20160406 Wednesday, April 6 2016
Mark 10: Who Did God Choose As The Messiah's Wife?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father ... the elect lady and her children ... the bride, the Lamb's wife ... I speak concerning Christ and the church"

The Church of God is a specifically-stated Biblical term, not merely (i.e. necessarily) any man-made organization of the present day with "church of God" in its corporate name i.e. "20:28 ... the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own Blood" (Acts 20:28 KJV).

From the Church of God - those conceived by the Holy Spirit unto repentance and conversion - will be born the children of God (see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?).

From that reality, the Church of God is the betrothed "bride of Christ": "21:9 ... I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9 KJV).

The apostle Paul plainly stated that ultimate meaning and purpose of marriage with "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

"5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:25-32 KJV)

The apostle John also spoke directly of it while addressing a congregation of the Church of God as "the elect lady and her children."

"1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 1:2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us [see Written In The Heart Of Our Tabernacles], and shall be with us for ever.

1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ [see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour], the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments [see Works Means Obedience]. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." (2 John 1:4-6 KJV)

So it was then that the Messiah's teachings and answers about physical marriage were ultimately about the eternal life to come. Human marriages end, one way or another (see Why Are Christians Called Brothers And Sisters?), but the family of God will be forever (see the Fact Finder question below).

"10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." (Mark 10:1-12 KJV)

So too, the Messiah's teachings about children looked beyond to their potential as children of God: "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

"10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-16 KJV)

The lesson about the rich man who put more value upon his mortal life than his eternal life was a lesson about foolishness. And so too again, the application of the children of God prophecy to the lesson: "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

"10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." (Mark 10:17-31 KJV)

But before the children of God may be truly "born again" at that future time, the Messiah must, as stated above, have fulfilled "the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own Blood."

"10:32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.

And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 10:33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 10:34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Mark 10:32-34 KJV)

The apostles began as disciples, which means students. As such, they needed correction in matters of this world, versus the eternal world to come. Notice once again, the Messiah was sent to carry out the tasks that the Father sent Him to do, according to the Father's Will: "But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared" (see Who Sits At The Right Hand Of God?).

"10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

10:39 And they said unto him, We can.

And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:35-45 KJV)

The healings from physical blindness were wonderful for the one healed, but their healing from spiritual blindness accompanied it because faith was a part of the healing (see Paul's Blindness Lesson).

"10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

10:49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." (Mark 10:46-52 KJV)

Fact Finder: When was the Church of God born? When will it have accomplished its purpose?
See What's The Expiration Date Of The Church? and the 6-study series (the links to all are in each one) beginning with The Church In The Garden