Ephesians 5:25–27 — Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Then I linked that to one of the Proverbs I read in Proverbs 12:4 — "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband..." and thought about how Jesus has an excellent wife but only because he has made her excellent - full of splendor!
A cross reference in my Bible to the idea of the wife being the crown of the husband led me to this passage:
Song of Solomon 3:11 — Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.
I started to ponder in what way the church, the bride of Christ, might be a crown upon His head. I thought about the glory He receives through her redemption and sanctification, and how we are at least in part the joy set before Him for which He endured the cross. It does seem that the idea of crowns and weddings go together, and Paul tells us that on “that day”, His bride will be stunning - truly an ornament to reflect the grace and love He has showered upon her!
Matthew Henry had some interesting things to say on the crown in the Song of Solomon passage too:
When believers accept of him as theirs, and join themselves to him in an everlasting covenant, [1.] It is his coronation-day in their souls. Before conversion they were crowning themselves, but then they begin to crown Christ, and continue to do so from that day forward. They appointed him their head; they bring every thought into obedience to him; they set up his throne in their hearts, and cast all their crowns at his feet. [2.] It is the day of his espousals, in which he betroths them to him for ever in lovingkindness and in mercies, joins them to himself in faith and love, and gives himself to them in the promises and all he has, to be theirs. Thou shalt not be for another, so will I also be for thee, Hos. 3:3. And to him they are presented as chaste virgins. [3.] It is the day of the gladness of his heart; he is pleased with the honour that his people do him, pleased with the progress of his interest among them. Does Satan fall before them? In that hour Jesus rejoices in spirit, Lu. 10:18, 21. There is joy in heaven over repenting sinners; the family is glad when the prodigal son returns. Go forth and behold Christ’s grace toward sinners, as his crown, his brightest glory.
Lastly, and a little later on, these verses came to mind:
Philippians 4:1 — Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 — For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
The crown is an emblem of glory and in the context of a wedding, its wearing is accompanied by great joy. Isn't it true that the church is the glory and the joy of Christ? And aren't we who rest in Him a part of the church, his matchless bride?
