EARTHEN VESSELS
[p. 81] EARTHEN VESSELS
2 Corinthians 4: 7 - 18; 2 Corinthians 5: 1 - 9
JT It is wholesome to keep before us the phase of the truth presented in this passage. Most of us present are getting on in years. Let us see to it that the younger ones may observe that our persuasion is not in vain, that christianity is real, that our faith is not in vain, so that they may thus be encouraged to proceed. These verses indicate the mind of the speaker: “And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; we also believe, therefore also we speak” (verse 13). The path is to get brighter and brighter. It is assuring. The older ones should become examples to the younger.
CAC How would you connect this with “the ministry of the Spirit” and that of “the new covenant”?
JT This passage develops out of chapter 3. “Therefore, having this ministry” (chapter 4: 1). It is a ministry “of the Spirit” which subsists in glory (chapter 3: 8), “of righteousness”, which abounds in glory (verse 9), and is viewed as “the surpassing glory” (verse 10). The ministry of the new covenant is glorious! The glory is in the face of Jesus! “But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit” (verse 18). “Therefore, having this ministry ... so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God ... the God ... who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (chapter 4: 1 - 7). “This ministry ... this treasure”, is not the link in that?
CAC [p. 82] Would the effect be to produce spiritual brightness and radiancy in the saints, and prepare us for the exercises connected with the earthen vessel?
JT It contains the treasure. As we grow older the light stands by us, so that we are able to speak of the “momentary and light affliction” which “works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are for a time, but those that are not seen eternal” (verses 17, 18). As to the “earthen vessels”, as we advance in years we feel their fragility more and more, peg after peg of the “tabernacle house” is taken down. It makes us sober. “For indeed in this we groan” (chapter 5: 2). But we are assured in soul of “our house which is from heaven”. Nothing tests one more than the possibility of dissolution, as to whether one is in faith in the power of God, “We walk by faith” (verse 7); it is one of the greatest tests of faith. Are we anticipating it with jubilation, and in the sense of victory? That is the vein which runs through here.
JR Peter speaks of “the putting off of my tabernacle ... as also our Lord Jesus Christ has manifested to me” (2 Peter 1: 14), and then of “the excellent glory” (verse 17).
JT He speaks of “knowing” it — he knew that the Lord would not come first. He speaks of it with calmness and assurance. The vessel is “earthen”, that is fragile. At any moment it might break. Spiritual energy is needed to “walk by faith”.
Ques What about “the judgment-seat of the Christ”?
JT We anticipate it, so that it is no surprise when it comes.
Ques Would you say that the Lord might come in our [p. 83] lifetime?
JT I am encouraged to ask Him to come sometimes, on account of the conditions that prevail among the saints and because of the dangers of scattering. I would prefer the Lord to come rather than that the saints should be scattered. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22: 20) is the thought.
CAC I once asked J.B.S. if he thought that the Lord would come in his lifetime. He answered, ‘I think not. I think He would have told me’. It affected me very much as indicating his conscious personal touch with the Lord.
JT Sorrowful possibilities confront the assembly, the drift in so many quarters and the dangers of scattering. The Lord has been very good to us for the past twenty-seven years, holding us together. It is right to consider soberly what may be the danger that lies ahead. We should feel for others and not merely say, like Hezekiah, “There shall be peace ... in my days” (2 Kings 20: 19).
CAC It is the balance to the abundant, positive ministry which we enjoy and which leads us away from the conditions assailing the testimony in a public way.
JT The Lord is preserving us now, to some extent, by allowing local eruptions only, but if the enemy should succeed in co-ordinating these evils, danger confronts us. I should prefer the Lord’s coming. He would have us to feel things. One cannot help feeling things.
CAC You would encourage us to take account of it in our prayers?
JT There is a readiness with us to be easily carried away. We should calculate soberly and invoke the Lord as to the possibilities we see. 2 Chronicles 34: 26 - 28 helps. Josiah was cut off at a bright moment and there was no one to come in to recover things.
CAC He lost his spiritual perception at the very end (2 Chronicles 35: 20 - 25).
[p. 84] Ques Should what has been formed within shine its brightest at the close of one’s life?
JT It should! These verses lead in an outlook of victory. As elder brothers and sisters are luminous it is an encouraging example to younger ones.
FI Is there the thought of not having a will of our own in the word ‘earthen’?
JT The vessel is subservient, under the Lord’s hand.
FI The apostle Paul was thus.
JT And to Peter the Lord said: “When thou shalt be old ... another shall gird thee, and bring thee where thou dost not desire” (John 21: 18). Age helps us to subjection and dependence.
FP “Many shall be purified, and be made white, and be refined” (Daniel 12: 10).
JT More and more dependent. With young men it is largely a question of using their minds. That is not enough; they may be fleshly and not spiritual. But as we grow older the will recedes and there is more dependence. ‘What can I do?’ one cries, in this fragile state of things. If He does not help, what can you do? Yet “we have this treasure”. We are thus trustworthy from His point of view. “My grace suffices thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me” (2 Corinthians 12: 9). That is what the elder brethren come to and they are thus richer.
Ques Is “this treasure” (chapter 4: 7) connected with “this very thing” (chapter 5: 5)?
JT God has wrought us for it and has “given to us the earnest of the Spirit” in the meantime. As your natural energy is coming to nothing, you are consciously greater than the body you have now.
CAC Will you say what your thought is as to “Always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus” (chapter 4: [p. 85] 10)?
