May 18, 2015: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

2 Corinthians 4:5-12

⁵For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.⁶For 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. ⁷But 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. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. ¹¹For 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. ¹²So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Reflection:

                  Does it strike you as strange that so many followers of Jesus Christ wear crosses around our necks on necklaces, on rings and bracelets, even as tattoos? We are wearing the instrument of Jesus' death. Someone once pointed out to me that wearing my cross necklace was like wearing a pewter replica of an electric chair around my neck. Yet, this is the most common symbol of our faith, donned not just in jewelry, but on church signs and tombstones and as home décor. Although it may seem that this means we have a preoccupation with death, Paul might see this as a good thing. He tells the Corinthians that we are "always carrying in the body the death of Jesus." This sounds like an odd, even depressing way to live, but Paul continues: we carry the death of Jesus with us " so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies." Through Christ's death and resurrection we have new life. This should be visible in our bodies, our words, our deeds, and our interactions. We should live as people who belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and are changed because of that belief and assurance. Thus, it does not matter so much what we wear around our necks, but that the story, the life and death of Jesus, is carried with us into God's world.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do I show the life of Jesus through my words?

2. How do I carry the life of Jesus with me in my actions?

3. How do I show the life and light of Jesus in my interactions?

Prayer: Holy God, in Jesus Christ you walked the earth, left an example for us to follow, died, and rose again, giving us eternal hope and assurance. Help us to carry this faith, hope, and love in our bodies and help us to carry your story into the world. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.