Complete What’s Lacking in Christ’s Afflictions
By Michael Kelley
There’s an interesting phrase that appears in Colossians 1. Perhaps “interesting” isn’t even the right word; at first reading, it doesn’t just sound interesting - it sounds downright heretical:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church (Colossians 1:24).
That phrase might rub you the wrong way. If Paul is filling up or completing in his flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions, then the implication is that Christ’s afflictions are lacking in some way. But what could that be? What could possibly be lacking in Christ’s afflictions? What could Paul add to what Jesus has already done? After all, isn’t that sort of the whole point of this letter?
It is, of course. The Colossian church was under threat from a heresy claiming that there were additional spiritual levels that could be attained outside of Christ. That through the observance of special days, or secret rituals, or a specific diet, these Christians could become more. That they could achieve a new level of spirituality. And Paul is writing to that church with a resounding, “No!” He is claiming that there are no other levels, nothing left to attain - that we are complete in Christ. What, then, could Paul mean by this phrase, “completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”?
Paul doesn’t mean that Christ’s sufferings and afflictions were not sufficient; Jesus’ suffering left nothing on the table in His atoning work. Paul doesn’t mean that through his sufferings he finishes the atoning work of Christ; he means that they were incomplete in the sense that the Colossians, and the rest of the world, didn’t personally experience them.
Christ died at a specific and appointed time. One single time, He suffered and died. But there has been time that has passed between that time, and between the time when Paul was preaching the gospel. For that matter, there has been a lot of time that has passed between that time and now. Think of it like this.
Let’s say that I told you that my great-grandmother makes the best cinnamon rolls. My claim is that her cinnamon rolls will put to shame any other cinnamon roll you’ve ever had. And what’s more, I have the recipe - it was written down and passed through the years to me. True enough, I tell you, the recipe takes two days to make - but it’s completely worth it. It is worth the cost. Great, you say. So when are you going to make them? And I say in response - Oh, it’s far too much trouble. The ones in the can will do just fine.
You might have trouble believing me. You might have a difficult time trusting that those are the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever had. You might because despite my claims of them being good enough to be worth the effort, I then refuse the cost of making them.
What Paul is saying is that his willingness to bear the cost of the message of the gospel actually completes the suffering of Jesus because those who he is preaching to actually see the great importance of the message. They see it in Paul’s willingness to bear the cost for it. This is how important the message of the mystery is - it is important enough to bear the cost. Paul goes on in verse 29: I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person (Colossians 1:29-2:1). How important is this message? It is worth the cost. Worth laboring over. Worth the struggle, in order that it may continue to be proclaimed.
If you are going to share the message of the gospel, it will be costly to you. It may cost you comfort, or reputation, or position. It may cost you some comfort in a relationship, or it may cost you far more. In this, we can be joyful, as Paul was, knowing that when we experience a modicum of cost as a result of being an ambassador for Christ, then we are, in a small way, filling up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
Michael Kelley is a husband, father of three, author, and speaker from Nashville, TN. His latest book is a year-long family devotional guide called The Whole Story for the Whole Family. Find his personal blog at michaelkelley.co.
