The Wonder of Adam’s Wounded Side

“In the beginning” John opens his Gospel with a quote from the first verse in the Bible. [1] Like the third verse of the Bible, John speaks of God bringing light into the darkness. [2]

After God created the first Adam, He concluded: “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Even for One as perfect as Jesus, once He took upon Himself a truly human nature, He must have a bride. John the Baptist recognized this and rejoiced that he had heard the voice of the Bridegroom. [3] The new Adam (Jesus) had come, and He was seeking His bride.

God said of the first Adam, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Later in the Bible, He says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her.” He adds, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” [4]

The second Adam (Jesus) finds His bride after the similitude of the first Adam. He receives her from the hand of God the Father. The first Adam received his bride after receiving a wound to his side…

“And 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. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And 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.” [5]

Although Adam was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God wounded him deeply, piercing his side. Out of Adam’s bloody side God took that substance from which He created the woman for the man. God then healed Adam of his wound, and awakened him from sleep, whereupon He presented to Adam the woman in all her purity and beauty.

God the Father brought upon His Son the sleep of death. Although Jesus was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God permitted His side to be pierced by a Roman spear. Out of Jesus’ side poured forth water and blood, the blood for the bride’s purchase, the water for her purification…

“One of the soldiers pierced His [Jesus’] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” [6]

God then healed Jesus of His wound, and awakened Him from the sleep of death, whereupon God will one day present to Jesus His bride in all her purity and beauty...

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The Heavenly New Jerusalem is a reference to the Church. [7]

In the wounding of the first Adam, we find a type of the second Adam: Christ. Just as Eve would always know the love of Adam by the scar he carried on his side, so we, as the bride of Christ, will one day recognize the scar on the side of the One who loves us. Like Thomas, we too have our doubts dissolve when we are invited to touch the One whose side was wounded so deeply…

Then He [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” [8]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for providing a bride for humankind in Eve and for providing a bride for Your Divine Son Jesus Christ in us the Church. We, the Church, were brought forth because of Your love. Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us as One who loves she who was taken from His own flesh.”

[1] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[2] Genesis 1:3, John 1:5
[3] Genesis 2:18, John 3:29
[4] Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:24, 31-32
[5] Genesis 2:21-23
[6] John 19:34
[7] Revelation 21:2, Hebrews 12:22
[8] John 20:27