the so-called king of his castle. The idea of being the head indicates responsibility and accountability. Just as the Father has placed the church into the protective and loving care of His Son, husbands are called to love their wives in the same way. What does that look like? “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-27). In other words, be her hero in the same way that Jesus came to rescue of His bride. And the man doesn’t just save her once, but continues to care for his bride like Jesus does. “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church” (Eph 5:29). The apostle makes sure that we don’t miss the fact that human marriage is simply a picture of the perfect marriage. “‘The two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Eph 5:31-32). 

Jesus is the Ultimate One Woman Man.

Maybe Christ is the Perfect Husband because He’s married to the perfect wife. Not so much. Not yet anyway. Throughout the OT, God continually finds His future Bride sleeping around (Jer 3:1-3, 6-10; 9:2-3; 13:22-27). If that’s not bad enough, she’s a hooker! Don’t confuse Jesus’ fiancée with Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” (Ezek 16:15-17, 22, 25-26, 28-30). God goes so far as to tell the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute so he’ll know the pain and betrayal of blatant infidelity (Hos 1:2; 2:8-10, 13; 3:1-3; 4:10-12). Jesus is faithful to His bride when she’s sleeping around.

God would certainly have every reason to kick this hot mess to the curb. But He doesn’t. As a matter of fact, He does just the opposite. He goes after her to win her back (Hos 2:14-20, 23). In the ultimate rescue mission, Jesus leaves the unbelievable comforts of heaven to save His bride. It’s impossible to wrap our minds around what He left to come for the one He loves. It’s a dumpster dive of mammoth proportions. What the Son of Man sees is more infidelity. He calls God’s people “an evil and adulterous generation” (Mt 16:4). 

So Jesus is married to anything but the perfect wife. Let’s just say she’s a work in progress. He’s a forever faithful and loving husband. The passage in Ephesians 5 tells us just how Christ loves His bride in very practical ways. In the end, we get invitations to the biggest wedding and reception the universe has ever seen. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:7-9). Talk about a party! Jesus’ best friend John talks about what that ceremony is going to be like. “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband” (Rev 21:2). One of the angels tells John to make sure he takes a good look at Jesus’ gorgeous wife. “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Rev 21:9). The result of this spectacular wedding day has nothing to do with the bride. It has EVERYTHING to do with the Groom.

Jesus is the Ultimate One Woman Man.

Just as Jesus’ marriage is the ultimate example of what the marital relationship should look like, our spiritual leaders should also be very practical models of the same. That’s Paul’s point to Titus. The church desperately needs to know what a healthy marriage looks like. Our elders, pastors, and spiritual leaders should be those models. If you’re in local church leadership, here’s what it DOESN’T mean. You’re NOT married to the church. She is NOT your bride. She’s Jesus’ wife. So don’t sacrifice your marriage and family on the altar the church. Jesus NEVER calls you to do that. He’s already done that for her. 

Jesus is the Ultimate One Woman Man.