In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes this statement, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus" [2 Corinthians 4:10 NIV]. Is Paul speaking about a tattoo of the crucifixion which he has on his arm? Is he referring to a piece of jewellery in the shape of a crucifix? No, this is much deeper and is worth discussing and thinking about.
If we substitute the word 'dying' for 'death' this might be more helpful. One scholar translates the verse like this, "at all times we live in the constant threat of being killed as Jesus was" (L & N 23.99 cited in the footnote in the New English Translation]. Jesus told his followers that they should take up their cross daily.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it [Matthew 16: 24-25 NET].
As I am lying in a comfortable bed in a quiet residential area of a Scottish town, I am reminded that thousands of Christians are currently exposed to such extreme persecution. There is a strong chance that they will be arrested and executed for their faith. They might be killed by neighbours or family members.
But there is a positive message here - "so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." These persecuted Christians are a living testimony to the resurrection. Every day that Paul lives, he is showing that Jesus has conquered death. His body is mortal but he is living proof of the truth of resurrection.
What a challenge to me personally this morning. Am I living a defeated life? Have I totally surrendered to God's will for my life? Am I living a life of victory daily as I show Christ's life in me and his living power working through me?
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 NIV
Here is a prayer shared via OpenDoors from a Christian in Afghanistan now that the Taliban has taken over.
Dear Lord, while surrounded by the sounds and sights and smells of death, we find it hard to see the future. We find it hard to understand why these men of evil intent are the helm of affairs. The Bible says the Government is upon your shoulders. But this government is evil. Lord you change their evil intent. Lord what they mean for evil unto us, you turn it to good. Lord, may an attack like 9/11 never happen again. But may the hearts of believers everywhere pray for miracles and hope in this beloved and beautiful land. Help us Lord to love, to trust and to hope when it feels impossible. Amen
It is unlikely that the new government in Afghanistan will be anything resembling a democracy and it seems inevitable that Sharia law will be introduced. When the Taliban was in power in the 1990s their version of Sharia law included oppressive rules for women and violent punishment on 'infidels', including Christians who have left their Muslim faith to follow Christ. "Some of the believers are known in their communities ... they are considered apostates and the penalty for that is death." [From a secret believer in Afghanistan via Open Doors]
Picture by Sohaib Ghyasi on Unsplash
We wont get like Afghanistan or N Korea, but within the nationalist movement Scotland has it's own 'tartan Taliban' which espouses a cultural progressivism, so-called, which is set against everything Scotland has been built on since Reformation. 'Be on your guard...wise as serpents...'