Aleethia!

This post is part of a teaching series on the book of Colossians. All of the lessons in this series can be found here. In the first lesson we outlined the book. In each subsequent lesson we look at one small section of the outline and seek to answer five questions concerning the text.

At this point in the text we come to a description of Paul’s ministry. This section continues through chapter 2 verse 7, but we’re going to take it in four pieces and this evening our focus will be verse 24, and Paul’s ministry of suffering.

This verse looks somewhat problematic at first glance. How can Paul fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Didn’t Jesus say “It is finished” while on the cross? Then how could anything be lacking? Surely Paul isn’t suggesting that his suffering atones for the sins of the church?

To better understand this verse, we need to understand the context, the thought process Paul went through when writing this. John Piper suggests that it is helpful to work backward through the context from verse 29.¹

Let’s do so briefly, even though we’ll be looking specifically at these verses next week.

V29 Paul has a purpose to his labor, and the energy with which he works is not his own, but Christ working in him.

V28 Here is the purpose, to “present everyone mature in Christ.” The labor is in preaching Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone. This is the labor that he does in the energy of Christ.

V26-27 These verses define exactly what Paul preaches. It was a mystery, something hidden, but now revealed. The mystery was that God would save the gentiles, that the messiah would indwell them, that they would become a part of the family of God. That is “the hope of glory.”

V24-25 Paul is a “deacon” of the church in the sense that he is a servant, a waiter who brings them, not dinner, but the good news of the Word of God. This responsibility was given him by God, so that the gentiles would have a hope of glory. His proclaiming the gospel and teaching them would result in them being mature in Christ.

V24 Paul’s ministry of proclaiming the gospel to the nations, warning them and teaching them, involves suffering on his part.

Why suffering? And how does his suffering complete the sufferings of Jesus? Christ’s suffering was complete and accomplished the task, which was the reconciliation of his people to himself as we saw last week.

Taken in the context we just saw, Paul’s suffering served the purpose, not of reconciliation, but of extending that reconciliation to the gentiles. All that is lacking in Christ’s afflictions is that the world doesn’t know. That is the purpose for which Paul suffers. That is the purpose for which we are called to suffer.

Paul wasn’t the only Christian called to suffering. We are as well.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake - Philippians 1:29

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted - 2 Timothy 3:12

How is suffering a good thing we should rejoice in?

John Wesley the circuit riding preacher from the early days of this country, said this about suffering.

It is by sufferings that our faith is tried, and, therefore, made more acceptable to God. It is in the day of trouble that we have occasion to say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” And this is well pleasing to God, that we should own him in the face of danger; in defiance of sorrow, sickness, pain, or death.²

He goes on to say that had God not allowed Adam to sin, and evil to enter the world, we would not face suffering and therefore would not have opportunity to trust God, to practice patience, meekness, longsuffering, and image forth those aspects of God’s character.

Paul says over and over again that he rejoices in suffering. In Romans 5, he tells us why.

More that that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

So we are to rejoice in our sufferings because they produce endurance and that adds to our hope of Glory and therefore to our joy. And these sufferings allow us to practice godly behavior that we would otherwise not get to practice.

Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow him. Surely the cross is suffering. That is why the Apostles continually expressed joy at suffering, it teaches us to be like Jesus. It teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on Glory and not on the comforts of this world.

We don’t often suffer for Christ’s name in America. Christians in other parts of the world are suffering physical pain we will never know, some even to death. And they rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer for his name.

In America our suffering is of a much lesser degree, and yet we avoid it. In what way do we suffer for the name of Jesus in America?

Remember that our text says we are to suffer, in order to bring the good news of Christ’s suffering to the world. In America we don’t get beaten, or have our fingernails pulled out for sharing the Gospel with someone. But we often don’t share, because we are afraid of what others might think of us. We are ashamed of the gospel.

Timothy had this problem as well it seems. Timothy probably had a timid nature. As we read Paul’s letters to Timothy, he is constantly encouraging him to be bold, let no one despise his youth, and telling him that

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God - 2 Timothy 1:7-8

The situation was this. Paul had been arrested and was sitting in a Roman prison waiting to be executed, because he was preaching the gospel. Many had turned away from him because they did not want to have their name associated with this man who had incurred the wrath of the emperor. They were afraid of what others would think of them. So Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel, or of Paul who is a prisoner for the gospel. He tells him to share the gospel with others, who will in turn share it with still more people. And ends this way.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ jesus. - 2 Timothy 3:2

That is one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible. Why? Why should we share in suffering? The next verse tells us.

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. - 2 Timothy 2:4

Do you see what Paul is saying here? Getting caught up in the things of this world and trying to avoid being humiliated will not please God. Being bold about sharing our faith and spreading the good news of Jesus’ suffering, will please God. I want to please God.

If we choose rather to have the approval of the people around us in the world, then we are worshiping them, not God!

In Psalm 22, David has written a prophetic psalm about Jesus. He tells of Jesus’ suffering, of his being pierced hand and foot, but he also tells of his being mocked and made fun of. Jesus was treated to every form of suffering that we could possibly face. And he endured it all, the Bible tells us, “for the joy that was set before him.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Commenting on Psalm 22 and Christ’s suffering, Charles Spurgeon said this.

The scornful ridicule of our Lord was universal; all sorts of men were unanimous in the derisive laughter and vied with each other in insulting him. Priests and people, Jews and Gentiles, soldiers and civilians were united in the general scoffing, and that at a time when he was prostrate in weakness and ready to die. Which shall we wonder at the most, the cruelty of man or the love of the bleeding Savior? How can we ever complain of ridicule after this?³

The story doesn’t end there though, the end of the Psalm gives us the rest.

Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. - Psalm 22:30-31

My question is this, will you endure suffering, shame, humiliation, mockery, and more to proclaim his righteousness? Will you risk being talked about behind your back as one of those weird Christians, in order to share the Gospel with your neighbor, or coworker, or friend at school? Will you love people enough to share the good news of Jesus with them? Or will you keep it to yourself for fear of being laughed at?

¹ Called to Suffer and Rejoice, John Piper, August 30, 1992

² The Works of John Wesley, Vol 6, p. 236, from the sermon “God’s love to fallen man”

³ The Treasury of David, Vol 1, Charles H. Spurgeon, p. 327