… we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Summary: Today’s passage brings us to a place where we consider the body of Christ in a new light. If we are, in fact, the body of Jesus, what should we be doing?
Imagine what it must be like to grow a whole new body!
There is an old joke about a kid that wanted to join a local gang. The test for getting into the gang was a simple one. If you wanted in, you had to run across a busy section of the nearby freeway.
The kid takes off across the road but gets hit by a car. He loses his legs but still wants to be in the gang so he tries again. There is another accident, and another body part is lost. (You can stretch this joke out as long as you want!) Finally, all that is left is his head, but he doesn’t give up. He rolls out onto the road and is hit again. This time he is pronounced dead. The moral of the story (and also the punch line) is “Quit while you’re still ahead (a head).”
Now imagine that you reverse this process. Jesus is the head, and he is killed. Then he is raised to life again, and he wants to grow a new body. But this body is going to be HUGE. It is a body comprised of all who believe in him and acknowledges him as Lord.
What will Jesus do with this body?
As the ‘body of Christ,’ we are a large group. When Jesus ascended to be with his Father two thousand years ago, the body was a mere embryo. Today it is billions strong.
But is it really?
Is the body of Christ healthy or sick? Is it doing what Jesus wants to be doing?
When Jesus was here in the flesh, he did a lot of things. Some were associated with being God in the flesh, such as reprimanding the representatives of God on earth. Some were associated with fulfilling his Word from past centuries. The BIG ONE, of course, was becoming the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb whose blood protects us from death, just as the blood of the lamb did in Egypt when God killed the firstborn of the people of Egypt (Exodus 12: 1-11).
He also healed people, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and taught people about God.
What is the body of Jesus doing today?
Are we waiting or doing?
What will Jesus do?
Application: Pray, listen, and act.
Food for Thought: What do you think the body of Christ is doing today, and what do you think Jesus wants it to be doing?
I know the body of Christ often takes hits that it is not as it should be. We are falling short of the perfect example our Leader set for us. And certainly there is much to repent of on this July 4th weekend.
But if you look at the impact of the church upon the world in modern times, there are some things to celebrate that show Christ is still working through His church. The church has led the way in education (most famous universities were started for the glory of God), health care (many hospitals and relief efforts are born out of a desire to serve in Christ’s name), freedom for the oppressed, missions, money in disaster relief, service is disaster relief, abolition, fighting sex trafficking – so much good is done in the world today due to the church being the church.
Christ wants us to be salt and light, His testimony to the ends of the earth, making disciples of all people, loving Him and others – He made that very clear. We have much today that is short of the glory of Christ and there is apostasy in the church. But I just want to point out that the world is better because of the bride of Christ.
Brother Rich,
Thank you for pointing out the good that the body of Christ is doing. It is refreshing to read words like that. Your comment does two things for me. One, is it reminds me of the good that the body of Christ is doing, and two, it reminds me that there is a BIG difference between the worldly face of the churches and the heart of the church which is the body of Christ.
Amen
02-07-2023, What do you think the body of Christ is doing today, and what do you think Jesus wants it to be doing? What do you think the body of Christ is doing today?
1 Corinthians 12:27, 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Just as Jesus worked through His physical body during His earthly ministry, He now works through His spiritual Body, the Church. Christ is building His Church to fulfill God’s plan for humanity.
My wife and I live on main road, on a corner lot, in a development among many developments in a small city, and every afternoon we go for a long walk among our neighbors and through a large park. Over the past 4 years we have met and visit with a number of couples ( non-believers ) throughout our walk, and some will honk as they drive by and see us working in our yard.
Recently two ladies have required surgery for cancer and are being monitored with possible additional treatments to follow. Recently, one came to our home and I asked her to come to our backyard where may wife was. She was in tears most of our time together, the news was not good and she wanted prayer which we gave her and will be following closely.
Another we saw this week, she and her neighbor were sitting together at the front of her house. She had just received her 2nd surgery and is now hanging in an in uncertainty regarding her future. While the 4 of us were talking, she made an excuse to take my wife aside, and asked her if she and I would come to her home another day so the three of us could talk. We have prayed for her in the past and closed praying for peace and healing from our God.
A man has asked for prayer for his joint replacement surgery when went well, the doctor was impressed with his recovery and today he is doing great.
The body of Christ is being made known and is ministering to this world around us. Our efforts have been to work on our relationship as individual parts of the body is to really make our growth in Christ a priority, live in but not of this world, the difference will be seen, and the Holy Spirit will bring the needy to us. Be alert and prepared to love and minister to all He brings.
Ron,
Thank you, brother, for sharing this beautiful insight into the workings of Christ’s body. Even though we each work independently, we are part of a larger whole. The Word and the Spirit bind us together in Jesus!