Jars of Clay, Treasures of Christ

Jars of Clay, Treasure of Christ

The Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle – 8/24/2025

Proverbs 3:1–8; 2 Corinthians 4:7–10; Luke 22:24–30

Rev. Christopher W. Brademeyer

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Epistle lesson from the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the fourth chapter with special emphasis on verses twenty-five and twenty-six which read as follows:

“Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we remember St. Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is not the most famous of the Apostles. In fact, in the Gospels we only hear his name mentioned in the lists of the Twelve. Few of his words are recorded in Scripture. In fact, he does not stand out from the Twelve like Peter or John. But Church history tells us that Bartholomew carried the Gospel far and wide, perhaps as far as Armenia, appearing before the king of that nation, and that he died a martyr, giving his life for Christ, being flayed, that is skinned, alive.[2]

In the Scriptures, Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, gives a great confession of Jesus, calling Him the Son of God and the King of Israel.[3] But Bartholomew does not have much else that we can say about him biblically. It would be fair to say that, despite his great confession on the occasion of his conversion, there is little else that can be said with absolute certainty. It is fitting, then, that on his day we hear readings that speak of wisdom, of weakness, and of the strange greatness of the kingdom of God.

Wisdom: Trusting the Lord

Our first reading from Proverbs three says, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart… Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."[4] What does wisdom look like in the kingdom of God? Not cleverness, not academic credentials, not brilliance in argument, not sophisticated elocution. No, wisdom begins with faith, that is, trusting in the Lord and not ourselves or the things we discover. This is the wisdom that led the apostles to leave their fishing nets, their tax booths, their ordinary lives, and follow Christ. This is the wisdom that St. Bartholomew carried with him when he bore witness to Jesus before kings and peoples.

The world prizes self-reliance. “Lean on yourself, believe in yourself, trust your gut.” But Proverbs turns us in the opposite direction: lean not on yourself, but on the Lord. That is true and everlasting wisdom, and it brings everlasting life and true peace.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Paul takes us deeper in Second Corinthians four. He writes, “[W]e have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”[5] The apostles were not mighty men by worldly standards. They were ordinary, frail, often fearful. And yet, through them God proclaimed the priceless treasure of the Gospel. The same God who spoke light into darkness shone in their hearts the light of Christ and brought the very light of Christ from their mouths into the ears of those in lands near and far.

Bartholomew was one such clay jar. By human standards, he is forgettable. By God’s standards, he was chosen to bear the glory of Christ. Tradition says he was flayed alive for confessing Jesus. What greater image of weakness could there be? Indeed, his career led to the great seeming failure of his death. And yet, in that weakness the power of Christ was revealed. As Paul says: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” [6] This is true of us as well. We are jars of clay, fragile, chipped, even broken. Yet God has put His treasure in us, the forgiveness of sins, the gift of His Word, the seal of Holy Baptism, the Body and Blood of Christ in the Supper. We are weak and fragile in and of ourselves, but the treasure is of surpassing greatness. The power is not ours, but His.

Greatness: Serving as the Least

Finally, in Luke twenty-two, the disciples are once again arguing about who among them is the greatest. Imagine the scene; Jesus has just instituted the Lord’s Supper and He is mere hours away from His betrayal and death. And what are His Twelve Disciples doing? They are bickering about rank and status! Jesus’s response is clear, “[T]he greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”[7] And He adds: “I am among you as the one who serves.”[8] This turns the world upside down. Greatness is not found in power, fame, or control, but in humility and service. Christ Himself shows this, He, the very Son of God knelt to wash His disciples’ feet, giving His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, stretching out His arms on the cross to redeem the world.

Bartholomew, this quiet apostle, shows us the same. His greatness was not in prestige or earthly success, but in faithfully bearing Christ’s name, even to the point of death. And here is the great wonder in all these things, Jesus promises that those who trust in Him and confess His name will also sit at His table in His kingdom. “I assign to you a kingdom,” He says, “that you may eat and drink at my table.”[9] Those who seem least here are greatest there.

What This Means for Us

So, what does the Feast of St. Bartholomew mean for us?

First, do not despise weakness. You may feel ordinary, fragile, even unworthy. But you are God’s chosen vessel, a jar of clay carrying the treasure of Christ. Your weakness does not disqualify you; it is the very place where God’s power shines.

Second, seek greatness, not in earthly things like success or power, but in service in faith. In your family, in your church, in your work, in all these places, true greatness is found in serving others in the name of Jesus. The world may not applaud. But your Lord sees, and at His table He will honor you.

Finally, trust in the Lord. Do not lean on your own wisdom, your own strength, your own cleverness. Christ is your wisdom. His cross is your boast. His Word is your guide, your strength, and your security.

Conclusion

St. Bartholomew is not remembered for dazzling speeches or mighty deeds. He is remembered for following Christ, for bearing the treasure of the Gospel in his frail body, for serving the Lord even unto death. In him we see the pattern of discipleship: greatness that comes through service, wisdom that trusts God, and weakness that reveals Christ’s strength.

So today, let us rejoice in Christ who is our wisdom, our strength, and our true greatness. And let us pray for grace to follow Him faithfully, like Bartholomew, until the day we eat and drink with Him in His kingdom.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] Luke 22:25-26 English Standard Version. All further citations from the Holy Scriptures are from the ESV.

[2] Weedon, Will, Celebrating the Saints, St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2016. 150-151.

[3] John 1:49

[4] Proverbs 3:1,5

[5] 2 Corinthians 4:7

[6] 2 Corinthians 4:8

[7] Luke 22:26

[8] Luke 22:27

[9] Luke 22:29-30