Marriage and Death Undone

There is something special about the timing of the sacrificial love of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church.

Paul teaches us that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it. From this we learn that Christian husbands are to love sacrificially their wives, following Christ as their example.

But the marriage vows taken bind the parties as long as they both shall live. This is meant primarily as a warning against unfaithfulness.

But it is also, sadly, a reminder that every marriage is ended by death. Death destroys marriage, and how tragic to realize that at the beginning of each marriage there is termination of that marriage contemplated.

What grief there comes when the marriage is ended, after so many years of living and loving together. What would have been, had we not fallen in sin in the Garden all those years ago!

Christ and the Sadducees agreed that death ended the marriage, but the Sadducees questioned whether a resurrection would restore that marriage. Christ's answer was No.

Paul makes use of that truth to illustrate our death to the law and judgment in Christ. Even as death frees a woman from marriage to her husband, so our death in Christ frees us from the law of sin and death unto everlasting life in Christ unto righteousness.

The Lord Jesus gave Himself for the Church in a way that no earthly husband can give himself for his wife. A husband cannot free his wife from sin and judgment by laying down his life, because he is a sinner and an imperfect offering for sin.

But Christ laid down His perfect life for His people, thereby saving us for all eternity!

Death does not destroy Christ's marriage to His Church, it begins it!