The Canvas

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. 2 Corinthians 4

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus….”

What a strange phrase. I suspect most Christians would say, I carry around the resurrection of Jesus. I carry around the courage of Jesus. I carry around the love of Jesus. Yet this text says, we carry around the death. Why?

Paul knew something that is really important for us to understand. Resurrection happens after funerals. Courage is required in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Hope is a product of really difficult times.

This is exactly how Holy Week plays out in the life of Jesus. He was abandoned. He was tortured. He was crucified. But three days later He was resurrected in great power and glory. He was raised to life.

The cross is never the end of the story, but the cross is a necessary part of the story if power, resurrection, and hope are going to show up.

This truth transforms the way you react to hardship. Paul is oddly positive in the middle of his trials. We are struck down, but not destroyed. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed. This is the effect of great hope. It is the belief that God is going to show up and God is going to bring resurrection power. We carry around the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus might be revealed in our mortal body.

This truth transforms the way you view hardship. It becomes the canvas on which your Savior is going to write His resurrection story. It becomes the dark sky on which the stars of the universe are going to shine brightly. It becomes the jar of clay that is going reveal an incredible treasure.

The world is facing unprecidented times right now. The church needs to show them unprecedented hope. Unprecedented joy. Unprecedented peace.

How do we get there?

Remember the cross. Carry the cross around with you daily. Let it remind you that the cross was the canvas to victory, resurrection, and hope.

This virus can be called alot of things, but one thing I know for sure, it is a canvas. It is a canvas upon which God is going paint an incredible picture. I am waiting in hopeful expectation to see how God’s power, grace, and resurrection shows up. It always does!