2 Corinthians 4:10, commentary and pictures

Always to carry in the body the dying of Jesus means to share in his dying through hardships and dangers endured in his service, being troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down yet not distressed, despairing, forsaken or destroyed. That dying includes physical suffering for his sake such as wounds, stripes, beatings, imprisonment, hunger, peril, reproach, illness, privation and wearing toil even unto death in the path he trod before. Through such endurance his life is made visible in the servant's own body and mortal flesh, in preservation, support, consolation and fortitude while suffering, proving that he lives and that by his power they live also. That manifestation does not come from human strength, for sufficiency is in the presence and power of the divine Spirit filling the soul, bringing every thought into obedience to Christ so that self is hidden and he is revealed and exalted. It is learned daily in the school of Christ by preaching not self but Christ Jesus the Lord as servants for his sake, with the will subdued to God, truth sanctifying the soul, and his Spirit shown in kindness, meekness and lowliness toward others.

Bearing Jesus' Dying

To bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus is to endure hardships and dangers in Christ's service as a sharing in His dying, being troubled on every side yet not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. Weak human vessels upheld by God's power are thus delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, so that His life is shown in the body and in mortal flesh. The sufficiency for such ministry is not in self but in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit filling the soul and bringing every thought into obedience and subjection to Christ, making the work fruitful.

That dying takes bodily form in bruises, wounds and stripes received for His sake, bearing in the servant's own body the evidence of Christ's crucifixion as a partaker of His sufferings. It includes beatings, imprisonment, hunger, thirst, peril, opposition, desertion, reproach, illness, distress, privation and toil that wears away strength, even unto death, in following the path of suffering Christ trod before. Through such faithful endurance under abuse and danger, Jesus' life is made visible in preservation and steadfast labor.

Paul also bore in his body a lasting mark of his encounter with Christ, in that his eyes had been blinded by the heavenly light. With that mark went the continual assurance that Christ would sustain him in ministry.

The trial-beset pathway proves the choice to serve Christ was not prompted by selfish motives, for it involves continual peril and conflict with evil men and evil angels. Those who are sometimes cast down are by grace enabled to rise and press forward again into the conflict, standing steadfast with support, consolation and fortitude. Their preservation under manifold dangers testifies that Jesus lives and that by His power they live also.

The light of the knowledge of God's glory in Christ shines in the heart as treasure held in a weak earthen vessel, so that the excellency of the power is of God and not of self. Therefore conflicts and trials need not cause failure or loss of heart, though the servant bears Christ's death in the body.

The verse belongs in the setting of believers facing affliction and workers laying down service through physical weakness. There apparent endings do not defeat God's purpose, because as Christ's death became the source of the cause's life, so His life continues to be manifested through servants.

Jesus' Life Made Manifest

Through endurance of hardship the life of Jesus is made visible in the servant's own body and mortal flesh. Being troubled on every side yet not distressed, perplexed yet not in despair, persecuted yet not forsaken, and cast down yet not destroyed shows the carrying of Christ's death in the body while being delivered to death for Jesus' sake. Deliverance and preservation under manifold dangers, with power to rise and press again into conflict and to stand steadfast, manifest support, consolation and fortitude while suffering for his sake. Such preservation testifies that Jesus lives and that by his power his servants live also.

That manifestation does not come from human strength, for sufficiency is not in self but in the presence and power of the divine Spirit filling the soul. The Spirit brings every thought into obedience, subjection and captivity to Christ, with the will subdued under God's will, Christ abiding in the soul by faith, and truth sanctifying the soul. Self is thus hidden while Christ is revealed and exalted, and ministry is made fruitful and convincing. Weak human vessels uphold this treasure of the light of the knowledge of God's glory in Christ so that the power is of God and not of self, producing kindness, courtesy, meekness and lowliness.

Grace and truth shape and purify the heart, inspire the life and govern actions, making sufferers living representatives and examples of Christ's mind and spirit. Such witness brings hatred and persecution from those who reject the truth and despise the cross. Death working in ministers through conformity to Christ's death brings spiritual life and health to those who believe the truth, making them partakers of eternal life. Believers must therefore be careful not to add to laborers' burdens and trials by neglect and disaffection.

This held true to the latest hour, when cheerfulness and joy in the prospect of death and heaven-born peace on the countenance won many souls to the gospel. A cheerful forgiving spirit with unwavering trust even facing execution testified to the gospel and led witnesses to accept the Saviour.

Bearing his dying makes Christ a personal Saviour and is life and salvation and righteousness. Wherever believers go they carry his abiding presence and companionship, abiding in Christ by living individual appropriating faith while he abides in the heart. As that presence is realized thoughts are brought into captivity to him, so experience in divine things is in proportion to the vividness of the sense of his companionship, as Enoch walked with God.

When Jesus thus abides in the heart and is appreciated for what he is and what he has wrought in redemption, happiness comes from cultivating that great gift and the mind dwelling on Christ molds character after the divine likeness. Pride is expelled with no harshness, coldness or discourtesy, self is forgotten, and divine sympathy is shown with fragrant influence of character. Believers become one with him as he is one with the Father, so that Jesus lives again through them as a living shining light blessing others, with his image imprinted on the soul and reflected in daily life. His risen life is manifested daily as they trust God and live in harmony with their prayers whether or not they feel assurance.

Living the Verse Daily

To bear about the dying of the Lord Jesus is to preach not self but Christ Jesus the Lord, as a servant for Jesus' sake. It requires daily learning in the school of Christ, so that labor corresponds with professed truth. It means living by faith with the will subdued under the control of God's will, Christ abiding in the soul by faith, and the truth sanctifying the soul. Sufficiency is not in self but in the presence and agency of the Holy Spirit filling the heart and bringing every thought into subjection and captivity to the obedience of Christ. Where that work of grace is carried forward in the heart, the Spirit of Christ is manifested in all labors in kindness, courtesy, meekness and lowliness toward others.

Carrying Christ's death in the body is that self-denying servant life, taxing every capability to the uttermost in self-denying, self-sacrificing service to diffuse received light and grace. The true shepherd and missionary needed in new fields is not self-centered, but willing to work in different capacities anywhere without fainting at self-denial, taking up the work at hand and reaching forward to more. Such workers act as responsible servants of God rather than following worldly custom in drawing salaries, working for a reasonable wage and refusing large wages, so that precept and example harmonize and the life of Jesus is made manifest in the body before the world. When that exceeding precious truth is accepted, it refines, purifies, elevates and ennobles the receiver, cuts away fleshly lusts, and fills the soul with gracious influence.

That life shows no disposition to tear down, accuse or denounce, but the mind and spirit of Christ to restore and build up. Renewed by grace, the believer becomes a fountain of healing mercy, presenting God's justice and love by precept and example, full of tenderness, sympathy and love. By this the true character of God is unfolded to the world, expressing His love in actions as Jesus did. Beholding His perfection of character changes the beholder into His image and calls every talent into exercise to copy the Pattern. Because Christ died to save man, the bearer lives as seeing Him who is invisible in order to save souls, letting Christ preside in every business calling with His Spirit, mercy and love prominent.

Bearing the dying of Jesus also means keeping His sufferings in mind and living with Christlike dignity and holy seriousness rather than frivolity, so that the life of Jesus becomes visible in the believer. It means dying to self and accepting suffering for Christ here, so as to share His glory hereafter.

The chapter containing this call is precious instruction for every believer to study, practice and apply personally. It is especially needed by those who teach, as they consider eternal things and humble themselves before God. Its charge to bear Jesus' death so that His life is shown applies to how parents and ministers represent Christ's character and govern in the home.