Jesus The Ecclesiologist

Ecclesiology: n, the study of churches/theology as applied to the nature and structure of Christian churches


Ecclesiologist: n, someone who engages in the above.


Jesus: proper n, The central figure of the Christian religion and the founder of the church.


Having pointed out these definitions, we should probably think about what Jesus might say about the nature and structure of the Church. It might be reasonable to see what Jesus said explicitly to his followers (for that is who the Church is comprised of) about the nature of their mission. As to structure, Jesus was not particularly clear, beyond commissioning the 12 and sending out men and women at various points in the Gospel narratives to proclaim the message of the Gospel of the kingdom.


So what does Jesus say about Church?


If we claimed Jesus could be an ecclesiologist, what would he say, what would his model of church be like?


I think Mark 16:14-20 gives us a snapshot. Some of it Jesus words, some of it accounts of the response to those words. Both, I think, are valid, radical, and can show us what church could be like.

"Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe; in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs."

This passage is rich, fresh, and radical.


So what would a church based on Jesus teaching here (As a facet of it!) look like?


I think it would be a church where truth is valued, where miracles happen, and where the gospel is central.


I think it would be a church where people are respected.


I think it would be a church that would change the world.


I think it would be a church that would cause the gates of Hell to tremble, demons to fear, and Jesus' name to become famous universally.


Its interesting to note what Jesus does. He rebukes the eleven (Judas by this point was absent), for their hardness of heart. They had ignored the witnesses to the resurrection - the women. Does the modern church ignore women at its peril? Not to commit the potential errors of extreme feminism, but instead listening to the views and wisdom of half the human race, whose numbers included the original witnesses to Jesus resurrection? Then Jesus spoke. He has admonished his followers - now he gives them a radical commission. It's a commission that fundamentally underlines the importance of the Gospel.


From the mouth of Jesus.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned"

Thats pretty clear. We cannot contextualise and relevant-ise away the truth of that distinction. Jesus knew the Gospel - and he knew the stakes. He was clear - and so should the church be clear - of the necessity of trusting Jesus. 


But there's more. This saved community, this group of followers, will be doing some amazing things. Radical things. Miraculous things. Supernatural things. Its easy to see here Jesus foretelling by implication the amazing events of the first pentecost, but also challenging his followers through the ages to seek his power. In his name. That's pretty awkward. But its clearly what Jesus taught. How can we pursue it?


Verses 19 and 20 are brilliant. Matter of fact miracles. Its simple writing - with radical truth. Jesus went up to heaven - to be with God, at his right hand. For those who know their Bibles and Christianese, he's interceding for us at the Right Hand of the Father. That is a big deal. The disciples, Jesus' followers, the first church planters/leaders/missionaries went out. Preached. EVERYWHERE. And the Lord - that's Jesus, through the power and presence of his Holy Spirit - worked with them. Confirmed the message. Accompanying signs blew peoples minds. This is no small thing. There is a connection between preaching truth and seeing something amazing happen. From the greatest miracle, the Resurrection, we can see daily the great miracle of personal salvation, repentance and following Jesus - and occasionally, really, see other miracles. Signs of the coming, unstoppable kingdom.


The kind of Church Jesus envisages here is radical. Truthful. Spirit-filled. Clear. Global.


Do we let Jesus down with our small view of the church? Do we compromise on truth? Or compromise on proclamation? Or compromise in seeking signs in Jesus name?


Jesus invented Church...