1 Peter

We’re going to consider some broad themes in 1 Peter, but before we do that, let’s consider Peter himself.  When Peter was introduced to Jesus of Nazareth, the first words Jesus said to Peter were startling.  Jesus said to him, “’You are Simon son of John.  You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter)” (John 1:42).   Simon became Peter, a name that would become emblematic of the new life Jesus gave him. 

Peter became one of Jesus’ 12 disciples – Jesus’ leadership team, if you will.  Within that leadership team was an inner circle of three: James, John and Peter.  This inner circle had a front-row seat to Jesus’ life and ministry for three years.

Peter was the most outspoken of the bunch.  He didn’t always get it right, but he often spoke up first and most boldly!  For example, Peter was the first to declare that Jesus is the Messiah (Mt 16:16).   He got that one right.  But then, infamously, when Jesus told Peter he would deny him, Peter proclaimed with utter confidence, “I will never desert you!” (Mt 26:33).  Peter didn’t get that one right.  We’ll come back to that, since the letter of 1 Peter is about standing firm in the face of pressure – exactly what Peter did not do here.

Harvard trained theologian Dr. Robert Mulholland has articulated what spiritual formation is in a very clear and simple way.  According to Mulholland, “Spiritual formation is the process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.”

In a way, this is a summary of 1 Peter.  Peter’s primary concern in his first letter is to encourage and equip followers of Jesus to stand firm in the face of pressure, and to do this for the sake of others – the unbelieving world.

Peter likely wrote this letter from Rome (see 5:13 where Peter refers to Babylon, a likely reference to Rome) where pressure on the Christian community was beginning to grow.  Peter wrote to the Christians who were scattered across modern day Turkey and who were also beginning to experience pressure from Rome because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  In his opening greetings, Peter addresses his readers as exiles (1:1).  In other words, in this world they were like foreigners and strangers whose ultimate trajectory is heavenward.

As exiles in a strange land, they shouldn’t be surprised to suffer for doing good.  Peter repeatedly points to Christ’s suffering as both a pattern for life (2:21) and a redeeming sacrifice (2:24).  This is why Peter always refers to Jesus’ work on the cross as Christ’s suffering rather than Christ’s death or crucifixion.  Peter wants to point us to Jesus’ suffering as an example of

(1) how to endure pressure well and

(2) how such suffering can be for the sake of others. 

Remember Mulholland’s definition for spiritual formation?  It is to be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.  Nothing forms us like suffering.  And nothing forms us in the image of Christ like suffering for doing good, like Jesus did (2:20).

There’s no doubt in my mind that when Peter wrote this letter, he was remembering that scene by the charcoal fire when he crumbled under pressure and denied even knowing Jesus.  Three times Peter was asked if he knew this Jesus who was being dragged away to be crucified, and three times Peter denied any association with him. 

Peter had changed a lot since those denials.  The resurrected Jesus had forgiven and reinstated Peter while next to a different charcoal fire (John 21:9-19), Peter had received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), and he had grown into a bold proclaimer of the gospel (Acts 2:14-36).  He had grown into the name Jesus gave him at their first encounter – Peter, the solid rock upon which Jesus would build his church.

Peter had been “formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others” and the New Testament book of 1 Peter is aimed at the same thing for you and me. 

As you read 1 Peter, may you be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Keep the Faith!

Pastor Peter