1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-26
When James McConnell, of Southsea, Hampshire, died in 2013 at the age of 70, the nursing home staff thought they would be the more people at his funeral. Little was known of the former Marine who had been at the nursing home. But the local vicar posted an appeal on Facebook and more than 200 strangers attended his funeral. Members of the Royal Marines packed the pews! Some travelled hundreds of miles to the funeral of James McConnell in Portsmouth.
These British compatriots and many others exhibited a biblical truth: we are linked to one another – we are not isolated.
From our text, Paul uses the imagery of the human body as a picture of the family of believers, the church. In Ephesians 1:22–23, the apostle again uses the body to portray the church, but this time with an important addition – Jesus Himself is the Head of that body.
The worst part of human suffering is the feeling of being alone and drowning in the dark all by ourselves. But God has created a new community that suffers together (1 Corinthians 12:26). A new community where no one should be left in the dark.
When the floods of life comes and our strength is tested, may we (the church) remain united.
