“In the Shadow of the Cross”
I Peter 1:18-2:3
‘Peter’s Principle’s’ Series
January 25th, 2009
The cross: an instrument of torturous death—capital punishment—an inhumane way to die—one died bleeding and exposed to the elements—an object of ridicule. Jesus did all of that for us—a sinless lamb. He did all of that for me. He endured the cross to take our sin upon himself.
There were only a few who could be counted as faithful in the shadow of the cross that Friday afternoon: The disciples John, Mary Jesus’ mother and few other women. All the other disciples had deserted. All the others were hiding in the shadows. The crowds that lined the shores in Galilee were nowhere to be found. And there was Peter. Peter, with more boldness than follow through, declared that he would never leave Jesus. He would never abandon him. And yet as soon as Jesus was arrested, Peter couldn’t backpedal quick enough. He denied that he even knew Jesus. Instead of standing in the shadow of the cross, he stood in the shadow of confusion, of denial, of fear.
Peter, humiliated by his failure to stand by Jesus didn’t consider himself worthy of even being called a disciple. But after the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, telling him “feed my sheep”. He gave him a new purpose—building the church—the body of believers—calling men and women to repentance and a life of forgiveness through Jesus.
Lets read I Peter 1:18-2:3
Peter, now a man much older, writes to the church at large and helps them understand what it means to live in the shadow of the cross instead of the shadows of fear. He had been there, and done that. I think that that experience was so pivotal, so key to Peter’s makeup that he cannot escape it. The last thing I want to do is to put words in Peter’s mouth, but if he were here today, I imagine he would be passionately reminding us to stay in the shadow of the cross. Let me humbly suggest that living in the shadow of the cross means acknowledging the cross, learning the example of the cross and it means quite simply, a changed life.
So first, to live in the shadow of the cross means to acknowledge the cross. Verse 18 & 19 say, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Peter is not just saying, acknowledge the fact that Jesus went to the cross for you, he is saying, understand, acknowledge, ruminate on the reality that God in the person of Jesus redeemed you with his own body—not with gold or silver. He gave himself. God, not gold, for you. Think about that for a minute; perfection for ruined imperfect me.
Peter who knew the facts of the cross is asking us to go a bit deeper. He knew Jesus died, no one was disputing that. Peter is saying, look—the creator of the universe—the perfect Christ went to the cross for me and you and that is so key to understanding God’s heart for us. Peter, who did not stand with the cross on Good Friday, who did not acknowledge Jesus in the courtyard at his trial, stands ready now to accept the shame of the cross. Because in it’s shame is glory, there is forgiveness.
Peter, I think stands at the foot of the cross, in its shadow and calls to us—come on. Don’t make the mistake I did. Here there is forgiveness, here there is purpose. Here there is the peace of God. I think he might tell us that he lost sight of that fact and let his fear get in the way of his faith. He let the gruesomeness of the cross get in the way of its meaning.
We live in a world in which many people did not grow up in church. We have to be careful in using church-y words, that the meaning of God’s Word is not muddled in our communicating it simply because we use words that people don’t understand. All kinds of people wear the cross around their necks. Rock stars, celebrities and prison inmates tattoo the cross all over themselves. And I cannot tell you what they mean when they wear the cross, but the cross means everything. On the other hand you have people that want to sanitize the cross. Let’s not talk about blood—that’s gross. And I know that it makes some people physically uneasy. My 90 year old grandfather gets a little white anytime anyone talks about blood.
But others go further. We live in a time when many mainline denominations and ‘enlightened’ people have moved to proclaiming only a social gospel instead of proclaiming salvation through the blood of Christ. Some have even gone so far as to remove songs dealing with the blood from their ‘enlightened’ worship. Listen to this quote from a liberal theologian named Delores Williams, “ I don’t think we need folks hanging on crosses and blood dripping and weird stuff.”
