7-28-19 Sermon Notes
“The Treasure In Clay Jars” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Introduction
Last week (week 8 of the thirteen-week series “The Real Deal”) continued with Paul focusing on what and how we can display the glory of Christ in the world. Think of ourselves as being a ‘billboard’ for Jesus. This week brings us to Paul pointing out what a great treasure we possess and the power of that treasure.
Introduction
Have you ever been in a tight spot with no idea what to do? Have you ever felt persecuted? Have you ever felt ‘knocked for a loop?”
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
2 Corinthians 4:7-15 New International Version (NIV)
7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
Message
Let’s go back to the beginning of this letter in chapter 1 to the Corinthians where Paul begins with “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers.”
Notice the bold faced words that correspond with our scripture verses in chapter 4.
The first question that comes to mind is “what is this treasure that Paul refers to?” If we go back a couple of messages ago, we find the answer – the New Covenant of Jesus plus nothing rather than the Old Covenant.
The next question is “what are the ‘jars of clay?’” The answer is Paul and the fellow believers. And doesn’t that same term describe us who are Christ-followers as well!
The next question that comes to mind is why does Paul refer to us as jars of clay? Why not bronze or some other metal? Jars of clay tend to be fragile and are at risk of cracks.
It may well be that the cracks (tight spots with no idea what to do, persecuted or ‘knocked for a loop) allow those around us to see the great treasure that we have by how we respond. After all, how else will those around us see the great treasure we have and its benefits unless the ‘light of the treasure’ can filter out through the cracks?
Think about this. If we were described as jars of bronze, would it point more toward Jesus as the answer to the troubles that we have encountered or will encounter? The answer is in verse 1 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
The rest of the verses (8-15) describes the troubles Paul faced (remember the verses from chapter 1 as well) and how the ‘treasure’ helped him sail through troubled waters.
Concluding Remarks and Application
The giver of the treasure is the maker of the container. Let’s remember that as we sail through troubled waters for our Lord and Savior. And may our sails display the great treasure that is within us.