Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Colossians1:24
There are some things that Jesus and Paul say really challenge me! Like:
- "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."
- "Forgive seventy times seven..."
- and this comment by Paul...
We're a society that avoids suffering and sees it as an intruding aberration. We would like to have a go-straight-to-heaven-don't-go-through-suffering pass. But suffering is part and parcel of humanity's journey.
What suffering is Paul rejoicing in? Is it his own suffering or Christ's? And isn't Paul being a bit big-headed in making it seem as though Jesus didn't suffer enough and now he, Paul, would "top it up?"
It seems that Paul is rejoicing in Jesus' suffering and his own...*
The point is that he sees how Jesus suffering made salvation possible and he sees how his own suffering has helped spread the gospel.
He is not implying that Jesus did not suffer enough, but rather he recognises that the birth and the spread of the gospel involves suffering. Jesus suffered on the cross to obtain our forgiveness and as the gospel was being preached, people suffered to get the message to the world.
The point is that Paul is not intimidated by suffering. Jesus suffered for the church. James the brother of John was martyred for the church, the early church was scattered by persecution and Paul has been whipped and imprisoned. When we suffer for the gospel and for the church, we are in Good Company for a Good Cause and we can rejoice!
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* (Although some versions translate "my suffering", the Greek article is neuter should be translated "that" not "my")
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