JT It contemplates the fact that the Lord had His dying in view. It was the Lord’s attitude of mind in view of the cross. The believer is thinking of the dying of Jesus; it puts us into correspondence with Him. He had taken a body in order to terminate his life. It was especially before Him from the transfiguration onwards. “The dying of Jesus” dignifies the weakening of our bodies.
CAC His dependence had in view His going into death. He also had “the path of life” in view (Psalm 16: 11).
JT Mary of Bethany seized the thought in anointing Him (John 12: 7).
CAC Moses and Elias “spoke of his departure” (Luke 9: 31).
JT Yes, “two men ... appearing in glory, spoke of his departure which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem” — not that He was to be murdered. Moses would be conversant, through the types, with the dying of Jesus.
CAC It would give character to the very spirit of the man of God, as with Moses in Psalm 90, taking account of the frailty of human life.
JT “So teach us to number our days”. “The days of our years”, namely, seventy to eighty. But Moses himself was never a dying man from that point of view. Moses and Aaron both went up to die! They were not tottering old men! And the sacrifices were not of decrepit old creatures!
CAC “Our outward man is consumed” (chapter 4: 16); that is in the service of love, rather than natural decay, in keeping with the Lord’s own path.
JT “While we look not at the things that are seen” (verse 18). The outlook into eternity gives character to an old brother or sister. It is victory!
CAC One would covet that exceedingly.
JT In Deuteronomy Moses was vigorous when he died: “His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (Deuteronomy 34: 7). And with us decline can be warded off in dependence upon God.
CAC It is exceedingly precious that it can be warded off. It is most encouraging for us, so that we should not drop down to decrepitude.
JT Deuteronomy was written in the eleventh month of the one hundred and twentieth year of Moses’ life.
CAC And John’s gospel was written towards the end of his life, probably A.D. 96 - 97. John is said to have lived until he was one hundred. If so, there is no sign of spiritual weakening with him!
JT That is very suggestive.
CAC John, Peter and Paul were all retained here till old age. We read of “Paul the aged” and of Peter as “old”. There is special comfort in that for old brothers, advancing in years.
JT Let us go out in freshness! As knowing the possibilities, let us pray to God to be kept from them.
Ques Is not victory the thought in 1 Corinthians 15?
JT It is intended to imbue your soul with victory. “Behold, I tell you a mystery” (verse 51).
JB “They are still vigorous in old age” (Psalm 92: 14).
Rem Moses was given a song at the end of his life (Deuteronomy 32).
JT That was written to order (Deuteronomy 31: 19). In Deuteronomy 33 we have “the blessing” and in chapter 34 a vigorous outlook. In Deuteronomy 32: 2 he says: “My doctrine shall drop as rain, My speech flow down as dew”, that is fresh, not given fifty years before! Jacob stands out in Hebrews 11: 21: “By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph”, showing what discernment he had, “and worshipped on the top of his staff”. In prayer do not let me lapse.
CAC David could pray: “Now also, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have proclaimed thine arm unto this generation” (Psalm 71: 18).
JT God helps us against decrepitude.
Rem In 2 Corinthians 1: 9 the apostle says: “We ourselves had the sentence of death in ourselves”.
JT He sees that God is helping him. It is a marvel that the christian can go through so much, as in chapter 4, verses 8 and 9. Then verses 10 to 13 give us the outcome in himself. That is how the matter stands. We are delivered, but God is helping us in the discipline. It is the attitude of mind: “that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh”. There is spiritual energy instead of falling into the grave in decrepitude. God will help you that the life of Jesus may be there.
Ques Of Ephraim it is said, “Yea, grey hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not” (Hosea 7: 9). Is that the losing of spiritual power?
JT Want of discernment, too. Gray hairs mean spiritual decay in that sense. In another sense they are honourable, in God’s service (see Proverbs 16: 31). “We know” (chapter 5: 1). The knowledge that we have stands by us. “Eternal” is a remarkable word.
FI Does the character of the vessel affect the ministry of the prophets?
JT There is what a man is as a vessel, for God prepares him. God has in mind what He would bring out in him. The prophets were all different. Certain ministry requires magnanimity. God will prepare and qualify a man for that. Each vessel has its own capacity. Another is needed with accuracy of mind or with physical capability, according to what God requires. A rightly regulated mind is needed for insistence on the order of the service of God. There is a variety of vessels. The vessels are fitted and educated to be with God in what He is [p. 88] doing. The thought of what is eternal buoys you up in view of dissolution. “While we look not at the things that are seen”.
Ques Is the ‘we’ normal?
JT Paul could say ‘We’, but he speaks as a christian.
Ques What is meant by: “He that has wrought us for this very thing” (verse 5)?
JT The full thought of the heavenly body is in mind. It is what we shall be over against what we are here. We shall have “a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15: 44), agreeing with the thought here of being “clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life”. You come out of the grave thus. 2 Corinthians 5 is the heavenly side. The passage works up to our heavenly place and to “new creation”. 1 Corinthians 15 is the truth of the matter in relation to resurrection. 2 Corinthians 5 is the heavenly side, “our house which is from heaven”, “what is mortal ... swallowed up by life”. Identity is seen more in 1 Corinthians 15. This (2 Corinthians 5) is on a higher level. The apostle speaks of what he knows from his own experience (including that of anyone like him) as over against the groaning connected with the present tabernacle.