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1B. The Head in the Mystical Body 
The Power behind the Mystical Body is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit unceasingly animates the Body of Christ. Christians can uniquely say, "Immanuel" or "God is with us" for God's invisible presence moves within the personal Body of Christ. This indwelling in the individual remains the one absolute difference between Christianity and every other faith system. No other religion dares to claim that their God lives inside them! The Holy Spirit is not only alongside but within the Body of Christ today. The presence of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is the one essential element at every level in the Body of Christ. An angry mob in a Western Province of China pursued a missionary who escaped by leaping into the river. A friend later asked, "What verse from the Bible came to your mind as you were fleeing from the spears of that murderous mob?" "Verse?", the missionary replied in surprise, "Why, the Lord himself was with me!"
The Head
As the head of the Body of Christ, Jesus himself guides and directs individual Christians. He works to mature followers in and through their lives of prayer, study and action. As in a human body, the head in the Mystical Body affects what the Christian thinks, hears, says and does. "God requires only one thing of his cells," comments Paul Brand, "that each person be loyal to the head." An Early Church creed agrees by saying, "Jesus is Lord." This is total and utter control by the Head.
The Head Takes Control
The Head takes control of the Mystical Body at its many levels. An individual personal Body of Christ is guided by the God who dwells in his or her human frame. In the Household Body, united by common faith, Jesus combines many individuals' gifts and skills to powerfully influence the world. In the Corporate Body, the Head orchestrates a multitude of parts to produce intricate harmonies of praise and witness. Across the globe, Jesus in himself smooths out denominational differences and brings unity between different races and colors. In the Heavenly courts, paved with shiny gold, Jesus is the focus of worship from all the members of his eternal Body. The Mystical Body extends back in time to The Creation and forward to Jesus' triumphant Return. When two or three people pray together or three thousand sing together or countless millions worship around the throne of God in Heaven, they are bound together by the Head. Every emanation of the Body of Christ is controlled by Jesus, the Head.
Christ is the One and Only Head
Christ is the one and only Head in the Mystical Body. The Mystical Body residing in the church does not belong to its clergy, leaders or even congregations, for Jesus Christ describes the church as "my church"(4). Though some "Rectors" would like to be "rulers," (which is what the Old English word means), the Mystical Body does not allow a hierarchical or even democratic government. No one person, whether bishop or elder, can rule over the Mystical Body and no elected lay representative can govern her. Only Christ can rule his Body. Woe betide any individual who seeks to lead God's church without listening to and obeying Jesus Christ, the Head!
Body Parts
Like a human head, Christ directs every single one of the Body parts. The limbs flex by virtue of a network of tendons, muscles and the nervous system connections but only when the brain says so. Every heartbeat and breath is orchestrated by Jesus the Head in the Mystical Body. No one part of the Mystical Body is more important than any other. Though the various individual segments may be amazing in themselves, like an intricate hand or a focusing eye, Jesus as Head empowers each one not because they are superior but because they belong. There are no janitors and no chief executives in the Body of Christ. All are unique and special, not because of what they do, but because they are obedient to the Head. The Head lights up all their gifts irrespective of gender, age or ability for the Body's good. Paul writes, "we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ"(5). You and I find ourselves when Christ the Head takes control of us.
The Transforming Power of the Christ Head
Christians know the transforming power of the Christ Head.
Miserably depressed after His humiliating death, the Apostles and disciples miraculously revive at Pentecost into an ecstatic, fearless and dynamic community. Jesus' energy as the brain of the Mystical Body, soars through all those he connects with. Paul explains, "God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body"(6). Because the kingly head of the body is also her brain, loyal citizens obey him and are transfigured by that relationship.
Question for Discussion
1. How is Jesus the head of the Body of Christ?
Notes
(4) Matthew 16.18. (5) Ephesians 4.15. (6) Ephesians 1.22.
"We are living members of his mystical body"
