One Flesh

21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23And 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.” 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2: 21 -24 NKJV

The discussion this week centered around a verse in Genesis 2.  Particularly Genesis chapter 2.  It is that moment when God acts upon His own earlier realization that it was "Not good for man to be alone."  Up to this point, it had just been God and Adam in the garden, now the neighbors were moving in.  As Adam slept, God took a part of him to create a companion suitable for him.  I can imagine Adams surprise when God brought her before him.  It is the very same surprise every man to this day feels in the presence of a woman he seeks a relationship with.  It is no surprise, then, that many men have had many a embarrassing moment when first intorduced to...her.  I find Adams reaction interesting in the fact that he must have been aware of Eves human presence, as he immediately declares her "Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."  He obviously must have sensed a companionship with Eve to react this way.  Now, one of the main subjects of our discussion this week came from the last part of this passage in Genesis.  As the writer proclaims "They shall become on flesh."  One flesh?  Now, I was initialy a bit confused about the deeper meaning of this passage but perhaps it is not as hard to grasp as I thought.  As Dennis mentioned this week, I believe that we can certainly look upon our relationships with our spouses in the same way as the relationship between Christ and the Father.  For as Jesus proclaimed that He certainly knew the will of His Father, so do a husband and wife reach that point in their marriage relationship where both seem to know what the other is feeling or even thinking at any given moment in time.  A husband and wife may certainly learn to read each other like a book.  Beyond just intimacy, this relationship is one of oneness...a union of the two which God has brought together.

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?"
John 14: 5 - 9 NKJV

In John 14, we see in the words of Jesus a perfect example of the "One flesh" example in Genesis 2.  His disciples waver and doubt.  Clearly, Jesus has often told them that if they had seen them that they had seen the Father as well.  However, obviously it didn't click with a few of His followers as Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. As usual, Jesus' response should have been enough for anyone listening.  As He tells His disciples, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."  Now, it is common christian knowledge that Jesus carries the title Son of God.  In fact, scripture tells us that God sent us His only begotten Son that the world might be saved through Him {John 3:16-17}.  But God and Jesus as one?

14in whom we have redemption dthrough His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossions 1: 14 - 17 NKJV

It is in Colossions that the apostle Paul confirms the words of Christ.  For Jesus is the very image of our invisible God.  He and the Father are one.  It is God Himself who came to dwell among us in the form of a man.  It is through Christ that we see God expressed.  Have you ever noticed the interaction of a married couple who have been together for some time?  I have been blessed with the opportunity to see this union relationship in a select few of my brothers.  These are not relationships of mere convenience.  One does not overshadow the other, but both benefit from being in union with the other.  They are no longer seperate lives, but one flesh in union with one another.

~Scott~