Monday March 7, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Isaiah 24-25
Gen 2:21-22 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam…and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman (NKJV)
In the creation account, God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, God then pierced his side and took a rib in which to create women. This is the first prophetic picture in Scripture of Jesus work on the cross. Then God closed up Adam’s flesh, or healed him, which points to the resurrection. The Father caused Jesus to experience the deep sleep of death by delivering Him up for us all (Rom 8:32), it was through His painful death on the cross that we are saved. This opened the door for us to become the body of Christ, the Church, His Bride. This was God’s plan from the beginning of time, from before the stain of sin. God used this prophetic picture before Adam and Eve even fell into sin. God’s plan for Jesus to die for our sins was established before the foundation of the earth. Eve was brought forth from Adam’s rib, from his body, instead of coming from dirt like Adam and the rest of creation (Gen 2:7, 9). Likewise, Jesus Bride, the Church, comes from His body and death on the cross. Jesus knew, from the beginning of time, that there would be a cost to receiving His Bride, yet He went to the cross willingly. The depth of love He has for His Bride is unfathomable.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time thanking God for His beautiful plan of salvation. Confess that we have taken it for granted.
2. Just as Eve was taken out of Adam, so the Church comes from Jesus body. What does this say about how Jesus feels about you.
3. As Easter is approaching next month, spend some time asking God to prepare you to experience His work on the cross in a new and fresh way this Easter.
