The Church Jesus Built: Part 2

Part 2: Metaphors Connecting Jesus and His Church

In addition to the New Testament characteristics of the church, there are also several metaphors, or word pictures, that help describe the relationship between Jesus and His church. These metaphors help express the church’s value in dynamic and relatable ways so that Christian and seeker alike can make sense of how Jesus and Bible writers view people like us.

A King and Servants

For many of us, the idea of kingship is foreign to our political reality. The idea of someone having total authority may even be off putting. As Christians, however, we are Christ’s servants, and He is our king. The king offers protection, peace and justice in the realm. Servants give allegiance, honor and obedience to their king. The Bible says:

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). 

A Shepherd and Sheep

A second metaphor to be considered may also not enjoy widespread personal experience. Not many of us are shepherds in these modern times. We can, however, observe the relationship between shepherd and sheep. The shepherd protects, guides, and cares for the sheep. The sheep likewise, enjoy the peace and bounty of the pasture under the careful watch of the shepherd. Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them,” (John 10:11-12).

A Head and Body

Jesus and His church are like a head and a body. The head provides direction and purpose for the body. The body fulfills the will and desire of the head. Without the head, the body cannot survive. Likewise, the church cannot survive without the headship of Jesus. Paul taught that the members of the church (Christians) are the members of the body of Christ. As members of the body, Christians receive nourishment, direction, and purpose from our head: Jesus Christ.

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18). Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually (1 Corinthians 12:27).

A Husband and Wife

The relationship between a husband and wife is a significant metaphor used to help us understand Jesus and His church. This relationship, based on mutual love and respect, is a testament to what Jesus desires with His people. Paul explained to the Corinthian church that he was preparing them to be a bride for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2). He continued this picture into married life:

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,” (see Ephesians 5:22-33).

The final book in the Bible, Revelation, likewise compares the church to the bride of Christ. In beautifully descriptive imagery, the writer says:

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:7-8).

In Review: The Value of Jesus’ Church

The Scriptures explain how we have been called out of the world and into God’s spiritual family. The Bible likewise paints beautiful pictures that show how valuable the church is to Jesus. The series memory verses are as follows:

Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).