Jesus was speaking to his disciples the night before his death. He was leaving them but not leaving them alone. They would go through harsh times for the Gospel. In the setting of the Passover meal, Jesus reminds them they are to remain connected to Him. A husband must also remain connected to the Lord spiritually to continue to be the priest of his home. His first role of husband is to wash his wife with the word of God. If he is abiding with the Lord, then he is teaching not so much from the mouth but from the heart as the Word of the Lord has instructed him first.
 I have been in vineyards directly after the workers have trimmed the branches back for the winter. The old branches lay on the ground to be destroyed. However, those branches, which were closely connected to the main vine, would remain. They would be the foundation vines for next year’s crop. They may have been pruned back to make next year’s wine more flavorful, but they were still connected. Likewise, husbands willing to endure the trimming back in their lives will find the fruit of their marriage more fruitful and sweeter.
Couples may go through tough times and disagreements, but if they will remain committed (read connected) to the Lord, then they will find it much easier to remain committed (read married) to the other person. (End of Chapter 1)