Christian Living

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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, death is at work in us, but life in you” (2 Cor. 4:7-12).

Despite all our knowledge and wisdom, despite all our experiences and successes, despite all our evangelism, despite all our good works, and whatever else we may acquire in our Christian journey, our faith lives or dies, shines or pilfers out when suffering enters our lives. It is the great test of genuine faith, the “seed of the martyrs” as Tertullian would say, and one of the most profound avenues of witnessing. Suffering must be central to the Christian faith for the climax of our salvation was the result of seeing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified on the cross. If the greatest suffering of God released this display of such magnificent glory, would this not be the same with our own suffering in the Christian walk?

“Suffering is the greatest witness to the glory and value of Jesus Christ”. I make this statement on the basis of 2 Cor. 4:7-12. Paul describes our faith and hope as a treasure. Throughout the Gospels we are called to not be ashamed to call the gift of Christ a beautiful or desirable gift for it is the mercy, love, and grace of God revealed. But we must also remember that this gift is dressed in undesirable attire, the attire of great suffering. We can’t forget that the gift was dressed in great humility (Jesus born in Bethlehem), normalcy (for he appeared as just another man to anyone around him), and grotesque suffering (the crucifixion). This “attire” would normally perplex the reader and beholder. What treasure could reside in such an ugly package? What we see in Christ is an eternal treasure wrapped up in an ugly, physical packaging. How could God enter and exit our world with such humility and gross suffering? Should not God be dressed in royal robes? Should he not sit with the highest of leaders and magistrates? Should God not stand victorious as ever against the oppressors? Why did God present his treasure in “jars of clay”? Why did God choose crucifixion and suffering as the avenue of salvation?

It really is all very simple. God wanted to humiliate himself by worldly standards to such a degree that the men of this world would have to ask what could be valuable about this treasure. God did not want any of his glory to be attributed to the standards and ideals of this world. Christ’s incarnation is really a way of God comparing what he values to what the world values. And God is pretty much saying that following Christ and His footsteps is of greater value than following the wide path of destruction in the world. Suffering begs the question, “what treasure is gained if suffering is the very loss of value in this world?” Christ’s suffering by worldly standards was a complete loss of power, value, and purpose. Yet, the suffering gained us the eternally valuable gift of salvation. Compared to the valuables of the world, it just simply does not compare. So then, could our suffering be an imitation of this glorious truth, a living parable of the treasure gained in Christ’s suffering? Doesn’t Paul allude to it in this passage? Could it be that in our suffering we are manifesting the glory of Christ?!

The crucifix and furnace of suffering captures the attention of the world every day and in every moment. The news feeds off the stories of suffering; it captures the nations’ attentions. Suffering is the substance of stories, movies, and books. The farmer earns his share through suffering. The worker toils in suffering and distress to gain his paycheck. The patient suffers at the scalpel to be escape disease and death. The athlete suffers to perfect his skill and body. The stock trader suffers every day at the ups and downs of the market. The country suffers at the hands of war to gain freedom. Suffering is one of the penultimate questions and dilemmas of existence and life itself. What is its purpose? It resides everywhere and it’s on our minds every single day, perhaps every single moment. We have to make room for it. We have to be cautious about it. We have to prepare for it. At times we have to inflict it. We have to see it. We have to experience it. In this life we will be afflicted. We will be persecuted. We will be struck down. The question remains though. If we should endure these things how might we endure them without being so utterly confused, driven to despair, forsaken forever or ultimately destroyed? How can we ultimately escape destruction? Can there be anything redeemable about suffering so that it’s not such a waste? Perhaps when we look at Jesus Christ, we can find some answers because the Gospel seems to think we can find something redeemable about suffering.

The crux of the matter is the crucifix of Jesus Christ who endured the perplexity of the Father turning his face from him, the crushing weight of sin, the despair of wrath descending on him, the forsaking of the Father, and the destruction of his body which was sealed in a tomb for three days. In this great moment of suffering and grief which the world and its inhabitants will never understand, suffering and ultimately death was given a purpose… One professor by the name of Shane J. Wood put it this way. He said that “death was re-purposed” by the cross of Jesus Christ. Once death and suffering had no purpose except “un-creation” or destruction, yet through the furnace of suffering, suffering and death was re-purposed to open the way to greater glory and reward, eternal life with the Triune God.

Thus, the greater we suffer, the greater we proclaim with our bodies the glory of a new life and the reality that death is the doorway to eternal life. So we suffer to show that we are “…always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” We are following in the footsteps of our savior who suffered and died and was raised again; and we will suffer and die and be raised again to new life. The Christian faith must give an answer to the suffering in this world! It cannot be a foot note because it surrounds us every day and the Gospel provides this amazing and glorious answer! Do not neglect it! Do not starve others of this astounding truth. Suffering has a purpose, even if we may not see all the details or implications. There is a guarantee that there is a glorious revealing. The suffering highlights what is of utmost value. If we should lose all things in this world, we live as testaments to the greater treasure that awaits us in heaven and even now resides in our heart through the Holy Spirit. Suffering can truly illustrate this reality with startling authenticity and credibility.

The world will ponder and wonder when great suffering assails and attempts to destroy us. All of us, believer and unbeliever will be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down but the unbeliever will look on the believer and wonder why they “… are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” and we can answer that another has suffered more than we ever will and was raised again, a conquering savior that has now paved the way for us. Death indeed has been re-purposed and we can truthfully, honestly, and emphatically say that “…this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal… (2 Cor. 4:17-18). “…Because though we have not seen him, we love him. Though we do not now see him, we believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

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