Treasure in Clay Jars
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As the ancient world is excavated…as archaeologist and historians are finding out more and more about the life long ago...
Inevitably, as they are digging they will find shards if clay pots. Clay pots are the ancient world equivalent to modern day plastic water bottles.
If people are excavating Dutton thousands of years from now - they would probably find water bottles and Tim Horton’s cups at the same rate they are finding clay pots.
Clay jars were throw items. Like take out food containers. They were cheap to make, cheap to buy, and when they broke they weren’t worth fixing…and they were discarded.
In the ancient world, clay pots had many uses. Liquid was stored in them - water, oil, wine…and the pottery of the jars would hinder evaporation, so the liquid lasted longer.
But these jars served another purpose…Sometimes people stored their valuables in these worthless clay pots. The cheapness of the pot contrasted with the value the item inside.
And that’s the contrast Paul is making in this section. He…we…have a treasure. That treasure is previously called
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
He…we…have been given the treasure of the gospel, but even though we have a valuable treasure, God has chosen to store this precious treasure is clay jars…in our fragile human bodies. It’s a magnificent and humbling thought.
We’re going to explore this thought a little more, then we’ll talk about Paul’s experience as one of God’s clay jars. We’ll talk about OUR OWN experiences of being one of God’s clay jars.
This morning we’ll once again touch on the topic of God making his power known through human weakness. It’s a theme that runs throughout the course of the whole letter.
And we’ll discuss the great exchange that Paul references in v.12.
Clay Jars - v.7
Clay Jars - v.7
It’s actually quite humbling to hear this. We like to think we play important roles. We like to have significance and recognition for our accomplishments. Maybe we think of ourselves more highly than we ought.
But hear Paul again…...
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
We’d like to get some credit for ta
It’s humbling to hear that. And I don’t want to press the analogy to hard because it starts to break up, like all analogies do.
But think about it - the value isn’t in your physical body, but in the message you hold. Your physical body may be weak, cracked, chipped and on the verge of breaking down…but you have a valuable message inside of your roughed up exterior.
The significance shouldn’t be overlooked. Paul writes that those who hold the message of the gospel are made up of common, run of the mill clay…that is fragile and easily broken.
When I hear that 2 feelings wash over me. Humility and relief. I am humbled that God chose to use me…who has a beat up and worn down exterior…I’m humbled that God would chose to use this cracked jar has a minister of his gospel.
I am also relieved - knowing that spread of the gospel and the work of God doesn’t rely on me at all.
As we explore this idea of clay jars - we have to ask this important question, “Why?” Why would God do this? Why would God put the valuable treasure of his gospel in such fragile containers?
Paul answers this very question in the last half of verse 7. It’s almost as if Paul anticipated an objection from the Corinthians, so he headed them off at the pass…and answered it before they asked it.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
God uses what is fragile yet serviceable so that there might be no mistaking the origin of the power. Why does God do this? To show that the treasure has nothing to do with the jar.
I want you to notice something. If we could boil this verse down to a math equation…some might be tempted to think that verse said this.
My Weakness + God’s Power = My Power.
But that’s not what Paul is writing, and that’s not how we should understand this verse. Paul writes that there is no doubt about where the power comes from and who is the one being powerful.
A more accurate equation would be this - My Weakness + God’s Power = God’s Power.
The power of this treasure, the source of this treasure…the power of the gospel message - has nothing to do with you!
Your the conduit through which the gospel’s power flows. You are the fragile clay jar in which God’s surpassing power is stored.
The Greek word used in this sentence is the word ‘dynamis’ - obviously we get our word “dynamite’ from it. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.
A clay jar that holds the dynamic and explosive power of the gospel…something so powerful that it turns lives around.
One last point about clay jars and then we’ll move on to look at Paul’s experience as a clay jar...
A later rabbinic tradition makes this comparison...
Just as wine cannot keep well in silver or gold vessels, but only in the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones—so words of Torah do not keep well in one who considers himself to be the same as silver or gold vessels, but only in one who considers himself the same as the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones.
We need this perspective…we need to see our role for what it is. We need to be reminded of our role, so that the precious and valuable treasure of God’s Word will keep in our lives.
Just as wine cannot keep well in silver or gold vessels, but only in the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones—so words of Torah do not keep well in one who considers himself to be the same as silver or gold vessels, but only in one who considers himself the same as the lowliest of vessels—earthen ones.
Clay Jar Experience - vv.8-9
Clay Jar Experience - vv.8-9
And in vv.8-9, Paul goes on to give his resume of sorts. But instead of highlighting his accomplishments, Paul writes of 4 experiences of being one of God’s clay jars
Paul is telling the Corinthians that his clay jar is cracked, chipped and beaten up…but it is not completely discarded or useless, because even though he has some stress fractures - his clay jar is held together by some divine glue.
What I want us to take note of in these verses is how brutally honest Paul is about his situation. He isn’t hiding behind a veneer of strength. He is weak, he’s admitting he’s weak, and that’s a lesson who should learn today.
Paul makes 4 consecutive statements about his experience as a clay jar. if we only had the 1st half of each statement, we’d be tempted to think Paul was on the verge of a breakdown…or maybe we’d even be tempted to believe that its not worth it to be a clay jar in the first place.
But thankfully we have the last half of each phrase. Paul’s purpose is to show the Corinthians that God’s power is made perfect in weakness…to how that affliction and suffering are part of the Christian’s life.
Each phrase that Paul writes ends with a “but not” statement…showing that even though he is feeling hemmed in and many other feelings - Paul isn’t driven to hopelessness and despair.
Before we look at each phrase…let’s be real for a minute…these are easy to relate to, aren’t they?
Who here, at some point in your life - whether it was in your personal life, your work situation or your ministry experience - hasn’t felt this way at some point?
