Joy in the Suffering: Colossians 1:24-2:5

I’m grateful that we have a God that both relates to us, and that we can relate to. Jesus truly understands us, and if we want to understand him fully, it might be a pretty painful experience. There is a non-so-secret disclaimer for surrendering to Christ, and it’s this: Finding life in Jesus also means that we find our death with Him. Being “united with him in the likeness of his death” (Romans 6:5) means that we will suffer similarly to him. That might sound intimidating, but it is at the core of the message of Jesus.

The fullness of life that he promised for his followers isn’t cultivated through a life of extended peace and happiness, rather, it comes through suffering such as tests, betrayals, and mockery. This suffering makes us like Jesus, which ultimately gives us the best life that we could imagine. Christians should not view suffering as a shock to the system, but rather as the fuel for Body to persevere.

Jesus is the suffering God.

This aspect of Christ character is rarely preached on, but it is central to who God is, and we need to talk about it. Yes, Jesus once suffered on the cross, but his suffering is not over. He continually suffers anguish through the disobedience and suffering of his people. He is “grieved” when we sin. (Eph 4:30). He said that he was personally “persecuted” by Saul, even though he was in Heaven! (Acts 9:4) Jesus is fully aware and hurt by the consequences of sin, yet he promises that there will be a day when it ends for all time. When you find yourself struggling or suffering in life, remember that your God suffers with you.

Colossians Recap.

-Paul is writing to correct theological issues, and to make Jesus the “main thing” in their theology.

-He poetically writes of the magnitude of Jesus’ rank and role. (Col 1:15-20)

-He then juxtaposes that with who people are in comparison. (Col 1:21-23)

-Now Paul starts to talk about his own ministry and dedication to the Lord. He does so by first referring to his…. Suffering.

Colossians 1:24-29

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering 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. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

V24 - When was the last time you “rejoiced” in your sufferings?

-Life is hard. Rejoicing when it’s hard can feel impossible, but it is possible with Christ. Reframing our thinking on suffering is important as Christians. We have the Holy Spirit’s power to endure and triumph through our suffering.

-Paul’s badge of honor wasn’t that life was good, but that it was rough!

-”What’s lacking” implies that Jesus’ suffering isn’t complete yet (which I addressed above), and that it will happen through the suffering of the Church. God’s work and battles on the earth are not complete yet, which means there will inevitably be pain and suffering. Christ’s afflictions are not finished.

V25 - For the Church (the people of God through whom Jesus works), Paul devoted his life.

-He says he was a “steward” of what God has given. He didn’t cause any of it happen, but he’s going to be obedient until the end to get the “full” message across. The “full gospel” message that Paul preached was one of suffering and simplicity. Today in America, the “full gospel” has become associated with churches that preach health and wealth on earth as God’s favor toward the individual. This is completely counter to the real “gospel in the fullness” that Paul preached.

V26 - The mystery has been solved with Jesus. Remember verse 15 (“He is the image of the invisible God”?

-The mystery is revealed to “His saints.” The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing. If you don’t have the ears to hear God’s message, you will be stuck trying to solve the mystery of life.

V27 - To the Saints, God has revealed that the great mystery is now that Christ is “in” us!

-The crescendo of the gospel message is that Christ, God is “in” us! It’s a pretty simple, yet mind-blowing fact. What Christ has done is make a way for God to dwell within his people through faith. God is not only Emmanuel (with us), He is Entheos (God within us).

V28-29 - He says it again here, highlighting the goal of bring people to maturity “in” Christ.

-This maturity (“perfect” in the text), comes about through admonishing (correcting) and teaching (with wisdom). These are things that we all consistently need in our own lives, and we can’t achieve Christlike maturity without them.

-Paul doesn’t accomplish all of this global gospel work by his own strength. He is “energized” by Christ alone. Don’t do ministry on your own terms and strength, it won’t be fruitful.

Paul then completes his thought by tying his suffering back in, and also by rephrasing everything else he said before, but directed at the believers in the nearby city of Laodicea. 

Colossians 2:1-5

1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Paul’s goal was clear: that the believers in Laodicea would be spiritually rich and mature in their faith. (Side-note* That word “riches” is interesting, because Jesus confronts this very group in Revelation 3 by chastising their reliance on material wealth. Apparently, the Laodiceans struggled with surrendering to the riches of Christ for years after Paul’s ministry.) All wisdom and knowledge come from Christ, and Paul wanted them to know that the pursuit of this maturity was supremely valuable. Paul warns them to not be duped by wisdom and knowledge of the world, which might seem valuable, but ultimately are worthless.

Notice that Paul had an expectation of the Laodiceans. He expected them to be both disciplined and firm in faith (v5). Would the apostle Paul, better yet, would Jesus be surprised if he was to come examine your spiritual walk? Would he delight in your discipline? In how unwavering in him you are? This is something that we should all strive for: a grounded, disciplined relationship with God.

Thankfully, we don’t pursue maturity in Christ alone on an island. Paul says (likely as a figure of speech), that he is present with the other believers “in spirit.” He reminds them that they are not alone in their pursuit of Christ. We have a cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, and that are here in the moment with us to strengthen us in our common faith.