When Paul wrote his epistle to the Church of Ephesus, he mentioned a passage of scripture found in Genesis, where God first formed the woman.  He actually quotes what has become a famous statement used in the marriage ceremony, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh" (Eph. 5:31; Gen. 2:24).  What is interesting is the fact that Paul went on to say, "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Eph. 5:32).

            Somehow, the mystery of God taking a rib from Adam's side to make Eve reveals far more to us than what one might expect.  And since this is the case, then we must assume that the other verses he used, in this same epistle, have more to say to us than just what occurred in the Garden of Eden.  Notice how he states this: "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (vs. 30).  This is a quote from Genesis where Adam said, "...this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh..." (Gen. 2:23), and yet we see, it is referring to us being members of Christ's body. 

            To get the full import of this mystery, we have to go back to when God first formed man. In Genesis chapter one, it tells us that on the sixth day of creation God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Gen. 1:26).  Later down, in this same chapter, he says, "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good" (vs. 31).  However, when you come over into the second chapter, you find these words: "And the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen. 2:18).  We know from the Book of Hebrews, that Jesus was the express image of God's person (Heb. 1:3).  We also know that when Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, God spoke out of heaven and said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17).  In other words, just as Adam was the image of God, and God was pleased with him in creation, Jesus was the image of God, and he too was pleasing in God's sight.

Now here is the part of the mystery that is so astounding: God said it was not good that man should be alone, so he took from his side a rib and formed the Woman.  In John chapter twelve (Jesus speaking of himself) it reads, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone..." (John 12:24).  Both individuals (Adam and Christ), were perfect in every way, yet they were alone.  Just as God took Adam and caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and then took out of his side a rib to form Eve, he also caused a deep sleep to fall upon Christ (which is what happened on the cross - death often being symbolized as being asleep - John 11:11-14; Acts 7:60), and took from him that which was to form the Church, the body of Christ - his bride to be. 

            This is a wonderful revelation, but what we often miss in its parallel is the fact that when God took of Adam a rib and formed the woman, he added, "...and he closed up the flesh thereof" (Gen. 2:21). The Hebrew meaning for "closed up" is CAGAR, which being interpreted, means to shut up or surrender, and is often used to describe that which is pure, such as pure gold (1 Kings 6:20). In other words, when God took out of Adam that which was to form Eve, he then did something to shut up his flesh or a better way of saying it was to purify his body.  Doesn't the Bible teach us "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all" (Heb 10:10). And that, "Both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one" (Heb 2:11)? Not only did Christ's death make us one, just as Adam and Eve were made one, but it was a means by which God could sanctify his own body - the church!

            You say, "What does all this have to do with unlocking our potential?"  If you continue to read the second part of John chapter twelve, where it says, "...except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone," you will find the answer.  For it goes on to say, "...but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24).  When we are willing to give of ourselves to help others become what they were destined to be, then we remove the hindrance of the flesh so we can be more fruitful.  Things will remain locked up inside us until we are willing to lay down our lives for others.  When our vision becomes making others what they can be, then it releases our full potential to be what we can be.