8. Η., France. You may well ask what is the meaning of the words, the “dying of Jesus,” in that scripture, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,” &c. (2 Cor. 4:1010Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10) Cor. 4:10.) In these last days the love of pleasure has so taken the place of the dying of Jesus, that it is well-nigh forgotten.
The apostle had been showing that we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The body is still earthly and mortal, as of the first Adam; but as such we have been identified with Christ unto death in baptism. We have accepted the judgment of death as the end of our old Adam existence. “I am crucified with Christ.” Thus whilst in this mortal flesh the apostle could say, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.” We carry about that which we reckon dead. “That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” What a privilege for the resurrection life of Jesus to be made manifest in these poor mortal bodies. And we who have this risen life, yet, as to our mortal life, “alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake,” &c. Thus as to the body, this would make suffering and death for Jesus’ sake our normal condition. Such was Christianity in the beginning. Modern pleasure-seeking Christendom is the utter denial of this most important truth. Yes, as baptism shows in type, death and burial with Jesus is the very starting point. And then “always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.”