“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23)

While each of our portraits of Christ have focused on different aspects of His Person and Office, this present portrait takes a  look at His special relationship to and with His Bride, the Church. To say that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church requires a fundamental understanding of what the Church is.

The word “church” is translated from the Greek word “ekklēsia.” This word has the meaning of: an assembly or congregation of people gathered together for a specific purpose, for which they were called together. Hence the church is a ‘called-out assembly.’ Those people joined to Christ have been called together to form a special institution – or body – with the responsibility of fulfilling Christ’s purpose. That Body is the Church.

Thus, the most prominent illustration of the Church is as the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). We are His hands and feet and arms and legs.

In a human body, it is the head that controls the actions of the members. This is what it means for Christ to be the Head of the Church; since He is the Head, He is to be in control of His Body’s actions. No church group should ever act independently of, or contrary to, the direction of Christ, the Head.

But there is another aspect of Christ’s Headship to the Church that we see from our text. Ephesians 5:23 deals primarily with the relationship between a husband and wife. In giving instructions as to the proper relationship of a married couple, Paul gives the example of love between Christ and His Bride, the Church. Husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25). However, special emphasis is given to Christ’s Headship Role as Saviour of His Body (the Church).

In a marriage union the role of family spiritual leader falls to the husband as the representation of Christ. When God created Adam and Eve, they were joined together in a one flesh relationship, but God gave special instruction and responsibility to Adam as the head of their union. It is true that Eve first ate the forbidden fruit, but the sin nature passed to each subsequent generation because Adam was the head of the family of Man and was to be the responsible one. And so, “…by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The Truth of Mankind’s Fall illustrates the need of the Headship of Christ as the Saviour of the Body. In a marriage, a woman is told to submit herself to the headship and spiritual leadership of her husband, who is responsible for her spiritual guidance. In similar fashion, Christ is the Saviour to Whom churches should willingly yield for leadership and control. He is the One who purchased salvation; and our salvation is His Sovereign responsibility. Only God has the power to forgive sin and reconcile us to Himself. This He does as He gathers us into His Body.

There is much significance to the Position of Christ as the Head of the Church Body. A human body is completely useless without the direction of the head. If the Church Body is not following the leadership of Christ, the Head – it too will be without direction and purpose. As the Head, Christ has given direction to the Church. In order to be successful in our purpose as the Body of Christ, we must listen to and obey Christ. He is the Head, and we are His Body, His Bride, His Church. Our purpose is fulfilled in our position in relation to our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.