(12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (18) But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (19) And if they were all one member, where were the body? (20) But now are they many members, yet but one body. (21) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (22) Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (23) And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (24) For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: (25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The Apostle here enters upon that beautiful illustration, which he had all along in view, to shew the oneness of Christ and his Church, and which he explains by the similitude of the human body. For, as the human frame, made up of an infinite number of parts, is, after all, but one complete whole; so is Christ's mystical body. Christ's Church is but one. Though some of his members are in heaven, and some on earth, and some yet unborn; yet the whole forms but one and the same complete body. So Jesus himself declares, Song of Solomon 6:9. And it is a sweet thought. Wherever any of his members are, whether in Heaven or earth, born or unborn, they must be equally dear to Jesus; being equally the gift of his Father, equally betrothed before all worlds by the Son, Hosea 2:19-20, and equally redeemed during the time-state of the Church upon earth, and equally the objects of the regenerating grace of God the Holy Ghost.
And this precious truth is read to us very blessedly, by what the Apostle hath here said, in relation to the equality of baptism, by which all are baptized by one Spirit into one body. Not water baptism, but by one Spirit. Numbers may be baptized in water, (and it is to be feared there are), who were never baptized by the Spirit: witness Simon Magus, Acts 8:9-24. And numbers may be baptized by the Holy Ghost, who never were baptized in water, witness the Thief on the Cross. In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, Galatians 6:15. Oh! for that sweet promise of Jesus which he gave to his disciples, to be my daily mercy, of being baptized with the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:5
How very beautiful the Apostle hath set forth the different parts of the human frame, by way of representing the different members of Christ's mystical body? It is really blessed to see, what an analogy there is, between the body corporal, and the body spiritual; and which by the way, becomes a proof, that both is produced by the same Almighty Architect and Builder.
First: the body is not, as the Apostle saith, one member, but many. It is made up of many and various parts, all beautiful in their various offices and characters, all equally useful in their several purposes and designs; and all ministering alike in their respective situations, and circumstances, to the general welfare of the whole. Now such is the mystical body of Christ. The body of Christ, his Church, is not one member, but many. There are some great, some small, some of larger abilities, some smaller, some weak, some strong; some more wise, others less so. But the humblest, as well as the greatest, is alike necessary, to form the body complete : neither would the body be complete, if the smallest, and apparently the most inconsiderable member was wanting.
And secondly: The highest cannot reproach the lowest, as if useless. The foot cannot say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body. Neither can either tell another that he hath no need of him. So, in like manner, the humblest of Christ's members are as important in their apparently lesser offices, as the highest and the best. The Lord, the Maker, hath tempered all, to make all minister in the department to which the Lord hath appointed them, and all to act in the station the Lord hath marked, to their mutual happiness, and to his glory.
And thirdly: What endears the whole and makes the whole truly blessed is, that as the Lord is the Maker of all, hath by his infinite wisdom appointed all, and by his power governs all; so all are equally dear to Him whose all they are, and from whom all receive what they all are, and act only when graciously conducted, to promote the ends for which they are created and made; his glory, and their happiness. And this is the very purpose of Christ's Church. This people (saith the Lord) I have formed for myself, they shall shew forth any praise, Isaiah 43:21. Reader! do not pass away from this beautiful illustration by the Apostle, which he makes, from the wise and gracious order the Lord hath formed, in compounding the human frame as a body; without gathering from it, what the Holy Ghost by the Apostle evidently intended from the similitude, in explaining the yet far higher order in his ordination of the spiritual frame of the mystical members of Christ. All united to the One glorious Head, and every member deriving life, action, and influence, from Him, while sweetly ordered and governed by his unerring wisdom and love, they are supposed to be mutually ministering to His praise and their comfort. In the joy of one member, all partake. In the affliction of one, all sympathize. For as in the human frame, if the hand or arm be crushed, the whole body feels: so in the spiritual frame, the sufferings of any of Christ's members calls forth the fellow-feeling of the whole Church. Reader! is it so with you? Do you take part in the exercises of Christ's little ones? Do you rejoice in Zion's welfare, or mourn with them that mourn? Isaiah 62:1; Psalms 139:1 throughout.