1 Peter, Week 4

Note: This post is fourth in a series of nine posts working through a nine-week Bible study. Week one can be found here. Lesson posts are posted every Tuesday.

This week's study from 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times focused on living faithfully in a society hostile to Christianity. I have to say that, for me, the crux of the entire lesson came down to this verse:

...and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threat, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:23

The verse speaks of Jesus and what He endured when He went to the cross. He was without sin, yet He was condemned, beaten, and sent to die the death of the worst of criminals. How can I ever cry for justice for myself when the least of my sin is worthy of the death Jesus died? He took that death for me without even the slightest objection to the insults, accusations, or physical blows directed toward Him.

In the context of the lesson, Jesus' surrender of all deserved justice gives us a picture of how we should respond to the persecution of this world. This is not necessarily a step-by-step instruction guide showing every action we should take when we are persecuted. If it were, how could we explain how some are called to die for their faith while others are spared? How would we reconcile the actions of those who publicly preach in hostile environments with those who disciple in hiding? Instead, this is a call to follow Jesus' example. Jesus trusted. He trusted the Father to handle the details. He trusted the Father to handle the judgment. Jesus simply walked in perfect obedience, obedience that led Him to death on the cross. Philippians 2:5 calls us to have this same attitude, the attitude of humble obedience, even if it means death for ourselves as well.

In all honesty, I don't endure persecution like Peter's audience endured. Chances are, many of you do not either. The worst I experience is to “endure” the talk of several friends and family members who repeatedly poke fun at and insult my faith. They do me no harm, other than to sadden my heart. I am in no danger because of their words. So, lacking in direct persecution and danger to ourselves, how does the lesson of 1 Peter 2:23 shake out for us?

I see two things:

1. Trust. This isn't only about persecution. This is about every hard thing we do in life. This is about seeing a loved one walking a dangerous path, but knowing we can do nothing about it. This is about enduring a painful ordeal that seems to be never-ending. This is about aching for a hurting friend and wishing we could just fix it. We may not be living under hard-core persecution, but we are still in the battle against spiritual forces. And every pain we see requires an active response on our part: the response of trust. God is just. Will we trust Him to act justly in every painful situation we see or endure?

2. Preparation. For many Christians living in Europe in 1939, the level of persecution changed overnight. One day they were free to worship and live as they pleased, with the worst of their persecution being insults from unbelievers. The next day, a madman invaded their land and truly living out the fullness of their faith became instantly dangerous. It could happen here, too. Every ounce of our freedom could be gone in an instant. If we can trust God to be the perfect Judge over the insults today, then we will be better equipped to walk in that trust tomorrow when the true persecution comes.

So, it comes down to entrusting myself to the perfect Judge. If I will do that, I will be able to face anything this pagan world has to throw at me.