1 Peter 2 - A Nation Healed
1 Peter 2 - A Nation Healed
Since COVID-19, I have not traveled. On the one hand, that feels pretty good, and I enjoy being home and with my family, but on the other hand, I do enjoy traveling and visiting and seeing different areas of the country and the world. There was a time when I was traveling so much that it was common for me to wake up in the middle of the night and forget where I was. I would wake up, roll out of bed to go to the bathroom, and get confused because I did not recognize the surroundings. I suppose this would be a sign of being away from home too much.
Confused about where you are...has that happened to you? What about being confused about who you are. That is a bit different, and a bit deeper of a question. I think this happens to us more often than we would like to admit. Peter, even though his name changed from Simon to Peter and he was also known as the Rock...Peter knew who he was and who’s he was. Peter, in this letter, was writing to the exiled gentiles who were spread across Roman providences. These exiled Christians were being persecuted and living a tough life, and Peter needed to hope and instill faith in them. Check this out:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” - 1 Peter 2:4-5 NIV
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” - 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Take a moment; maybe you need to reread those verses. They are being built into a spiritual house to be holy, acceptable to God. A chosen people, a royal priesthood, God’s special possession. Peter was reminding these exiled Gentiles they belonged to a new family, the family of God, and they are chosen. This, as I read these are words we need today. These are reminders for us all and encouraging words we need to take in as well as share with others.
We must remember the context that these words are coming, and this encouragement is being delivered. This encouragement and reminder of the new family they belong to is coming while suffering, slavery, and persecution.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” - 1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV
In the midst of the suffering and persecution, these Gentiles had every right to rebel and rise against the oppression, but Peter did not encourage that. Peter took his queues from Jesus and pressed into the importance of living Godly lives. These next few verses are tough to take in, on the surface I can read them and not get it.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” - 1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV
Peter is starting with encouraging and reminding these readers of who they are, who’s they are, and the new family they belong to. Being in God’s family, Peter is now transitioning to what behavior should look like being a part of God’s family. This is a bit challenging to take in; these people were being persecuted, punished, and enslaved. These words read a bit passive and mild. But as I read and reread these words are not condoning or approving of the persecution, Peter is drawing a connection to Jesus, and Christ’s suffering as an example.
“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this, you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” - 1 Peter 2:18-21 NIV
So what is my take away today? This is heavy and not the easiest to process honestly. A key for me is the liberation that only comes from and through Jesus. Jesus took the most significant suffering and punishment for sins He did not commit. Jesus modeled the actions of mercy and love with his walk, and ultimately liberated us all. None of these actions, persecuting the Christians, was ok, and Peter never said it was. The actions take on people today; the injustice of the world is not ok. Do these words give us the green light to just be ok with injustice in our world, to watch racism, and just sit back and accept it? NO! That is not what these words are telling us. What did Jesus do? Jesus rebuked the religious who needed rebuking, and He loved those who needed love.
A take away for me reading this, and processing all this through the lens and perspective I have is unity in the body of Christ is the only way forward. Healing the world of the injustices and the persecution will only happen with Jesus. The message of Christ is the only way forward; the love of Jesus and the message of Jesus bring the needed healing. Leading people to Jesus, and living our lives as he modeled for us is the only way. Jesus was not passive, Jesus did not turn a blind eye to injustice, but at the same time, Jesus did not sin and act of this world.
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24 NIV
Lord God, this world desperately needs Jesus. All the suffering, injustice, and hurt pains my heart. I honestly have rage and anger in my body Lord, and I desire to channel that to a righteous anger that honors and glorifies you, God. Lord unite Christians globally around the central message of Jesus, and I ask Father that chains of slavery, bondage, and oppression are broken in Jesus' name. Amen.