Our Human Body system is indeed a mystery. As per “The Terminologica Anatomica List” (Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology, 1998) there are

over 7,500 named parts or organs of the human body which act together to perform a function or functions. It is really wonderful to see how different organs of the body, such as the head, the nose, the ears, the eyes, the hands, the feet etc. work together as one living orgasm. The medical explanations of the different functions of the five vital organs i.e., our brain, the heart, the kidneys, the liver and lungs are amazing. The analogy of the human body to explain the functions of the Church as the body of Jesus Christ helps us to delve into the mystery of the Church life.

In the Bible, the Church (I.e., the believers in Christ) has been described as the body of Christ and Christ as the head of the body.

“Christ is the head of the Church.”  Eph 5:23

“And he is the savior of the body”

“Head over all things to the Church.” Eph 1:22

“He is the head of the body, the Church.” Col 1:18

“Which is his body?”  Eph 1:23; 4:12

           Believers are the members of one body (Eph 4:25). Paul is here emphasizing what the theologians call as the “Totus Christus” which means “The whole Christ”, embracing Jesus as the Head and His redeemed people as the members of his own body.

          “ For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body, being many are one body, so also is Christ.” 1Corinthians 12:12

               As such the Church (the believers) must give expression of the thoughts, words and actions of the ONE who is the Head. The Church as the body of Christ seems to be quite a mystical idea. But what is that led Paul to formulate this theme? Certainly, it was his encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Road. True, he had been playing havoc with the Christians. Jesus asked him, “Why do you persecute me?” Paul (Saul) did not persecute Jesus physically since Jesus was already risen from the dead and taken up to heaven. But why did Jesus question him like that? This was a new revelation for Paul. He came to realize something of the mystical union that bound the Christians and their Lord which is inseparable. This wonderful truth (Acts 22:7; 9:4, 5) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit produced his marvelous theme of oneness in the Body of Christ, i.e., the Church. It is therefore, the Church represents one body, one mind, one soul, one baptism, one Spirit, one blood circulation, one nervous system and one heart.

Paul’s analysis of the function of the Church under the illustration of a living human body is remarkable one. There is only one body but many members with different functions such as the foot, the hand, the ear, the eye etc. Every member of the body, however small it may be, is very unique and vital part of one single body. Missing of one part or damage of one part means the body is incomplete. Their functions are never equal but they work for the edification of the whole body. This wonderful analogy of the living human body describes the reality of the Church life as the body of Christ. Each member of the Church is a living organ without which the Church cannot function as a living Church.

See Church

Name of the Author of this article: Dr. Surya Kumar Daimari, MA,M.Ed, PGDTE,D.Min.(Doctor of Ministry)
The author is a freelance writer.
Book published: The Names of the Believers in the Bible in Types and Symbols .
https://outskirtspress.com/thenamesofthebelieversinthebible