Esther Day 5 In The Details: Digging Deeper

1) Why is the comparison of clay jars to humanity significantly important to understand?
Clay jars were a part of everyday life in Paul’s time. Clay pots contained everything from wealth to worthless things, and from food to liquid. Because these jars were inexpensively made of clay, they were subject to breakage and easily discarded. Though the vessels were far inferior containers, they often contained treasures of great value.
Paul uses the image of clay jars as an analogy to depict frail humanity. We are easily broken, but inside frail, breakable human vessels, we carry a priceless treasure. As a believer, that treasure was, and still is, the gospel of Christ. It is not the pot being emphasized here, but the treasure of Christ inside.
God’s power is revealed through human weakness like uneducated fishermen who became world-famous preachers (Acts 1:8), a no-account shepherd who led an entire nation on a 40-year trek through the desert (Exodus 3:1-8), or a man with zero stage-presence who became the boldest servant of the gospel (2 Corinthians 10:10).
As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, “we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) The treasure is Christ Himself, His redemption, and His righteousness; the vessel is us in our weakness, utterly incapable of attaining righteousness on our own. The contrast between the two is tremendous! The redemption of Jesus unleashed in a life is like a precious diamond shining in every direction. To even imagine such a jewel to be entrusted to such weakness is beyond understanding. Yet, God has ordained the treasure of His redemption to all who put their trust in Him alone, not because they are beautiful pots of glory, but precisely because they are not. It is His glory and excellence on display in spite of our weakness.

2) Where is the triumph in tribulation?
Earthly life surrounds us with infirmity. Every day we find ourselves under pressure of some form.  In verses 8-10, Paul describes life as being pressed on every side, crushed, at wit’s end, persecuted by men, and knocked down, all while facing the reality of our physical bodies coming to an end. Not a pretty picture. Throughout all of Scripture there is death, even the death of Jesus Christ. So, one may ask, WHERE IS THE TRIUMPH? As followers of Christ, His children, the believers, we have been given triumph within us because of the victory Christ achieved by rising from the dead. (1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5) His victory has given us the assurance that He is in control and Death holds no power over Him or the ones who believe in His Name. True, our bodies will die, just as the death of Jesus was a reality. Death operates in us in this life, but through Jesus we have eternal life. Even in those verses of affliction, triumph is the focal point. We are afflicted, BUT NOT crushed. We are perplexed, BUT NOT in despair. We are persecuted, BUT NOT abandoned. We are struck down, BUT NOT destroyed. We are to face everything in the power of God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. We have the incorruptible assurance of Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-5)  Our ultimate triumph, which is our future possession that Christ has already taken hold of for us, is eternal life in the presence of our Most Holy God. (Philippians 3:12, Romans 6:23) No one can take away our inheritance! (John 10:28-30)

3) What is the secret of endurance?
Verse 16 boldly asserts, “Therefore, we do not give up…”. Where is the “therefore” anchored? Verse 14 holds the key, “For we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you.” Because Christ’s resurrection is the preview of our own resurrection, therefore we do not give up. Because God proved He could raise Christ, the One who took the punishment for our sin, therefore we do not give up. Because He will present us, along with all other true believers, as blameless and righteous before the Holy God, therefore we do not give up. Because the glory waiting for us far outweighs the temporary struggles we encounter, therefore we do not give up. (verse 17) Our endurance in a life fraught with difficulty is found anchored in Christ, His atoning death for us, and His victorious conquering of death by His resurrection. Because death holds no power over Him, neither does it hold power over us. (Romans 6:9) We can stand firm in the finished work of Christ on our behalf, and not be shaken by the constant perils in this life, because He IS our endurance. But there is another motivation given for our endurance in this passage, “to increase the glory of God”.  (verse 15) There is no way we could “add to” God’s current glory, what is meant here isn’t a mathematical sum, but rather “increase” is understood better in the context of “fame”. When we walk through suffering, allowing Christ’s sufficiency to be our anchor and source of endurance, God receives the glory and others see Him more clearly. His glory is declared, or made known, as His fame increases among onlookers in our sphere of influence. As we suffer and Christ’s grace gives us endurance to persevere, the more He is made known, which results in more people encountering Him, which is cause for praise and thanksgiving as God is glorified! Now that is an AMEN!