The Church occupies a high place in the affections of God and in the view of the apostle Paul. Put simply, it was worth suffering for. The psalmist reflects God’s heart for His people, “As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight” (Ps 16:3). It was written of Jesus, “… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Heb 12:2). James encouraged the scattered believers to “Consider it all joy … when you encounter various trials” (James 1:1). The joy is not in suffering, as though there is efficacy in self-flagellation or any kind of masochism. Rather, joy has to do with knowing that some things are worth suffering for. God suffered to procure redemption and reconciliation. God’s people suffer to remain faithful to God. Paul suffered as the Lord’s messenger of reconciliation and hope.

This point to the Colossians is well orchestrated. We know from later history that Gnostics taught that the material world is unholy and sinful because it is distant from the absolute truth of the universe. Nothing good or holy could come from fleshly experiences; the object of spiritual devotion was to ascend above such base things. Yet here, the apostle extolls the sufferings “in my flesh.” This had value and was worth rejoicing over. His adamant assertion here indicates that such false thinking which was characteristic of later Gnosticism was also threatening the Christians at Paul’s time.

In what sense does Paul’s sufferings fill up “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?” Clearly it cannot refer to the atonement sufferings of Christ, for He died once for all. Nothing can be added to that! Paul acutely knew that any persecution against or suffering caused to Christians was effectively persecution against the Lord Jesus Christ. In his pre-conversion life when he was persecuting the Church, Jesus appeared in a vision asking, “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). The Lord identified the suffering of the Church with Himself. MacDonald puts it this way, “The Head in heaven feels the suffering of His body on earth.” So Christians who suffer in loyalty to Christ are very much, as His body, continuing in the suffering that Christ experienced.

One cannot help but remember the response of Peter and John to their suffering, “… they … rejoic(ed) that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41)