Head of the Body

Scripture Reading — Colossians 1:15-20

He is the head of the body, the church. . . .
— Colossians 1:18

My daughter plays percussion for the Des Moines (Iowa) Youth Symphony. As we take our seats for a concert, the warmup sounds like cacophony and chaos. Every musician is doing their own thing as they tune up and warm up.

Then . . . tap-tap-tap. The conductor calls everyone to attention, and everything changes! The mess becomes music. The chaos turns coherent. Every instrument finds its place in the unity of the written score. And beauty results.

The church too has many parts, many “instruments.” Left to ourselves, we naturally do our own thing. We can also be competitive and chaotic, often resembling “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,” without love (1 Corinthians 13:1).

But because we have Jesus as our Head, our Lord and Savior, we can “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16). He directs us with his song.

The picture of Jesus as a conductor doesn’t go far enough, though. A symphony can survive without a conductor. But a body can’t survive, even for a moment, without a head. The head sends the signals that animate and orchestrate every part and every function of the body.

In the same way Jesus, our Head, gives his life to his church. By his Spirit, he transmits to his body forgiveness, righteousness, selflessness, and love. What he gives is more than direction; he gives himself.

Lord Jesus, our Head, make us, as your body, a beautiful symphony for you. May we tune our lives to be in harmony with you always. Amen.

Written by: Lora Copley