People of God, the indignity of the cross—the blood—all of it is repulsive—not just the form of death—but that God had to do that for you and I. Repulsive or not—that’s what sin caused and love took care of. Peter says, will stand with me at the foot of the cross or will you be on the outside looking on?
Peter says further in verses 20 & 21 “that Jesus was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him so your faith and hope are in God.”
Aren’t you glad that God was not surprised by our sin? He knew that when mankind was given the choice, some would not always choose him. And because of that, before creation even began, Jesus was ready to come to be our redemption. Living in the shadow of the cross means acknowledging the cross.
Secondly, I think Peter would tell us today that we need to learn the example of the cross. Look with me please at verse 22. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
This verse is packed with good stuff. This is like Christian vitamins or something. Look at that first phrase, ‘now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth….” What does Peter mean here? He has just been talking about holiness in verse 15. Be holy as he is holy. You and I look at that and think, sure that’s great Jesus. I’m almost sure I can be holy like Jesus. Guess I’ll go home now and give up. But Peter gives us hope here. He tells us that purity and holiness come from obedience. Period. You want to live the holy life? Live the obedient life. I don’t know about you, but that gives me hope. As Christ leads me, I will be obedient. I can do that with his help! And you know what? That is part of learning the example of the cross. Jesus was obedient to the Father to go to the cross and stay there for my sin and yours; to take my penalty and redeem me.
The example of the cross is love for the unlovable. Sincere love, Peter says for your brothers and sisters. Jesus summed up the whole law by saying love God with all your heart soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Elsewhere Scripture says that true religion is this: to care for widows and orphans. I John says that the world will know we are Christians by our love. The apostle Paul said that all the spiritual gifts are wonderful, but do them without love for God and people and they only become an annoyance like clanging symbols. They are meaningless without love for others.
Peter calls us to the foot of the cross. Acknowledge it—that it is for you. Learn the example of the cross—obedience to God and love for others. And last I believe that Peter is telling us, that living in the shadow of the cross means a changed life.
Let’s look again at 2:1-3. “Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kinds. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, not that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Peter reminds the church—that’s you and me by the way—that living in the shadow of the cross ought to change us. You might think that reflecting on the magnitude of the gift of Jesus on the cross might do that, but we are so forgetful. We need to remind ourselves of these things.
If we want to be obedient, and righteous; if we want to have sincere love for one another, let’s look at what Peter is saying we should be rid of:
Malice—evil intentions toward others
Deceit—God is truth, all truth is God’s truth—if we are going to be like him, we must reflect that quality
Envy—Command 10 of 10 says, do not covet—don’t envy what I give to others, be satisfied with what God gives you
Slander—mean spirited words against others
Isn’t it a shame that Peter even has to remind us of these things. But sadly he does. Because until Christ fully transforms us we will deal with sinful attitudes and sometimes outright sinful actions. Lord help us be different. Peter says that living in the shadow of the cross ought to change us.
Verse 2 says crave spiritual milk. Peter is appealing to our better selves. You have tasted that God is good—now desire more of him. Some Christians only want enough of God to forgive their sins—not enough to help them change—not enough to make them uncomfortable. Living in the shadow of the cross means a changed life; changed actions; a changed mind.
People of God, are you ready to come out the shadows where Peter used to stand? Are you ready to say, count me in. I will stand at the foot of the cross. I will stand up and be counted for obedience. I will stand at the foot of the cross because it is more than a neck ornament for me. I will stand at the cross because I know that is where my true significance comes from. I will come out from where I have been, hiding, fearful of what God is asking me to do, to be, to become. I will come away from my sinful habits and attitudes, and I will crave the Word of God. I will crave time with him. I will put aide my own arrogance, my agenda, my plan and I will stand with the cross. Will you stand with him?
As we sing this morning, I want you to respond to Jesus. Maybe that is coming up here, maybe it is making a commitment to him, maybe you need to confess a sinful attitude or habit. Respond to Jesus in a way that is concrete. Plant a stake in the ground today. I will be different Lord. With your help I can be obedient.
