Colossians 1:24 – Suffering for Christ

In verse 24, Paul moved on to talk about his ministry, revealing his pastoral disposition. What he said about suffering for the sake of the Colossians seems incongruent. Especially when he didn’t even know many of them personally. But Paul was saying in his capacity as an apostle to the Gentiles. He went through much trials and suffering at the hands of the Jews and Roman authority to reach the Gentiles. Bear in mind that he wrote this letter to them while in prison. Here Paul was telling them that he went through much suffering to reach the Gentiles. And since the Colossians were essentially Gentiles, Paul was also suffering for their sake. And he gladly endured them.

 

What did Paul mean when he said that what he was going through was to fill “…up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”? This gives us the idea as if the suffering that Christ underwent for the people was insufficient. We all know that Christ’s suffering was thorough and complete. It was sufficient to ensure our redemption and reconciliation with God. So Paul couldn’t be saying that Christ’s suffering and death for the redemption of mankind was not sufficient. What he wanted the believers in Colossae to know was that in serving Christ, he was also called upon to suffer as the Lord did. This was what Christ Himself also went through in His ministry. The suffering that Paul underwent was part and parcel he had to go through in the ministry as Christ’s servant. Since Paul was called to serve the Gentiles, his suffering in taking the Gospel to them was done on Christ’s behalf.   

Tough situations can be expected in our service for Christ. Enduring hardship to reach others or to fulfil the claims of Christ upon our life will be experienced. Like the Lord Jesus, we too need to bear our cross in order to wear our crown.  Be ready to do so gladly!