Colossians 1:24-2:5
GET THIS: This life’s most worthy longings, highest callings, and only meaningful suffering is found in Jesus!
1: Meaningful Suffering [v24, 27c, 29, & 2:1]
One source of meaning is more obvious: sometimes our suffering is for the good of God’s people (See Colossians 1:24)
The other is more difficult to understand: What could possibly be “lacking in the suffering of Jesus?!”
It DOES NOT mean that Jesus’ death is in any way insufficient in it ability to redeem the people of God from sin (See Hebrews 10:12).
It COULD be referring to an incomplete process (not power). Think a rock striking the water: ripple effect. The finished work of Jesus is completely sufficient in power but the results are ongoing until Christ returns.
Another possibility comes from with 2 clues: (1) in Colossians 1:18 the church is called the body of Jesus of which He is the head. (2)) here in verse 24, Paul says, “for the sake of His body: the church” This is where it gets so good! For the Head of The Body: “it is finished!”. But for the rest of the body… there is more suffering yet to come! BUT Jesus shares in that suffering with us because we are His body! We are IN HIM!
But not only are we in Christ, Christ is in us: See Colossians. 1:27 & Romans 8:10-11. Paul reminds us that even in those sufferings we are in Christ. And that gives hope.
Resource To read more on the interpretations of “…what is lacking in the suffering of Jesus…” see the following article FILLING UP THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST By: Sam Storms
2. Highest Calling [Ch1v24-29]
See Colossians 1:25: we are all given a “stewardship from God… to make the word of God known (by word and deed).”
See Colossians 1:26-27 It was NOT a mystery that God’s glory would be known among the nations and they would be blessed! But what WAS a mystery was the magnitude (how great the riches would be!) AND the Who & how.
See Colossians 1:28 Paul’s message was singular, and his audience is plural: magnificently plural! Jesus the single Hope for ALL the people!
Paul’s calling: Stewardship of The Immeasurable Wealth of The Gospel! And Paul continues by saying that this High Calling is worth any amount of suffering, pain, or struggle, or toil. See Colossians 1:29
3. Worthy Longings [ch2v1-5]
See Colossians 2:1: Literally: “My longing is for you to know the purpose of my struggle!
Colossians 2:2-3 Literally the train of thought flows like this:
Paul is longing that (1) their hearts would be welded together in love as a foundation of (2) their hearts are encouraged (but not just generally), encouraged to reach something (3) to reach the riches of full assurance of understanding (comprehension—understanding the weight) AND knowledge (personal recognition [that it would “click” for them]) of this reality of God’s mystery. Which is one word is Jesus (in us The Hope of Glory!).
Because with Him is knowledge (understanding of reality) and wisdom (capacity to live in accordance with that reality). Jesus helps us see reality and shows us how to live in accordance with it.
Paul say’s that’s pure gold when that happens (See Colossians 2:4)! This is Paul’s longing for the saints! Even though he hasn’t met most of them (See Colossians 2:5) And what you also see there is this is already true of them (it’s already happening).
If you’re not a Christian: Jesus is at the center of this whole thing! The ONLY Hope of Glory! It is my prayer that God has opened your eyes today to the mystery of the gospel! And the riches of Jesus! Come to Jesus today by grace through faith… and taste and see that the Lord is good. You will be in Him and He will be in you… The Hope of Glory!
If you are a Christian:
1. As we think about how the reality of Jesus’ presence and the wisdom of His example can shape our lives. Think about the categories we’ve seen. Suffering. Calling (here think of your ambitions, goals, dreams), and Longings (here think about what you ache for):
When was the last time you felt purpose in you Suffering? In your ambitions? In your longings?
When was the last time you felt close to Jesus? In your suffering? In your ambitions? In your longings?
Homework: Read one of the gospels. Slow-cook in the flavor… behold the reality of Jesus’ presence and the wisdom of His example… and rejoice in this reality: You’re life in fully bound up in Him and He is in you—The Hope of Glory!
Take Time To Reflect
(1) Where are you suffering right now? What are your current ambitions? What are your deepest longings?
(2) How are any or all of these things being touched by the reality of Jesus presence and the wisdom of Jesus example?
GET THIS: This life’s most worthy longings, highest callings, and only meaningful suffering is found in Jesus!