Session 3

Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body

As members of the Body of Christ, our unity comes from being part of a loving arrangement of God’s making, the fulfillment of His dream for mankind…. a family, a Body that is continually being infused by the life and power of Christ who is the Head.

The Aramaic word for “head” is risha and can mean a physical head. When used to represent the head of other things it can mean: 1) beginning or origination, 2) start or starting point in a series, 3) chief or best part, 4) ruler or leader.

Jesus Christ was the firstborn among many brethren and his relationship with His Father marked the beginning of the Father’s relationship with all of His children.

Col 1:18 (MGI): And he is the head of the body, the church, for he is the beginning and the firstborn from the dead in order that he would be the first in all [things].

God placed Jesus Christ in a position of authority over all other authorities, principalities and powers, and gave him a name above all names.

Eph 1:20-23 (MGI): 20 [This is] he who worked in Christ and raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heaven,

21 higher than all rulers and authorities and powers and lordships and higher than every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the coming [one] also.

22 And he subjected everything under his feet and he gave him who is higher than all [to be] the head of the church,

23 which is his body and the fullness of him who is filling all in all.

We are vitally connected to Jesus Christ and to each other by the spirit of God within each of us.

Eph 4:15, 16 (MGI): 15 But we should be steadfast in our love, so that [in] everything we ourselves may grow up in Christ, who is the head.

16 And from him the whole body is fit together and is knit together in all the joints, according to the gift that is given by measure to each member for the growth of the body, that its building up would be accomplished in love.

We are held closely together in love as a Body that grows because of the leadership and nourishing from Jesus Christ.

Col 2:19 (ESV): and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.