A Devotion from Thomas Watson

This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

—Ephesians 5:32

There is a conjugal union between Christ and believers. From that we may draw many

inferences.

See the dignity of all true believers. They are joined in marriage with Christ. There is not

only assimilation but union—they are not only like Christ but one with Christ. When a king

marries a beggar, by virtue of the union she is made of the blood royal. So the godly are divinely

united to Christ, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. By virtue of this sacred union the saints

are given distinction above the angels. Christ is the Lord of the angels but not their husband.

See how rich believers are. They have married into the crown of heaven, and by virtue of

the union all Christ’s riches go to them. Christ communicates his graces, and he communicates

his privileges—justification, glorification. He settles a kingdom on his spouse as her inheritance

(Heb. 12:28). This is a key to the apostle’s riddle, “having nothing, and yet possessing

everything” (2 Cor. 6:10). By virtue of the marriage union, the saints have an interest in all

Christ’s riches.

See how fearful a sin it is to abuse the saints. It is an injury done to Christ, for believers are

spiritually one with him: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). When the body was

wounded, the Head, in heaven, cried out. In this sense, people crucify Christ afresh, because

what is done to his members is done to him. Will a king tolerate having his treasure rifled, his

crown thrown in the dust, his queen beheaded? The saints are the apple of Christ’s eye, and let

those who strike at his eye answer for it.

See the reason why the saints so rejoice in the Word and sacrament, because here they

meet with their husband, Christ. The wife desires to be in the presence of her husband. The

Lord’s Supper is nothing other than a pledge and token of that eternal communion which the

saints will have with Christ in heaven. Then he will take the spouse to his bosom. If Christ is so

sweet in an ordinance, when we have only short glances and dark glimpses of him by faith, oh,

then, how delightful and captivating will his presence be in heaven when we see him face-to-

face and are forever in his loving embraces!