SERMON OUTLINE:
FIRST: Jesus is our Example in Life (vs 21-23)
SECOND: Jesus is our Substitute in Death (vs 24)
THIRD: Jesus is our Guardian Shepherd in Heaven (vs 25)
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• C.S. Lewis was once asked, “Why do Christians suffer?”
• He answered, “Why not? They are the only ones who can take it.”
• What he meant was;
• That as Christians we have a Saviour who suffered;
• And because He suffered for us, He calls us to follow in His steps.
• We don’t like suffering; we don’t want suffering;
• We often don’t understand why we suffer – but this sentiment is true for everyone,
Ill:
• We are familiar with the expression, “No pain, no gain”
• We normally hear it in the context of exercise and going to the gym.
• I have a friend who refuses to go to the gym,
• If you ask him why he smiles and says; “No pain, no pain!”
• Well, at least he is honest!
• TRANSITION: Most of us do not want any pain and suffering,
• Life gives everyone (Christian & unbeliever) enough of that all by itself,
• Yet, in these verses the apostle Peter says if you follow Jesus expect some more!
• That is part of the package of belonging to him!
Ill:
• In the UK we will probably never be imprisoned for our faith in Jesus Christ.
• In the UK we may never be beaten, or have our children taken from us,
• In the UK we may not be denied employment or refused legal rights,
• Because of our Christian faith.
• Although the way things are going in the next 20 years that may all change!
• But you will at some time suffer for Christ:
• We may lose friends; we may be ostracised at work from certain groups of people.
• We may be ridiculed and even bullied for our beliefs.
• Even in the UK some Christians are given the hard choice;
• Following Christ means losing your family
• (especially if they convert from a Moslem background).
Christian suffering is never without meaning or purpose:
• The Word of God makes this point again and again and again!
• And in this passage the apostle Peter reminds us;
• That suffering is often an essential part of service.
• You have given me the title; ‘Following in his steps’.
• Taken from verse 21.
• One of the many titles the Bible gives to Jesus is The Suffering Servant.
• Therefore, if we are following him, we must at times expect to suffer!
Quote Amy Carmichael (1867-1951):
• Was a missionary in India for 55 years;
• She was the author of 35 books,
• She worked among girls who were victims of sexual-abuse, or temple prostitution.
• She helped protect and shelter the babies born as a result of the temple prostitution.
• On numerous occasions she faced legal charges of kidnapping,
• And often faced physical threats.
• Following a serious fall;
• She spent the last the last twenty years of her life as an invalid.
• One of her many poems is called; “Hast thou no scar?”
“Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spend,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wounds nor scar?”
• TRANSITION: If we are to; ‘Follow in his steps’.
• Then we must at times expect to suffer!
Let me remind you of the context of 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 21-25.
• This passage is sandwiched between two sections,
• In those sections the apostle Peter tells these Christians,
• How to act when treated unjustly.
• The first situation you looked at last week (chapter 2 verses 18-20);
• How to live and act when as servants/employees;
• We are treated poorly by masters/bosses.
• The second situation you will look at next week (chapter 3 verses 1-2);
• How wives are to live and act when they are treated poorly by husbands.
• And in between the two instructions the apostle Peter uses this example to follow:
• Jesus, the one who endured the suffering of injustice.
FIRST: Jesus is Our Example in Life (vs 21-23)
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
‘He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.’
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Ill:
• The story is told of a man who was watching a TV programme late at night,
• When to his surprise a mouse right across the room, before his very eyes
• He was shocked, but immediately took action,
• He found a mousetrap and then went to the fridge to get some cheese.
• But there was no cheese.
• So, he did what he thought was the next best thing.
• He got a food magazine that had colourful photos in it.
• And he cut out a picture of cheese and put it in the mousetrap.
• He then went to bed.
• Now the next morning he woke up and went to check the mousetrap,
• And…you are not going to believe this,
• But he found there, a picture of a mouse in the trap!
• TRANSITION: And the moral of the story is…
• If you want to catch the real thing, you’ve got to put out the real thing!
• Well, Jesus was in every sense the real thing, the genuine article,
• And he is the one we seek to follow,
• Enabled by his Holy Spirit.
• Now the whole life of Jesus as recorded in the gospels,
• Is a perfect example for us to follow,
• But the apostle Peter draws our attention the sufferings of Christ.
• In fact, he mentions two specific things.
(1). An Example in Purity.
• Verse 22a: “He committed no sin”
• There was no sin or deceit found in Jesus.
Ill:
• Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876),
• You may not recognise the name but over the years, you have sung his songs.
• He was American composer, conductor, writer of hymns;
• And a bass-baritone Gospel singer,
• He was also an associate evangelist for the great D.L. Moody.
• Although P.P. Bliss died at the young age of 38,
• He had written many hymns & songs that have stood the test of time.
• He wrote that children’s chorus, "Dare to be a Daniel".
• He penned the tune that goes with the words for Horatio Spafford's;
• "When Peace like a river” (or “It is Well With My Soul".)
• He wrote, “Wonderful words of life.”
• As well as; “I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n” (or “Jesus loves even me”)
• He also wrote the invitation song "Almost Persuaded".
