Journey of the Word

When you’re not sure how to put together what you know about a body, you draw pictures. Stick figures work wonderfully.

First, the head. The head is Christ.

 . . . and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body . . . 1:22

. . . we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ . . . 4:15

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body . . . 5:23

Next, we have some specifics about parts of the body. The parts are held together by joints. And they kinda need to work properly in order to grow. More on that later.

 . . . from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow . . . 4:16

Important thing about the feet. God put all things under Jesus’ feet. All things.

 And he put all things under his feet . . . 1:22

So, about the body . . .

The body is the church.

. . . and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body . . . 1:22-23

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body . . . 5:23

. . . but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body . . . 5:29-30

This includes Jews and Gentiles. Things were kinda divided at first. But then, thanks to the head, all became one body.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision . . . remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise . . . But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace . . . that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross . . . So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God . . . 2:11-19

. . . Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body . . . 3:6

There is one body . . . 4:4

And this body is the fullness of the head. The head fills the body.

. . . which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 1:23

. . . until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 4:13

Now for an aspect on how the head and the body relate. Get this. The head actually saves the body. And the head presents the body to the head.

. . . Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 5:23

. . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her . . . so that he might present the church to himself in splendor. 5:25-27

One last thing. The body grows into the head. On its own. Via love.

. . . speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 4:15-16

{All passages from Ephesians}

[image credit: journeyoftheword.com]