And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. —Colossians 1:18
There can be no doubt that Jesus is the head of the Church. Just as the husband heads up his family, Christ leads, covers and protects His body. As we’ve been learning, Jesus set gifts of anointing and authority in the Church with the purpose of building up and edifying each and every one of us. The offices we are talking about are those of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. Each one of these was given and established to perfect us so we can be brought into the unity of the faith and prepared for the work of the ministry.
Jesus didn’t select these offices randomly. He knew exactly which offices would be required to help us reach His goal. Jesus was familiar with each and every position of authority because He stood and operated perfectly in all five offices. Although there have been men who have had the anointing of many of the offices operate through them, there has never been a man who walked in all five gifts throughout his lifetime. Jesus was the only one.
We know Jesus was a teacher. He is not only given this title by the Word of God, but men in His day addressed Him as “Rabbi,” which literally means teacher. As a matter of fact, the crowds were amazed by His teaching because, unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus taught with power and authority like they had never experienced. Jesus stood in and flawlessly fulfilled the office of a teacher.
Additionally, Jesus is called the apostle of our faith. The Greek word for “apostle” means “sent one.” Now that Jesus has received all authority in heaven and earth, we are all commissioned to go and to spread the gospel with signs following, but that doesn’t make us apostles. Simply being sent doesn’t qualify us for this title, but being sent by God specifically with a word or message from Him does. Jesus was sent by God with the purpose of preaching the good news and becoming a sacrifice for the redemption of our lives. Jesus still stands in the office of an apostle and we should honor Him as such.
Time and time again, Jesus looked into the lives of men and women and told them things that only God would know. Yet that’s not what established Him as a prophet. Jesus brought divine clarity to things of the past and He spoke with one hundred percent accuracy of things that were yet to come. He prophesied His death, burial and resurrection. These things, as well as countless others, all came to pass. Jesus is the greatest prophet who ever walked the earth.
Jesus’ whole life was consumed with sharing the message of hope and redemption. He preached to the rich, the poor and everyone in between. This preaching demonstrates Jesus’ administration of the ministry of the evangelist. Whether He was speaking in the temple courts or on the streets, He made it clear that He was sent for that purpose.
Finally, as the chief shepherd who watches over His sheep, Jesus stands in the office of a pastor. You may not enjoy being likened to a sheep, but I don’t mind. If Jesus is watching over me, I wouldn’t care if He called me a dog. We can rest in His covering and guidance. He leads us to green pastures and still waters of peace. Because He is our shepherd, we shall not want.
As the head of the Church, Jesus establishes men and women of God in each of the five ministry offices. Because He has fulfilled each of these positions of administration, He is perfectly qualified to appoint and oversee these leaders of the body of Christ. Thank God that the One who is in charge of the Church operates perfectly in every ministry office!
Scriptural Context Colossians 1:15-23
Concept Reinforcement He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." —John 3:2
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. —Hebrews 3:1
“About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” —Luke 24:19
But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” —Luke 4:43
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” —John 10:14-15
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —1 Peter 2:2
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