As Christ Loved the Church – Eph 5:25

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Ephesians 5:25

It’s perhaps one of the most significant verses speaking of the husband’s role in marriage. Short, yet profound. It can be summed up in a few words, yet it needs far more to fully understand. What does God ask of a husband? It can be said in eight words: love your wife as Christ loved the church. But what does that mean?

As Christ loved the church . . .

He voluntarily gave up his position of privilege to become the lowest of low. In doing so, He demonstrated His completeness of character, his ability to function correctly in any circumstance. All this was done before the Church was there. It was a period of ‘preparation’ for the church.

To be a husband who loves as Christ loved the church then implies a voluntary surrender of privileges in order to provide for his wife. It fully implies that the correct preparation for marriage for a man would be to shoulder the responsibility of sacrifice and servanthood for his future wife before he has even met such a one. It implies the surrender of childish things to become a man – assuming a responsibility for the future family he desires.

As Christ loved the church . . .

Such was Christ’s love that it drove Him all the way to Calvary, again, before the church was even there.

To avoid suffering is ultimately impossible. To be a godly husband requires the voluntary acceptance of suffering, and not only the voluntary, but even the active pursuit of the suffering. Christ could have avoided the suffering, but He chose to engage instead for the sake of the church.

As Christ loved the church . . .

Christ called to many to come and be part of the church, but only few were chosen. What was the difference between the calling and the choosing? The will of those called. Christ’s love never imposes itself, but rather, it calls the individuals to join with Him and everything that He is, but then the silence, as He leaves it to them as to whether they wish to be part or not.

There is no force from the husband. What he is and has to offer is there, but he would not force her to stay.

As Christ loved the church . . .

He gave Himself. The literal interpretation is, ‘He surrendered Himself’.

The man who wishes to be a godly husband must come to grips with the suffering and surrender himself in order for his wife to live. Is it metaphysical or literal? I venture to say it’s both.

As Christ loved the church . . .

Christ made the first move. He acted in faith. He acted with courage, for all those things are the definition of love (1 Co 13, Love hopes all things)

So to the husband is called to show his faith and courage by making the first move.

As Christ loved the church . . .

Ought to be the battle-cry of every Christian man who is either a husband or wishes to be.
It’s the standard to which one strives, the reason for which he ought to die.