We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:10
Both the death and the life of Jesus Christ live within us.
Think about that for a second. We walk around each day carrying the death of Christ with us all the time. The pain, the suffering, the agony, the misery, the lashes, the thorns, the gasping. the trauma of Christ’s experience of death rests within us. We are never without it, for it is always in our body. Thus, we must never ignore it nor should we ever reject it, for it has a purpose.
Yes, there is a purpose for the death of Christ to live in our body. This is so that the life of Christ may be revealed. The death experience of Christ is embedded in our bodies and will always be with us. Perhaps in some way it is us. As we search and explore the depth of this reality we find the life of Christ is revealed by way of it.
Hence, the two are inseparable. We dare not experience the revelation of Christ’s life extended to us unless we are willing to experience the death of Christ that is always with us.
So are you willing to experience the pain, the suffering, the agony, the misery, the lashes, the thorns, the gasping. the trauma of Christ’s experience of death?
Regardless of your disposition, you carry it in your body everywhere you go.
It is always with you so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in your body.
Get to know it, get to feel it, get to own it, and through that the life of Jesus will be revealed.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
thanks, sam. i think we resist this part all the time–we only want the good & we despise the bad, the suffering, the hard parts. it is so freeing to embrace both, but i think it’s such a mind bender because everything around us in the world (and often in the church) is about doing everything possible to avoid pain.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:01 am
This has been a year that Col 1:24-25 has come alive for me, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.
If it were not for my specific suffering that I have placed in the fellowship of His sufferings, the church would be incomplete. What I experience on earth in the death of Christ gives way to the power of His resurrection. My experience with Christ is that His zeal for life is so great that He will give beauty for those ashes. The question for me is, am I willing to let it all die so that only God can give it life? Carrying the death of Christ brings greater life, do I believe?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
i’ve tried for years, to no avail, to stuff that part of my life, as deep as i could. for if you see it you will be revolted and reject me. it is only recently that i have figure out that it is part of me. a big part. so i might as well try and embrace it. sit in the pain. the sorrow. the messiness. and hope you will stay with me, as i try to stay with you. thanks for you honest voice. love ya buddy.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:04 pm
This sinks deeply in this season of my life.
How do I carry death so that it does bring sense and life and a great love?
It is a way to intimately know Christ and love him and let him love us…thank you for taking the time to think on this and communicate this this to us.