Peter has spent much of his letter encouraging the church in their time of suffering. It is hard to associate with what he is saying because many of us have never been in a place of suffering because of our belief in Christ. I have never lost family, a job, friends, or anything of the sort because of my life dedicated to following Christ. In many ways, the culture of the church and the culture around us are not terribly different so it is difficult to distinguish Christians from non Christians.
One thing we need to pay attention to throughout this letter is that Peter sees the Church as an alternative community and provides clear expectations for those who claim to live the Christian life. If we continually raised the bar with one another for our discipleship to Christ, would persecution then follow because of how different our lives would be compared to the world around us? Our text this week begins in 1 Peter 4:12.
At that point, our suffering brings us alongside Christ. We know Christ better when we undergo suffering. I think about the Apostles in Acts who celebrated and praised God because they were counted worthy of persecution. In my prayer for the cup on Sunday, I prayed that our lives would be worthy of persecution. I meant that but at the same time, I didn’t. We honestly don’t want to be persecuted. It is painful. It is disorienting. So, maybe my prayer needs to be for God to help me to let go of everything I am holding onto that keeps me from clinging onto Christ and Christ alone. At that point I will have all that I will ever need. Maybe then I will have the courage to pray for persecution.
This prayer of relinquishment is what I believe frames the section I skipped on Sunday, 1 Peter 3:18-22. This little passage on baptism is packed with deep levels of theology that I’d like to explore this Sunday as a way to bring Peter’s letter to a close. Here are a few things to reflect on to prepare for Sunday: What did Jesus have to let go of in order to embrace the suffering of the cross? What did he have to hold tight to in order to embrace the suffering of the cross? Jesus finds himself in the unagreeable parts of the afterlife. What did he then proclaim? What does any of this have to do with baptism?
Peter ends his letter calling the elders of the Christian community to set the example of what life looks like as a follower of Christ. He then calls those who are younger to take the position of submission and for everyone to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. When the community of Christ followers is looking to one another in humility, they will be able to take their stand against the devil. What we do as a family has deeper ramifications in the batter against the dark forces of this world. Do you believe that?
Finally, Peter says he is writing from “Babylon” (5:13). Why is it important to recognize the empire you live in as the place of exile from God?
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.