I have come with one purpose
To capture for myself a bride
By my life she is lovely
By my death she's justified
I have always been her husband
Though many lovers she has known
So with water i will wash her
And by my word alone
So when you hear the sound of the water
You will know you're not alone
(chorus)
Cause i haven't come for only you
But for my people to pursue
You cannot care for me with no regard for her
If you love me you will love the church
I have long pursued her
As a harlot and a whore
But she will feast upon me
She will drink and thirst no more
So when you taste my flesh and my blood
You will know you're not alone
(chorus)
There is none that can replace her
Though there are many who will try
And though some may be her bridesmaids
They can never be my bride
(chorus) [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/derek_webb/the_church.html ]
Jesus knew that many would come and try to divide the church, "the pillar and foundation of truth", that he established, taking from scripture and oral tradition what they liked, discrediting what they didn't, and running to start a new chucrch. It is quite sad but my hope is that one day we will reunite and be one universal church again.
This is jesus talking saying that the church is his bride. We've all sinned and have "cheated" on him with pleasures of the world. But he still loves us and nothing will ever change that. We will all be pure in the end once we're washed by his blood.