The Death of Jesus and the Formation of the Church Foreshadowed

Genesis 2:21 “And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: 22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man 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.”

Genesis 2:21 foreshadows Jesus’ death and the hole in his side from the spear wound. According to the gospels Jesus died supernaturally through the power of God which is symbolized by God causing the deep sleep upon Adam. The hole in Adam’s side foreshadows the hole in Jesus’ side from the spear - John 19:33 “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 He who saw it has testified, and his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth, that you also may believe.”

Verses 22-23 foreshadow that ultimately all Christians who are part of the body of Christ believe that Jesus was dead based on the fatal spear wound in his side and that he was resurrected. Thus the faith of all Christians to some extent can be said to come from the gap in Jesus’ side just as Eve came from the rib in the side of Adam. John 20:27 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands. Reach out your hand, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Adam’s missing rib also symbolizes Jesus’ missing apostle, Judas. Humans have twelve rib pairs. Jesus had twelve apostles. Human ribs are moved by the air that a person breathes. The apostles were moved by the Spirit when Jesus breathed on them – John 20:22 “So [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The word “breathed” in this verse is the Greek word “Emphusao” and it was used only once by the Greek translators of the Septuagint in Genesis 2:7 “And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” So Adam losing one of his ribs and gaining his bride symbolically parallels Jesus losing one of his apostles and gaining his bride, the church.

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament