Gnostic heresy purports the marriage of Jesus to Mary of Magdala. Gnostics allege Mary had a “koinos” or defiled relationship with Jesus. Dan Brown in his novel, “The Da Vinci Code” indeed asserted Jesus had a biological offspring. Now you know why Apostle John was said to have fled a bathhouse almost naked when he learnt that a chief proponent of Gnosticism, Cerinthus was inside the bathhouse. He believed the building would collapse from the wrath of God. The Bible never records Jesus married. Neither is there record of any offspring, or of any dalliance with Mary Magdalene. It’s all a satanic figment of imagination.
Many attempts have been made to answer the question of why Jesus never married. The answers in the main are from a human perspective. Some say for example, that Jesus didn’t marry because he knew he couldn’t be a dedicated husband. That on account of his commitment to ministry. In support, they cite the example of Paul who refused to marry. The man was all over the place, constantly travelling, in and out of trouble. The problem with the Paul analogy is that there were many married apostles. Peter was married. The Bible mentioned his mother-in-law. (Matthew 8:14-15) James the brother of our Lord was also married. Other apostles too. (1 Corinthians 9:5) Paul seemed to imply he didn’t marry because he didn’t have emotional capacity to be a husband, God didn’t give him that gift. (1 Corinthians 7:7)
Some others say Jesus deliberately refused to marry because he knew he would die young, and so didn’t want to leave a young widow behind. He died at 33. But the humanist consideration of the matrimonial disposition of Jesus obscures his divinity, and that’s a major flaw in perspective. Listen to Paul on the issue: “At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How different we know him now!” (2 Corinthians 5:16) We can’t successfully explore our subject matter therefore, without giving credence to the divinity of Jesus. He wasn’t just a man. He was God who clothed himself with the rags of humanity.
Jesus manifested as a man for three primary reasons: One, he needed to acquire blood for the programme of atonement. (Romans 3:25) Blood must be shed for the remission of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) God is a spirit, he has no blood. Spirits don’t possess blood, even if some Nollywood movies show spirits with blood. Two, Jesus had to come as a man to face all the tests we face and understand our weaknesses. Then he can be a merciful High Priest. (Hebrews 4:15) We boldly approach the throne of grace to receive mercy because of his priesthood. (Hebrews 4:16) The third reason God manifested in the flesh was to pick up the Adamic title. Jesus is the Last Adam. As the Son of Man he had delegated authority on earth, just like Adam. (John 5:27) As the Son of Man he had contingent authority to spiritually remedy the mistakes of the first Adam. It’s why he said the Son of Man came to save the lost (Matthew 18:11); that he has authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). Those were provisional powers until the atonement was executed.
The first Adam was a primary channel of the human race. An Adam is a primary channel and source code. It’s why Adam could channel death into the human race: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people, no one being able to stop it or escape its power…” (Romans 5:12 AMP) Everyone dies because we all belong to Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:22) Therefore the first Adam was a death-dealing spirit, whereas the Last Adam was a life-giving spirit: “For the sin of this one MAN, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through THIS OTHER MAN, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15) Jesus put humanity back in alignment with God: “Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (Romans 5:18)
The incarnation therefore had a strategic purpose but it wasn’t his essence. The REAL Jesus is the one described in the Book of Revelation: “Then I saw Heaven open wide – and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that’s known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked in blood, and he is addressed as “Word of God.” The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16 MSG)
The first Adam married but the Last Adam did not marry in the sense we ordinarily know marriage. But he was married! (Revelation 19:7-9) The Bible says he has a bride – the Church. (Revelations 19:7-9, 21:9) And so both the first Adam and the Last Adam were married, one physically the other spiritually. Throughout scriptures we see juxtaposition of the two Adamic marriages: “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church. He gave up his life for her… (Ephesians 5:25) “Husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies…No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the Church.” (Ephesians 5:28-29)
Now, the Lamb (Christ) was slain before the world was made! (Revelation 13:8) I know that timeline doesn’t make sense but spiritual timelines are not linear. They’re more like closed time-like curves in Physicists speak. By that principle you can arrive from a journey before you’ve even commenced the journey! If you’re interested in time travel you’ve probably heard about this. Reality is bizarre! The laws of Physics outside space-time are even more bizarre.
Since marriage of the Lamb was consummated by his death, it follows Christ was married to the Church as it were before the foundation of the world. (Spiritual timeline, remember?) The Church became the body of Christ by virtue of his death. Indeed the Bible says God chose him as our ransom before the world even began! (1 Peter 1:20) Jesus was destined to die for us and marry the Church before man was created in effect. So Christ was ALREADY married BEFORE he stepped into human body as Jesus. In fact the reason the first Adam married is because the Last Adam was married spiritually. The Bible says, “Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.” (Romans 5:14) Adam’s marriage was pointing to the marriage of the Christ. And so the intent of marriage is deeper than we think.
Marriage is a signifier of powerful spiritual principles. Truth is, marriage as we ordinarily know it is totally limited to this realm. There are no marriages in heaven, no married couples. Jesus said so. (Mark 12:25) The only subsisting marriage in Heaven is the marriage of the Lamb.
The essence of marriage is signification of “oneness” or spiritual unity. ‘As the scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a GREAT MYSTERY, but it is an ILLUSTRATION of the way Christ and the Church are one.” (Ephesians 5:31) In other words, marriage is nothing but an illustration of the oneness of Christ and the Church. That’s the essence of marriage though it serves other earthly purposes. Marriage is an illustration of the oneness of Christ and his Church. It’s why marriage is based on love and sacrifice. Christ loved and sacrificed for his bride.
But the question then arises, why are marriages pointing to Christ? The answer is, because everything is about him! The entire Bible is about him, from Genesis to Revelation. Revelation is the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:2) All of creation is about him. Everything was created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16) He’s the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8) He must have preeminence in everything. (Colossians 1:18) Therefore his marriage cannot point to Adam’s marriage, which is what it will be if Jesus married. Adam’s marriage must illustrate HIS marriage. Or the spiritual law of the primacy of Christ will be violated. Jesus could therefore not marry.
If you’ll like to give your life to Jesus, please pray this prayer: Father I acknowledge that I am a sinner, that Jesus died for me, that you raised him from the dead. Father please forgive me. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and my Saviour. Amen.
© #Illuminare Leke Alder | talk2me@lekealder.com
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