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added indignity of bonds, beatings and stripes, both at the hands of fellow-countrymen
and of the Romans. Even when he was in the Roman prison, some outside went so far as
to preach Christ of contention, hoping thereby to add to his afflictions. As we ponder
these things, and consider the very small amount that we have been called upon to endure
for Christ's sake, we must feel ashamed of our rebellion, our lack of grace, our
impatience.
Writing to the Colossians from prison, the apostle speaks of "filling up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ", and it is to this close association of suffering with his
ministry that he alludes. Let us mark his words carefully:--
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is
lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church;
whereof I was made a minister" (Col. 1: 24, 25).
No one instructed in the Scriptures would tolerate for a moment any interpretation of
the above passage that made the apostle's sufferings supplement the atoning work of
Christ. In that great sacrifice for His people the Lord was alone. It is only in the
subsequent ministry to that people that "fellowship with His sufferings" is possible. The
language of the apostle in this chapter, both as to the work of Christ, and his own
ministry, leaves us without doubt that there is an intentional parallel, which, once seen,
places the sufferings endured by the apostle in their true place. In the preceding section,
he had spoken of the reconciliation and blameless presentation of the church "in the body
of His flesh through death". Just as Christ's great work presents the church holy, and
unblameable, and unreproveable in His sight, so the goal of Paul's ministry was to
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Just what that presenting perfect may involve
must be left until we reach the verse which deals with that subject, but it has such bearing
upon the ministry of Paul that we must include it here:--
In the body of His flesh
\ Christ's work for His church
Through death
} in which none may share
To present holy, etc.
/
(Col. 1: 22).
In my flesh for His body's sake
\ Christ's work for His church
Through afflictions
} in which members of His body may share
To present every man perfect. /
(Col. 1: 24-28).
When the apostle, speaking of the sufferings of Christ, used the expression, "fill up
that which is behind", he had a definite quantity before his mind. This may sound crude
to some, but it is resident in the initial statement of Acts 9: 16. A similar figure is used
when speaking of "filling up" sins (I Thess. 2: 16); or of the filling up of the measure of
the fathers (Matt. 23: 32). It becomes less offensive and more consoling as we pursue
the thought, and remember that the very hairs of our heads are numbered, and that the
tears of the saints are put into the Lord's bottle for remembrance.
Apart from those sufferings that are necessary result of our own foolishness or lack of
faithfulness, it is a joy to know that all sufferings connected with true ministry are, first of
all, the sufferings and afflictions of Christ. Just as the apostle, when speaking of his