So now that Jesus has been resurrected, where is the body of Christ now? Where does it exist? Each religious group seems to have its own teaching about this – but what do the Scriptures say about the body of Christ?
When Jesus said “Take, eat, this is my body” as recorded in Matthew 26 and “this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me” in Luke 22:19 - the word “body” in the Greek text here is the word “soma” -SO-mah- (G4983 in Strong's Greek Lexicon – meaning flesh or body – whether of an individual or a group of people.)
Another word that Jesus used to describe his physical body is the Greek word “sarx/sarka” -SAR-ka- usually translated as “flesh” (G4561 in Strong's Greek Lexicon) as recorded in John 6:56:
“Whoever eats my flesh (sarka) and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them”.
Another Greek word that will come up often and will be useful in this study of Jesus’ body is the Greek word “artos” -AR-tahs- meaning “bread” (G740 in Strong's Greek Lexicon).
So let’s look at what the Scriptures say about the flesh and body of Jesus and where/what it is today.
Matthew 26:26 Jesus took bread (arton) and broke it and said "Take and eat; this is my body (soma)."
Matthew 27:58-59 Joseph took the body(soma) of Jesus and wrapped it.
Luke 22:19 He took bread (arton), gave thanks and broke it and said this is my body (soma).
John 6:51-56 “I am the living bread (artos). If anyone eats of this bread (artou) he will live forever. And this bread (artos) is my flesh (sarx). Unless you eat the flesh (sarka) of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh (sarka) and drinks my blood has eternal life.
My flesh (sarx) is true food .The person who eats my flesh (sarka) and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”
Romans 12:4-5 In one body (soma) we have many members. We are one body (soma)
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 “Is not the bread (arton) that we break a participation (communion) in the body (soma) of Christ? There is one bread (artos), one body (soma), and a sharing (metechomen) in the one bread (artou)
1 Corinthians 11:23-27 Jesus took bread (arton). "This is my body (soma). As often as you eat this bread (arton), whoever eats the bread (arton) or drinks the cup of the Lord and does not value it, shall be guilty of the body (soma) and the blood of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 the body (soma) is one. All the members being many, are one body (soma) by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body (soma). The body (soma) is not one member, but many.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body (soma) of Christ
Ephesians 1:22-23 the church, which is his body (soma)
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body (soma)
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 “Always carrying about in the body (soma) the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body (soma). So that Jesus's life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh (sarx)
Ephesians 5:29-30 “For no one ever hated his own flesh (sarx). We are members of his flesh (sarx) and of his bones, His body (soma)
Colossians 1:18 Christ is the head of the body (soma), the church”.
Colossians 1:24 In my flesh (sarx) I am filling up what is lacking For the sake of his body (soma), that is, the church”.
Ephesians 4:11-12 for building up the body (soma) of Christ”.
Ephesians 4:15-16 The whole body (soma)..when each part is working properly, makes the body (soma) grow so that it builds itself up in love”.
Question: Based on the Scriptures above, where/what is the body (soma) of Christ today?
Comments