“For it is the God who said, ‘“Let light shine out of darkness,”’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
In today’s passage, Apostle Paul humbly compares himself to a lowly clay jar. As it was true in his times, it is the case today that a clay jay is fairly cheap and breaks easily. However, it is extraordinary and unexpected that God placed the most valuable treasure in all of the universes — the radiant glory of Christ — right in a simple, fragile clay jar as a vessel. He trusted His Son to the hearts of sinful human beings. The clay jar as a vessel is imperfect, with flaws and defects. Nonetheless, this vulnerability does not prevent for the treasure from being visible in all its beauty. Additionally, in this context, it is evident that He is God and not from humankind.
God’s living word has been spread for 2000 years, preached through clear, simple, and humble human beings. God brings the sinful back to Him. He cleanses His saints who are found in the state of fragile clay jars by sending to them His invaluable treasure. God could have sent an army of angels from the heavens to preach His message, but He chose us — His children — to be the bearers of His message, to the point that He gave His only begotten Son for us.
Therefore, dear friends, allow for God Himself to pierce our hearts, so that through the glory of God shining from Christ’s face, we may be illuminated to know that the unsurpassable power is from God and not of ourselves.
