The Position of Control (Ephesians 1.22b)

Throughout the last several Bible studies, we’ve been walking through the power of God demonstrated in the life of Jesus. In case you’ve missed them, here are the others in this series to check out:

God’s Indescribable Power – four studies from Ephesians 1.19
Christ’s Sitting Position (Ephesians 1.20)
Far Above (Ephesians 1.21a)
The Name (Ephesians 1.21b)
The Position of Conquest (Ephesians 1.22a)

Paul writes that the power of God reached into death and yanked Jesus from physical death and brought Him into physical life. He then brought Jesus into the heavenly realms and sat Him at the right hand of the Father, far above all else, gave Him a Name above all other names, and placed everything beneath His feet. He goes on in verse 22 and declares:

… and gave Him to be head over all things to the church …

A Little Grammar

If you’ll permit me, I want to walk you through a little grammar, which will open up our understanding of the passage. Note: if you absolutely hate grammar, feel free to jump to the next section. =)

Main Verb — gave (meaning “for the advantage of”)
What was it that God gave? — Jesus (“Him”)
For what purpose? — to be head
Head of what? — over all (the word “things” is not in the original Greek text)
Who did He give Jesus to – for whose advantage? — the church

Thus a literal translation could be: The Father has given Jesus the position of “head” (which is above all) for the benefit and advantage of His body, the church.

Do you see that we, as the Church, have a HUGE advantage and benefit? It is Jesus! He is our advantage because He is risen from the dead, sitting at the right hand of the Father, above every power and dominion, with all things beneath His feet! And that same Jesus, through the Spirit, now lives within us as believers. Talk about an advantage!

There are three ideas that flow out of the concept of Jesus being the “head,” which is our advantage and benefit:

1. Jesus has the authority, dominion, and leadership in my life

The head is the central control unit for the body. You can function without a lot of your body, but it’s impossible to function without your head. It is where the source and flow of life is produced. In a similar manner, Jesus is the central control – the authority, having the leadership – of the body, His Church. The Church absolutely cannot function without Jesus.

There are several passages throughout Scripture that talk about God having the control, authority, and dominion over all things – not just of my life and the Church.

Psalm 145.13: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Daniel 4.3: How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.

1 Peter 4.11: … that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Colossians 2.9-10: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 1.18: And He is the head of the body, the church … that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Is Jesus truly the head – having the dominion, the authority, the control – over your life?

2. Jesus is my provision

Colossians 2.19 says: “… the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

The head is where the provision and nourishment of the body comes from. Moreover, the nature, character, attitude, life, substance of the body is to be identical to that of the head. As a Christian, my character, my nature, my attitude, my life, my substance is to be that of Christ Jesus. Do you see He is all I need? 2 Peter 1.3 says that in Jesus is everything I need for life and Godliness! He is to be my provision.

What is the character, nature, attitude, life, and substance of Jesus?

Galatians 5.21-22 talks about the fruit of the Spirit. They are not some abstract concepts, these describe that character and nature of Jesus. This is who He is. Fruit is the natural outcome of a healthy tree, in this case, one that is grounded and filled with the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Philippians 2.5-8 talks about the mind/attitude/nature of Christ, using the language that He made Himself of no reputation, He is a servant, humble, obedient, and He bled, suffered, and died.

These same characteristics of who He is will show themselves in my life if I am a Christian because He is the head (the provision, the flow, the substance) of my life.

3. Jesus is my source of blessing

It is interesting that throughout Scripture one of the symbolisms for the head is blessing. When someone was going to bless another, they would lay their hand upon the other’s head or they would anoint it with oil.

If Jesus is our head, to you see that He is also our blessing! He is our favor, our reward, our portion, our glory, our joy, our protection, our support, our advantage, our benefit!

Would you allow Jesus to be the head over your life today?

Question: which of the three concepts of Jesus being the head excites you the most and why? Answer in the comments section.