2 Corinthians 4. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (4:7).

Jars made of clay were fairly common in biblical days. People used them to store things in – anything from water to grain to other valuables. When I lived in West Africa, one village I spent some time in used clay jars to store water. The women would walk to the well early in the morning and draw water. They would bring the water home (usually in big plastic jugs these days) and then transfer it to clay pots they kept inside their huts, out of the sun. In the heat of the day, you could always get a big glass of cold water out of the clay jar.

The Apostle Paul writes that we have this treasure in jars of clay – so our first question should be, what treasure are we talking about? The treasure is noted earlier in the passage, the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (4:4). The treasure we have is the gospel! And the gospel is referred to as a light, a bright light. For the God who said, “Let the light shine out of darkness back at creation, has now shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (4:6). So, the treasure we have is actually the presence of God within us, shining like a glorious revelation.

That’s amazing! Now, if I was the keeper of this very important and valuable bright light, I would probably put it in some super safe, unbreakable container where everyone could enjoy the light; but no one would be allowed to touch it. Or break it. So it seems rather odd to me that God would take this amazing light of the gospel and the knowledge of God and put it in jars of clay. When I think of jars of clay (apart from the African water bowls) I think of clay vase projects we did back in elementary or middle school. We would take a lump of clay and shape it, maybe even spinning it on a pottery wheel, and then we’d make this vase for mom. But they weren’t very nice vases; they were kinda lopsided and lumpy and broke easily. That’s what I think of when you say jars of clay.

Paul says – yes, exactly that kind of jar of clay! That is exactly the kind of misshapen jar that God chose to put the glory of the gospel light inside. That lumpy jar of clay is us. We are not perfect; we are breakable and imperfect. And Paul says, yes – we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down (4:7-8). We are fragile human beings! But the presence of the light of God within us, the glory of the gospel within us – it shines through the cracks. The glory of God is best be seen in our imperfections!

And so, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction (suffering) is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (4:16-17). Honestly, no affliction ever feels light or momentary – it usually feels super unfair and like you are dying. But the glory of the light of the gospel within us helps us to keep perspective and not lose heart!

What is your relationship with your physical body like? Do you feel like you might be stuck in a jar of clay – imperfect, vulnerable, misshapen, lumpy, not useful? Maybe you’re struggling with some affliction that does not feel light or momentary at all!? Have you ever thought about the fact that the glory of God and the light of the gospel is best seen in our cracked imperfections? Don’t lose heart!