“…but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal 4:26
Who is this Jerusalem which is above? We find her called “new Jerusalem” in Rev 21:2, and we understand her to be “Jerusalem above” because here she is coming down! Notice what she looks like: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Are we to take that to mean she is a bride or just in some way resembles one? Check out v. 9-10 of the same chapter for clarification: “Then one of the seven angels…talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God…” This new Jerusalem, or heavenly Jerusalem as she’s called in Heb 12:22, is said to be the Lamb’s wife. I hope that leaves little doubt in your mind that this city represents the church, the bride of Christ. To see the church clearly as the bride, read Eph 5:22-32 which instructs us on the proper relationship between husband and wife only to wrap up with this thought: “I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
All of the above was simply to Scripturally prove “Jerusalem above” to be the church so that we might consider the church collectively as the mother of individual believers. We realize God to be our Father, but how often do we think of the church as our mother? With that picture in mind, we begin to understand some of the key functions of the church. One function is that the church is involved in the birthing of children into the kingdom of God through the preaching of the Gospel. Now, I think it’s important to note that this birth takes place only by an act of God. Just as in the natural a woman does not impregnate herself, so the same holds true in the spiritual. The Lord plants the seed of life within the church that results in the new birth. That’s why Jn 3:8 calls the new birth being “born of the Spirit.” Ac 2:47 shows us who’s responsible for the growth of the church: “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Though God is the source of this spiritual life, the church immediately has a responsibility for that new creation that has now been formed within her. There are certain things a woman should and shouldn’t do when pregnant. She may exercise, watch her diet, take certain vitamins, etc. all for the good of that unborn child. Likewise, the church has to pay attention to that which she gives herself to for the health of those babes being birthed within her. And the actual birthing process isn’t easy. There is suffering and work associated with childbirth. In Gal 4:19, Paul said concerning those that had received his Gospel that he was “in the pains of childbirth”. It’s difficult, right ladies? That’s why it’s called labor!
Now, sadly, some churches stop right here. They are focused on birthing only, but what would we think of the natural mother that birthed her child only to abandon it in pursuit of birthing more children? We would call her negligent and unfit for motherhood (and that’s putting it mildly!). There’s far more to being a mother than simply having a baby. In fact, the real work begins after the baby is born! Such is the case for the church. The church is responsible for nurturing God’s children as they mature. She has a responsibility to spiritually sustain them. Remember the Lord’s admonition to Peter if he did indeed love Him in Jn 21:15-17? He didn’t say “birth My sheep,” but He said “feed them!” Our responsibility does not end with the new birth! Just as a mother must feed her children, teach them, discipline them, etc., the church has corresponding responsibilities to the spiritual babies born from her. A good mother puts her life aside for her kids’ sakes. Doesn’t that sound just like 1 Jn 3:16? “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” I’m excited about this topic and hope to share more in the coming weeks.
Jamie