Jesus is Head of the Church
Ephesians 1 is clear that Christ is Head of the Church, yet some people only think Jesus was a good teacher or man. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t allow Jesus’ words to speak for Jesus, resulting in a Jesus caricature. So what qualifies Jesus as Head of the Church?
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15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[a] toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
When reviewing our passage today, the Apostle Paul says something astounding: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.
This isn't isolated to Ephesians either. We also see references in Colossians and 1 Corinthians.
The statement sounds like a simple thought. However, we see people confused by it. Some people think Jesus was merely a great religious teacher who occasionally taught ethics. Some think Jesus was a great prophet. Some religions even teach that Jesus is just one of many gods. We're also aware that an agnostic or atheists think Jesus was only a good man.
However, Scripture affirms that not only did Jesus Christ birth the Church through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the Holy Spirit. But He also sustains her by serving as Head of the Church.
Let Jesus Speak for Jesus
Years ago, I went door to door in my neighborhood to invite people to church. I would enter into conversations with people about the gospel, and I'll never forget one lady's response. She said, "I like going to church occasionally, but I just wish you guys wouldn't make such a big deal about that Jesus thing."
We can understand someone who doesn't have a Christian background saying that but what about within the Church? There's a lot of confusion about who Jesus is.
Unfortunately, some people haven't allowed Jesus' words to let Jesus speak for Jesus. As a pastor, I've moved through many circles over the years. At times, I've heard how people characterize Jesus, which doesn't always align with what we see in Scripture. For example, sometimes people say Jesus is "nice." But when we look up the word "nice," we see it means: pleasant, pleasing, agreeable, and subtle.
Was Jesus being pleasant, pleasing, agreeable, and subtle when He cleansed the temple? What about how He shared about hell more than He did about heaven? Not only did Jesus reference hell more frequently, but He also described it in great detail.
It is a place of eternal torment (Luke 16:23),
Of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43),
Where the worm does not die (Mark 9:48),
Where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret (Matt. 13:42)
From which there is no return, even to warn loved ones (Luke 16:19–31).
A place of "outer darkness" (Matt. 25:30),
Compared it to "Gehenna" (Matt. 10:28), which was a trash dump outside the walls of Jerusalem where rubbish was burned, and maggots abounded.
A Jesus Caricature
Once I was in a circle with United Methodists pastors, and one was leading a devotion. He read the text, then shut his Bible and said, "This was a day when Jesus didn't act very much like Jesus."
We live in an age where people create caricatures and ascribe the identity of our own creation that we place on Jesus. According to a Ligonier Ministries' 2022 State of Theology report, 43% of evangelical Christians in the United States agree with this statement: "Jesus was a great teacher, but He was not God."
To frame that differently, almost half of evangelical Christians in North America reject the doctrine of the incarnation. That is a problem.
We see the power of God through the ministry of Jesus as He quieted storms, cast out demons, forgave sins, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead. The great Methodist missionary E. Stanley Jones once said, "I spent half my time trying to convert the world to Christ, and the other half of my time trying to convert the church to Christ."
What Qualifies Jesus to be Head of the Church?
If Jesus is Head of the Church, what qualifies Him to hold the position? To answer that, we have to establish: Who is Jesus? (READ MORE: Who Is Jesus?)
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
"All things were made through Him ("the Word"), and without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 2:3)
Well, who is "the Word?"
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15)
Why is the word firstborn of significance in that passage? Middle Eastern culture denoted that the firstborn son in any family inherits everything. The author follows that thread; all creation and history will be summed up in the person of Jesus as He inherits His Bride and a new creation. He will reign over all of it. That's what the New Testament teaches.
"For by Him (Jesus), all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
"And He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
That means every atom, proton, neutron, and sub-atomic particle.
"And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church." (Colossians 1:18 a-b)
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He (Jesus) upholds the universe by the word of his power." (Hebrews 1:3)
There is a story of Albert Einstein wandering into the back of a Manhattan church. He sat in the back and listened to the sermon. Before the sermon ended, Einstein left the service. Someone on the street noticed he had slipped out and asked his opinion of the service.
He remarked, "That man in the pulpit could not possibly be seeing what I'm seeing in the heavens because if he were seeing what I'm seeing, he would speak of the Creator with such reverence and deep majesty rather than the casual way He refers to God."
Let us not blaspheme God. Jesus upholds the universe by the Word of His power.
He is Worthy
"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (Hebrews 2:1)
What we see emerging from Scripture is everything exists because of Him, and everything is missing something without Him. Not only something but the central thing that applies true meaning and purpose to all things. That's what was meant in Romans 11:36, "For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen."
No one travels to the Grand Canyon to stand on the edge of all, and it's grandeur to proclaim, "Look at me! Look how wonderful I am!"
We're caught up in the transcendence of His glory and creation. We're to look at his radiance, identity, beauty, and everything He has done. Be reminded that He is the Almighty, Bread of Life, Immanuel, and True Vine.
Because He's worthy, He is worthy of the surrender of your life. He is worthy of your repentance of sin. He is worthy of turning our back on self-centeredness and surrendering to Him. He is worthy because He is Lord.
TL;DR
Ephesians 1 is clear that Jesus Christ is Head of the Church
Some people only think Jesus was a great teacher, prophet or good man. Some religions even teach that Jesus is one of many gods.
Unfortunately, some people haven't allowed Jesus' words to let Jesus speak for Jesus.
43% of evangelical Christians in the United States agree with this statement: "Jesus was a great teacher, but He was not God."
All creation and history will be summed up in the person of Jesus as He inherits His Bride and a new creation.
Related Reading
What is the Church by Rev. Paul Lawler
Who We Are Depends on Whose We Are by Rev. Paul Lawler
Qualities of a Convicted Heart by Bro. Chris Carter
About Christ Church Memphis
Christ Church Memphis is church in East Memphis, Tennessee. For more than 65 years, Christ Church has served the Memphis community. Every weekend, there are multiple worship opportunities including traditional, contemporary and blended services
