The Mega-Mystery

‘The Mega-Mystery’

I. Institution of One Flesh/Marriage

Gen 2:21: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his

ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto

the man.

Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called

Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they

shall be one flesh.

II. Instruction for One Flesh/Marriage

Mat 19:4 And He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the

beginning made them male and female,

Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and

they twain shall be one flesh?

Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.

III. Intimacy of One Flesh/Marriage

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the

Saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in

every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

Eph 5:27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such

thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord

the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they

two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery [Mega-Mystery]: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see

that she reverence [fear] her husband.

Ephesians 5:32 records the only time the word Mystery is modified by the adjective Mega in the entire New Testament. Paul underlines the significance of the one-flesh union between husband and wife by utilizing this compound Greek term showing that God has given a special relationship between a man and his wife when the relationship is conducted in Biblical principle.

This requires the wife to realize her great opportunity of being in the position of servant under the authority of her husband just as the Lord Jesus Christ was Servant to the Father performing His will! Lest this may sound like 21st century male chauvinism, consider the relationship of Sarah and Abraham as described in I Peter 3:4-6:

“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling Him lord[master]: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement [terror].”

Notice:

1. The Attitude of Sarah: Meek and quiet, calling Abraham lord/master

2. The Focus of Sarah: Trusting in God [Her faith was in God as she served God under her husband]

3. The Actions of Sarah: Full submission to God under Abraham’s authority

Sarah exercising the Holy Spirit-filled attitude of meekness put her faith in God knowing that He was responsible for the results. Her trust was in God having experienced the loving leadership of her husband she understood that her attitude and actions were the key to fulfilling the will of God for their lives.

The wife having the position of influence has the greater opportunity for reward by serving God in faith, or serving herself in the flesh. Even though the husband has the position of God-given authority, the wife has the position of influence for as a servant she can make or break the relationship depending on how she decides to respond and conduct her life attitude/actions.