There are a few similarities between Jesus and Adam, as well as a few contrasts. For example, both appeared on the earth in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 1Corinthians 4:4). Later, the Lord put Adam into a deep sleep (Genesis 2:21-22), but we aren’t told how long that was. Consequently, God made the woman and brought her out of Adam, and she became the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). Jesus, also, was put into a deep sleep for three days and three nights (crucified and buried), after which he was raised alive. Fifty days later, the Woman, vis-à-vis the Church; Acts 2:1-4, was brought out of Jesus, and she became the mother of us all, vis-à-vis believers (Galatians 4:26).
Adam claimed the woman was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23), meaning she was derived from him and, essentially, his equal. He called her ishah or “womb-man” or “she-man,” vis-à-vis of ish/man’s kind, not of the animal kingdom. As for the Church, the text says, we are of Christ’s Spirit (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9), having divine nature (2Peter 1:4). In other words, we are of Christ, Christians, Christ-men (cp. John 3:6), a new creation (1Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15), not of this world (John 17:16).
Concerning the contrasts, Adam lied to the woman, she believed the lie, and, together, and they rebelled against God. On the other hand, Jesus speaks the truth, unveiled the way to God and offered his woman, vis-à-vis the disciples/the church, eternal life (John 14:6). Through Adam, rebellion entered the world and, through rebellion, death, but eternal life comes through Jesus (Romans 5:12, 17; 1Corinthians 15:22).
Adam was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and the New Covenant text says Jesus, as Messiah, was the image of God (2Corinthians 4:4). As images, who do we reflect? Well, Jesus claimed he came down out of heaven from God (John 6:38; 16:27). He had been with God (John 1:1), more specifically in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), but he set that form aside to become man (Philippians 2:6-7). Later, John described God as Light (1John 1:5), and Paul described Jesus as the only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords, saying only he has immortality, dwelling in the Light that no man can approach or see (1Timothy 6:15-16; cp. John 1:18). In other words, the Son of God dwells in the Light (God), and he came out from God to the earth to become flesh (John 1:14). So, the Messiah, is the express image of this (Hebrews 1:3). Being the image of God, he brought the woman (the church) out of himself (cp. Genesis 1:27; 2:21-22). Consider the parallels: Jesus came out from God, the woman came out from Adam, the church came out from Jesus.
If Jesus and the Father are equal, then there is no hierarchy within the Godhead, so why does the Church believe there is one between the man and the woman? Who or what are we imaging? Consider that before he became flesh, the Son of God was equal with the Father (Philippians 2:6), and, when he returned to him, he returned to his former position of authority (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 22:1), so there can’t be a hierarchy in the Godhead. To believe otherwise, would be to say God is schizophrenic, but God is one, and always has been (Deuteronomy 6:4). Mankind was created in the image of God and was considered ‘one’ flesh (Genesis 2:24).
On the other hand, one may counter with: “If Jesus is the Image of God, how could Jesus and the Church be equal? Isn’t there a hierarchy there?” No, not according to the scriptures! But, how can Jesus and the Church be equal? Consider that God became man by becoming flesh. In other words, as flesh, Jesus also shared in the divine nature. That is, while he no longer had the form of God, he was still the same Person who set that form aside to become flesh. Jesus was God made flesh (John 1:1, 14). Keeping in mind that, just as the woman was brought out of the man and was of his kind, so the Church is of Christ, Christian, Christ-men, flesh with divine nature (2Peter 1:4). In other words, we are as he is in this world (1John 3:1-2). Moreover, we have been invited by Jesus to sit with him on his Messianic throne, showing we have the same God-given authority in this world that Jesus had, while he was on earth (Revelation 3:21).
This, however, does not mean we are equal with God, for the Messianic throne is not the throne of God, and the Son of God sits on both the Messianic throne and the throne of God (Revelation 3:21; 22:1). With Jesus as the Messiah, we share in his authority in this world, but as the One who is God, we are in submission to him. This is how Adam originally was, and it is as Jesus was throughout his life on earth (Philippians 2:8). Therefore, we are like Jesus, in that, although we are flesh, we have his Spirit and his nature. In other words, as he was on earth, so are we in this world—he was flesh with divine nature, and so are believers. However, God is Spirit, God is Love and God is Light. We may image this, but we are not God’s equal.
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