For God … made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2Cor. 4:6-7)
Paul says we have a treasure—the knowledge of God. Not everyone can say that. God made his light shine in his children’s hearts. That’s the only source – only God.
And it’s in “jars of clay.” That word in Greek is used for an every day utensil. Not the kind of decorated ones that archeologists find. More like paper cups today. They don’t last long, but when they break you aren’t out much.
And then Paul goes on to say:
We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (8-9)
He knows us. He knows our weaknesses. He knows his treasure is in very fragile cups. If you think about, it doesn’t make much sense. Why put a treasure in something so flimsy?
To show his all-surpassing power. How else would we continue? If he were not all powerful? If he were not with us? If he were not faithful? The power is not from us—we could never do it on our own.
We have this treasure in paper cups to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are maybe crushed—we are not destroyed!