A Word from Colossians 1 and 2

This is going to sound like an odd question. But do you think Jesus continues to suffer? Don’t get me wrong, I know that “the death Jesus died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God” (Rom. 6:10). But do you think he still hurts when he sees the way that his followers—and all people—fail to walk in his way?

I ask this, because in today’s word from Colossians 1, Paul makes an odd statement. “I rejoice in what I am suffering for you,” he says, “and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions.” (Col. 1:24) Now again, I don’t think Paul is talking about Jesus suffering for our sin, because the cross took care of that. But I do think it’s possible that Jesus still aches over our failure to “get the point” of what he’s done for us. Because, as Paul goes on to say, a glorious mystery has been revealed to the Lord’s people. And the mystery is this: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)

The question we need to ask, therefore, is whether we’re living like Christ is in us. Are you we paying attention to his presence in our lives? Are we striving to open our hearts to his Spirit, so that we can be conformed to his image? Are we facing even the chaos of the world around with a confident hope that there’s glory in our future?

Well, until we are living like that, I hope that we can embrace the advice Paul gave to the Colossians: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:6-7)

May all of us live in such a way that Christ doesn’t suffer any afflictions because our failure to open our hearts to him. Amen.