Le’ts look at Paul’s experience of being a clay pot. We’ll see this is most likely your experience too!
Paul writes - We’re afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted & struck down.
In plain English today we could say something like this - Squeezed, stressed, pursued and knocked down. What a brutally honest assessment. Have you ever felt this way?
Ever felt squeezed? Like the walls were closing in around you? Paul writes that he’s experience this. Read through the 2nd half of Acts - and you see some of the travails and pressure Paul was under.
But Paul gives hope. Because of the surpassing power of God - Paul may be squeezed, but he’s not squashed. His clay
His clay jar might be cracked, but it hasn’t reached a breaking point.
Perplexed…stressed. We’ve all been here. Paul too! Perhaps he was constantly stressed.
But not…aren’t those great words! Paul was stressed, but not stressed out.
Persecuted…Pursued is another way saying this. Paul knew persecution. He seemed to experience it everywhere he went.
But there is another beautiful ‘but not’ phrase here. I’m pursued but not abandoned.
Paul knew what abandonment felt like - abandoned by partners, friends, whole communities at his trial…but never did he feel abandoned by God. God will never and can never abandon his people.
Finally, Paul says he knocked down, but not knocked out.
Even though Paul took blow after blow - Physical assault here, shipwreck there…a falling out with a missionary partner here, discord with a church there - all of that taking an emotional toll…Paul writes that none of those things kept him on the mat.
Have you ever been there? Knocked down - taking blow after blow? Do you fee like you have been knocked down to the mat?
Well, Paul offers hope - by being one of God’s clay jars, you will never be knocked out.
Paul is offering hope to Christians and Christian ministers - whatever form your ministry may take. It’s not about operating from a place of personal strength…not about being flashy and showy and brash and strong in your own talents and abilities.
Just the opposite actually. We are most effective - God’s power is most on display when the gospel is preached by stressed, chipped beaten up…but not fully broken clay pots.
Paul…we…may have some stress fractures, but we are held together by some divine glue.
A Way of Living - vv.10-11
A Way of Living - vv.10-11
And moving on to vv.10-11, Paul talks about the purpose of being squeezed, stressed, pursued and knocked down.
When looking at these verses, we have to take notice of Paul’s comparison between death and life. 3 times in vv.10-12 he talks about the death of Jesus being present so that the life of Jesus can also be made known.
Why is Paul squeezed, stressed, pursued and knocked down?
11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
The Corinthians, like many Christians today - thought that suffering and affliction were inconsistent with the Christian life. But Paul is showing then that not only is suffering consistent with the Christian - but God uses suffering to spread the gospel.
Paul was squeezed, stressed, pursued and knocked down - but through those events in his life…the life of JESUS was made known.
Some have called this a cruciform way of living - where Christians conform their lives to the pattern set out by Jesus. We conform our lives to the pattern set out by his cross and resurrection, but even during his earthly life Jesus was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with the deepest grief.
We saw this when we studied the book of Revelation…and then we called it following the way of the Lamb. Revelation shows us great opposition and persecution of the church. But it always presented us with hope…hope that the gospel will continue to spread.
And those glimmers of hope in Revelation are always when found when Christians follow in the way of the Lamb. And do you remember how the Lamb was presented? The Lamb…who was great and powerful! The Lamb who was strong and mighty and the most impressive Lamb you’ve ever seen!
No - the Lamb is presented as the Lamb who was…slain. And when Christians follow in the way of the Lamb…even being faithful to the Lamb in death...
When followers of the Lamb refuse to deny him and even give up their lives for the Lamb…that’s when we saw repentance in Revelation.
Paul writes the same thing here. Paul and his coworkers were experiencing death. They are squeezed, stressed, pursued and knocked down…they are following the way of the Lamb. And maybe Paul knows that his journey will inevitably end with his martyr.
But Paul is showing that far from being inconsistent with the Christian life, affliction is a means God uses to spread hte gospel to the ends of the earth.
Paul is showing that in following the way of the Jesus, the Lamb - by following the pattern set out and lived out by Jesus - the gospel is going out powerfully and through Paul’s weaknesses…trough Paul living out the death of Jesus…the life of Jesus...
the life giving message of salvation is being made known.
This gives us a different perspective on suffering and affliction. Not inconsistent with God and his message. Not something to be avoided at all costs…affliction is haphazardly thrown at us…but part of a divine plan for the spread of the gospel.
The Great Exchange - v.12
The Great Exchange - v.12
And in v.12 we have what could be called the great exchange. One would think Paul would talk about the life he’s given! But now - death is working in him…squeezed, stressed, pursued, knocked down…but he experiences the power of God...
But notice Paul says death is at work in US…but LIFE is at work in YOU! Death is at work in him so that others may know the life giving power of Jesus.
Paul writes that this happened in his life and ministry…but really, isn’t this what Jesus did for us?
This verse beautifully describes the work of Jesus on our behalf. The great exchange of the gospel is Jesus’ death for our life.
It’s written in .
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
that is most definitely the great exchange. The hope of the gospel is this…Jesus lived and died and rose again…so that we could be healed. Our punishment was on him..the Lord laid on him the iniquity, the sin of us all! Talk about a great exchange!
It’s pretty incredible to think about. I started this morning with a humbling thought - we are all clay jars. And I’ll finish with an even more humbling thought....
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave himself up to die…so that we could have life through him. Death was at work in him, but life in us!
And now as his followers, we share in his death and resurrection as the surpassing power of God is made known…not though our strength, not through bravado...
But God’s power is at work in through through our afflictions and weakness. It is through being clay jars…cracked, chipped and stressed clay jars at that...
It is through holding a valuable treasure in our fragile clay jar that God’s power and the life of Jesus is made known to the world around us.