Jesus honours His bride

The best demonstration of honour is that which Jesus shows toward His bride, the church. Ephesians 5:25-27 says "Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle..." This is honour at work. Honour presents people in the way that God sees. It esteems. It builds. It never demeans or shames.


Jesus didn't come to condemn but He came to minister life to sinners. For example, He spoke to the Samaritan woman in terms of what He had to offer her namely "water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) He didn't condemn because of her sin. She received honour or worth that transformed her and not only her but also the men of her city. The gospel of grace builds up. It always honours the worth of people because of the nature of our heavenly Father in whose image we are made. Honour restores because it is the antidote to shame.


Jesus sees His bride as that which will reflect His glory. He sees her clothed with glory and honour. She sees her radiant and beautiful. This was always the Father's valuation of His people. Even when Israel was backslidden, the Father went to extraordinary lengths to affirm His love for her. Hosea, the prophet demonstrated this when he wooed Gomer, the prostitute to himself. Gomer represented the state of Israel's heart but Hosea represented the state of the Father's heart toward Israel.


The heart of Jesus is always to lift up the church. He gave Himself for her. He honours her and covers her. What is our response to the way of honour that Jesus has for His bride? Do we see the church in the same way as Jesus does? How do we speak about her? Jesus took 'the fall' for the church. He "gave Himself for her". Romans 12:10 says "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another." Believers are exhorted to honour one another in the same way that Jesus honours the church. Does our speech cloth one another with honour?


When we are clothed with His grace, honour will manifest. The "washing of water by the word" both prepares and presents the bride as a "glorious church" (Eph.5:26) It is the constant supply and application of the gospel of grace that transforms from "glory to glory". It is grace that makes her presentable. It is grace that grows her into the likeness of Jesus. When Jesus 'washed' the Samaritan woman with "water springing up into eternal life", she was immediately transformed. She received honour and was also empowered to pass honour forward.








This blog is adapted from a message by Ross Smith, Senior Pastor of The Vine Church, called Jesus Honours His bride. The full message can be accessed from the podcast dated 23/11/14 from www.thevine.org.au/teaching.