God wanted to present Adam with a beautiful bride, so He caused him to fall into a deep sleep; for Adam was not to feel any pain when his side was being opened. In the state of innocence we would have known no days or sorrow or sadness—a blessed state that will be restored to us in eternal life. God took a rib from Adam’s side and from it formed the beautiful Eve. No sooner did Adam catch sight of her than his heart burned with beautiful, bright love and kindness toward her.
Here we have yet another beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Christian Church.
The Lord Jesus, the Second Adam, also fell into a deep sleep of death on the cross. His side, too, was opened; and from it flowed blood and water, which, it is preached in the Gospel, are distributed in the Sacraments. Christian hearts receive this treasure by faith. Thus the Christian Church is built. Thus our hearts are brought to Christ. Thus we are washed of our sins by the Lord Jesus’ true holy water, and hallowed by His blood. And just as Adam’s heart poured itself out in beautiful love for Eve, so the love of Jesus Christ also burns for our heart.
In the little book of Adam’s heart, our Lord Jesus engraved an image of His goodwill toward our hearts. As Adam was attracted to Eve, even so, and to a far greater extent, Christ is attracted to us, and in the same Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom of our soul, our fairest Treasure, Comfort, and Joy.
Herberger, Valerius The Great Works of God: Parts One and Two: The Mysteries of Christ in the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-15 175