Church bulletin:
We rightly proclaim the sufficiency of Christ to address the problem of sin. This involves the life He lived, the suffering He endured, the death He died culminating in His resurrection and ascension. It includes His present ministry of intercession. His work of salvation is comprehensive, and it is His work alone. We add nothing. Our contribution is zero. It is hardly surprising that Col 1:24-25 leaves us with questions.
“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…..….” What was lacking in the afflictions of Christ? How did the apostle Paul fill up what was lacking? What does it mean for believers?
There is nothing deficient in the afflictions of Christ as though He should have suffered more. Paul is not saying that he completes Christ’s suffering with his own suffering to make up the gap. There is no deficiency in any aspect of Christ’s work. What he means is that he now builds upon the ministry of the Christ. He makes it known to the world. He preaches in the synagogues and the churches and to all who will listen. In doing this, he suffers. The suffering of Jesus became his suffering in that he likewise suffers for the sake of the Gospel – 2Cor 1:5-6, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (6) Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation”
The earthly ministry of Christ was confined to a small region over a short period. Only those in that region at that time were exposed to it. On the world scale, a mere handful of people actually heard Him teach, saw the miracles, observed the crucifixion, witnessed His resurrected body. The saving message of Christ’s suffering and death was limited or “lacked” in terms of exposure and expanse. Paul, through his ministry and consequent suffering fills up that “lack” as he spreads the gospel far and wide.
Christ made a similar emphasis in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” This was spoken to the apostles who would perpetuate the ministry of Christ as they preached and worked miracles. What greater works could they accomplish? What is greater than raising the dead? Their works would be greater not in terms of quality, but in terms of quantity. They would reach far more people than He did. They would live to see the gospel spreading into the Gentile world. They would live to see the establishment and expansion of the church. Christ planted the seed; the apostles saw the sapling sprout and flourish.
For you and me, we probably won’t suffer in Christian ministry as Paul did. We wouldn’t say of ourselves that we “fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” Nevertheless, we too build upon the ministry of the Lord Jesus as we make the gospel known to those around us. We show forth His sacrifice in that we are prepared to pay a cost for people to hear – we give up our time, we use our recourses and energy, we endure opposition, we experience inconveniences, etc. Through our love and sacrifice we become the prism through which unbelievers see the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.