… and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
Summary: The church that is the body of Christ has grown considerably since Jesus ascended into heaven.
In the two days following the crucifixion of Jesus, the “church” was a small group of men and women who were terrified. Their leader, Jesus, had just been hauled in by the authorities, given a show trial, tortured, and publicly executed. They were scared.
After the third day, the “church” was the same small group of people. They were still frightened, but something was changing. Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb and people reported seeing him… alive.
Sometime after Jesus’ crucifixion and before he ascended into heaven, he was seen by more than five hundred people (1 Corinthians 15:6). It is very likely that these people were believers, and if they were, then the “church” at that time numbered around five to seven hundred people.
On Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover and forty-nine days after Jesus was executed, the Holy Spirit comes in power. The disciples are literally “on fire” for the Lord! (Acts 2:3) The Bible reports that “about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41) Allowing for family members and households that would have been carried along with this wave of converts, it is reasonable to guess that the size of the church less than two months after Jesus’ death on the cross was between four and ten thousand people.
During the months following Pentecost, Peter and the disciples were declaring Jesus to everyone who would listen. Well, to be precise, to all the Jews who would listen. Yet it wasn’t long before Peter was called to the house of a Gentile in response to a vision from God. The Holy Spirit came upon these Gentiles and Jesus’ church expanded again. By now thousands more believed and had been baptized and now the mission field had expanded to include the Gentile world as well as the Jews.
During these early months and years of the church’s existence, there were no denominations. Instead, there was only the church body. The Greek word for church is ekklēsia. The word itself is an interesting study. In essence, it refers to a group of people called out of their homes to meet together. The ekklēsia were led by faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Some estimates suggest the church today includes more than two billion people.* It is impossible to know because we cannot know the heart as Jesus does. It may be much more or much less. The church itself is divided by names and traditions we call denominations, which casts a shadow on the “complete unity” that Jesus said would be the hallmark of his followers (John 17:23).
The one thing we do know, absolutely and without any doubt, is that Jesus is “head over everything for the church.”
Application: Trust Jesus. He’s got this.
Food for Thought: How does a human’s head exercise control over the physical body? Is there a spiritual parallel?
I had to really think about the first part of today’s question. How does a human’s head exercise control over the physical body? The answer that comes to mind is that 1) our brains are hard-wired into our bodies, so that our impulses react to our surroundings 2) and that we learn to focus our energies to control (physically) our bodies through experience and the nurturing of those in our lives.
Is there a spiritual parallel? You bettcha’!
God created us, our spiritual side, as well as our physical side. Like our physical side, our spiritual side reacts to our surroundings, we need to learn to focus to control our spiritual side, but that true focus only comes through the nurturing of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Chris,
I love it when people have to think!! 🙂
Very well said! I especially like the parallel with learning to be aware of our spiritual surroundings. Very important!
The body responds to what the head tells it to do. The body submits to the head.
The body that is the church of Christ submits to Him as the head and responds in obedience. At least, that is what we are called to do and what we do when we obey the direction of our Head.
The head also unifies the body. The head is what organizes every movement and every part of the body as a unified whole. Christ can be that for the church if we let Him lead. Colossians 2: 8 – 10.
Thanks Rich!
Excellent!! Yes, the head is what draws us all together, gives us our purpose, and provides direction. Much appreciated!
03-21-2023, How does a human’s head exercise control over the physical body? Is there a spiritual parallel?
Well Stated Above!
A man named Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs, which he believed every human must pass through in a specific order to reach self actualization and transcendence. ]
The military teach we all have fight, flight, freeze survival responses to outward stimuli, and seek to train a force that will consistently choose fight over flight or freeze.
As Believers we become members of the body of Christ on earth. He is the Head. Colossians 1:2-19
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
The true church of Christ is a body of believers united in their submission to Jesus Christ as the One and Only Head of His Church.
Thank you, Ron!
Your words give us a different perspective on the church and the importance of relying solely on our Lord.
It’s possible we all worship our Lord in different buildings, but our hearts are united in Christ.
Ron