Body of Christ

The term refers both to the physical body of Jesus Christ, which was broken on the cross in order that redemption might be accomplished through him, and to the church.

Jesus Christ's physical body

His birth

John 1:14 See also Romans 1:3; Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 3:16

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

His bodily needs

Matthew 8:24 parallels Mark 4:38, Luke 8:23; Mark 11:12 parallel Matthew 21:18; Luke 4:2 parallel Matthew 4:2; John 4:6, John 19:28

His physical suffering

Matthew 27:26 parallels Mark 15:15, John 19:1 See also Matthew 27:28–30 parallels Mark 15:17–19, John 19:2–3; Luke 22:44

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

His real physical death

John 19:31–37 See also Matthew 27:35 parallels Mark 15:24–25, Luke 23:33, John 19:23; Acts 2:23

It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”

His burial

Mark 15:43–46 parallels Matthew 27:58–60, Luke 23:52–53, John 19:38–42

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so. When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

His physical resurrection

Luke 24:37–43 See also Matthew 28:9; John 20:19–20, John 20:27

But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit. “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see — for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in front of them.

The body of Christ symbolised in the Lord's Supper

Matthew 26:26 parallels Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19 See also John 6:51–58; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 11:23–30

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

The church as the body of Christ

Believers as members of the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27 See also Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:24

Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

Jesus Christ as the head of the body

Colossians 1:18 See also Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 5:23

And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

Jesus Christ's resurrection body is a new temple

John 2:19–22 See also Ephesians 2:19–22

Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Life in the body of Christ

Baptism is into the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:13 See also Galatians 3:27

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

Believers receive spiritual life through the body of Christ

Colossians 2:19 See also 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; Ephesians 4:15–16

He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

Believers care for each other in the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:25–26 See also Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 5:29–30; Colossians 3:15

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Believers have different gifts in the body of Christ

Romans 12:4–5 See also Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Ephesians 4:11–13

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.