The Gospel of Adam & Eve

ADAM & EVE

The book of Genesis tells us, "God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Scripture then tells us that "the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'"

It seems to me that God chose a very peculiar manner in which to create Adam's bride. Most of us know that God chose to create Eve from Adam's rib. Yet those who were not already familiar with this story might wonder why God did not simply grab another handful of dust, form her from the dust, and then give her the breath of life as well. Whatever the reason ... this is not the course that God chose for Adam.

Instead, Genesis 2:21-22 declares, "So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man."

What may have been God's purpose in ordaining the world's first marriage in such a manner? I would contend that God was painting a beautiful image of the Cross by ordaining this story of Adam and Eve.

God placed Adam into a very deep sleep and wounded his side. From this sinless man's wound, God created a beautiful bride (Eve). Then God raised Adam from his deep sleep, and he presented him with the bride that was created via his wounds. Do you hear the echoes of the Gospel? Adam was completely innocent and sinless, and yet God determined that he should endure a deep wounding for the sake of his bride.

Likewise, God has determined that Jesus must have a bride (the church). We are the fallen seed of sinful parents, and yet God has promised to redeem us from the fate of destruction. Thus, God sent His only begotten Son (another sinless man) into this world to die for our sins. He suffered a vicious death, but His sleep of death was only temporary. As Jesus slept in death, His side was pierced by the Roman's spear, and from this wounding poured forth the blood that would serve to make His beloved bride (the descendants of Adam & Eve) completely new and pure.

Even from the creation of man and woman, God has ordained history to magnify the beauty of His work on the cross. Like Eve, the church of Christ is the bride who was created from the wounding of her Groom.

Because of Adam, humanity fell into sin and death. We were cursed by God to return to the dust. Thankfully, we serve a God who will not leave us to perish as dust. He loves us too much.

Instead, when God provides us with our new eternal bodies, we will not be hastily refashioned merely from the dust of the ground. Instead, like Eve was fashioned from Adam's wounds, God has decided that we should be made radiant and new from the imperishable purity and power of Christ's own blood. What an awesome God and Redeemer!

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 declares, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [or as the Message paraphrase Bible says: 'the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries']. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."