The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 30 May 2018 - 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we are proclaiming is not ourselves, but the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, with ourselves as slaves for you because of Yeshua. 6 For it is the God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Yeshua.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 8 We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. 10 We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too. 11 For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that Yeshua’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies. 12 Thus death is at work in us but life in you. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Clay jars break, as every archeologist knows. Modern bottles break too. So ordinarily, we pour from fragile vessels in the manner for which the bottles are designed, carefully, so that none of the treasure is lost. It would be foolish, messy and dangerous for us to allow the bottle to break. But on some particular special occasions, for example the commissioning of a ship, we smash the bottle instead, letting the treasure held inside burst forth extravagantly. The ritual of breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne on the bow of a ship or boat is one that expresses joy and thanksgiving, but also a preemptive blessing of safety and peace during times of troubled water that will inevitably come.
Perhaps God has poured the treasure of the gospel into the clay jars that are you and me for the very reason that it might burst forth when the jar is broken, so blessings might overflow. And these bodies, souls and minds of ours into which God has entrusted the gospel will break. But in our brokenness, God will commission a ship called grace that will sail to the ends of the earth.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, and remind us that in our brokenness, you heal the world. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. (New Revised Standard Version).
2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we are proclaiming is not ourselves, but the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, with ourselves as slaves for you because of Yeshua. 6 For it is the God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Yeshua.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 8 We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. 10 We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too. 11 For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that Yeshua’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies. 12 Thus death is at work in us but life in you. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Clay jars break, as every archeologist knows. Modern bottles break too. So ordinarily, we pour from fragile vessels in the manner for which the bottles are designed, carefully, so that none of the treasure is lost. It would be foolish, messy and dangerous for us to allow the bottle to break. But on some particular special occasions, for example the commissioning of a ship, we smash the bottle instead, letting the treasure held inside burst forth extravagantly. The ritual of breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne on the bow of a ship or boat is one that expresses joy and thanksgiving, but also a preemptive blessing of safety and peace during times of troubled water that will inevitably come.
Perhaps God has poured the treasure of the gospel into the clay jars that are you and me for the very reason that it might burst forth when the jar is broken, so blessings might overflow. And these bodies, souls and minds of ours into which God has entrusted the gospel will break. But in our brokenness, God will commission a ship called grace that will sail to the ends of the earth.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, and remind us that in our brokenness, you heal the world. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
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