• Survivors of the RMS Titanic disaster, including Dr. Washington Dodge,
• Reported that passengers in lifeboats sang the Bliss hymn "Pull For The Shore",
• He also wrote the song:
• “Man of sorrows what a name” (or "Hallelujah, What a Saviour".)
• The third verse goes like this:
“Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!”
• TRANSITION: IT reminds us that Jesus was sinless and we are sinful,
• Question: So how can I follow his example?
• Answer: The apostle Peter is expecting us to be perfect like Jesus was,
• I think the point is this;
• The source of our suffering should not be our own sin.
• In fact, Peter has already stated that if we suffer because of our own foolishness,
• Then there is no credit towards God for that (vs 20).
Ill:
• Robert Murray McCheyne (The 19th Century Scottish minister);
• Wrote a letter to Dan Edwards after he had been ordained as a missionary,
"In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God".
• TRANSITION: Jesus is our example in purity.
• And “God blesses our likeness to Jesus”
(2). An Example in Speech.
• Verse 22b: “and no deceit was found in his mouth.’”
• Jesus did not speak against those who spoke against him.
• When you think about the last hours of Jesus life,
• When he hung on the cross in pain and agony;
• Even when he was dying, there was no let up, his enemies openly mocked him.
• Yet despite all the provocation Jesus did not attack his opponents verbally.
• He did not curse or threaten (vs 23)
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.”
Ill:
• You can bet that the two thieves crucified with Jesus,
• That they made many threats and many curses and from their lips came vile words.
• But not from Jesus,
• Instead, they heard prayers and words of forgiveness.
• TRANSITION: Jesus is our example in speech.
• Quote: Proverbs chapter 12 verse 18
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
• Words are a 'powerful force' so as Christians;
• We must discipline ourselves to speak in a way that conveys respect,
• Gentleness and humility.
• One of the traits that should mark out the Christian in the world is right speech.
• We should be truthful, wise in what and how we speak.
Quote: Some choice thoughts about the Tongue:
• About abrasive speech:
• Many a blunt word has a sharp edge.
• Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them.
• About gossip:
• Gossip is like soap -- mostly lye! (Lye is an ingredient in natural soap)
• A gossip is just a fool with a keen sense of rumour.
• About profanity:
• Profanity is a public announcement of stupidity.
• Swearing is a lax man's way of trying to be emphatic.
• About telling the truth:
• A lie is a coward's way of getting out of trouble.
• Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn't always tolled.
• About boasting:
• When you sing your own praise, you always get the tune too high.
• Don't brag; it isn't the whistle that pulls the train.
• TRANSITION:
• One of the traits that should mark out the Christian in the world is right speech.
• We should be truthful, wise in what and how we speak.
SECOND: Jesus is our Substitute in Death (vs 24)
‘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.’
• Jesus did not die as a martyr but as a saviour.
• This verse is rich in Jewish imagery.
• e.g.#1: The apostle Peter's choice of words such as ‘bore’
• Would echo the technical terms of the Israelite sacrificial system.
• It means, "to offer as a sacrifice, offer up”,
• e.g.#2: The apostle Peter also includes the word "himself"
• He is emphasizing that no one else bore these sins,
• But ONLY Jesus himself.
• Animal sacrifices could only cover over a person’s sin,
• But Jesus himself has ‘bore’ away, he has purchased forgiveness once and for all.
• e.g#3: The apostle Peter stresses Jesus' body in this passage.
• Peter is speaking here as a Jew,
• With a strong stress on the unity of body and soul.
Ill:
• In the Roman world, a kind dualism flourished;
• That considered body as fundamentally sinful,
• Therefore, Roman thinking always emphasised the importance or spirit over the body.
• TRANSITION: But Peter was a Jew, writing primarily to Jewish people.
• The Jews valued the body as something sacred.
• Jews like Christians believe….
“That the body and soul are separate yet indivisible partners in human life. Rather than imprisoning or corrupting the soul, the body is a God-given tool for doing sacred work in the world. It requires protection, care, and respect, because it is holy.”
• And so, to say that Jesus bore our sins in his body,
• That means that he took our sins upon his very Self.
The apostle Peter tells us two things concerning Christ’s death:
• FIRST: He stresses the severity of his death:
• N.I.V.: “He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross”
• K.J.B.: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree”
Ill:
• The reason the word ‘tree’ (‘xulon’ in Greek) is used,
• Makes an important point to Jewish people.
• Traditionally, the Jews viewed any individual who hung on a tree,
• As one who was under God’s curse.
Quote: Deuteronomy chapter 21 verse 23:
“You must not leave the body hanging on the pole/tree overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole/tree is under God’s curse”
Quote: Galatians chapter 3 verse 13:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole/tree."
• Now the apostle Peter (and also Dr Luke in the book of Acts;
• When they used the Greek word ‘xulon’ translated as ‘pole/tree’,
• Did not mean Jesus was crucified on a living tree.
• But rather he was crucified on some kind of apparatus,
• That was fashioned from the timber of a tree.
• Therefore, there is no contradiction in scripture or problem concerning those passages
• FIRST: He stresses the severity of his death:
• SECOND: He stresses why Christ died,
• His death was severe, but it was also substitutional.
• e.g. Verse 21: “Christ suffered for YOU”
• e.g. Verse 24: He includes himself when he says: ‘He himself bore OUR sins…”
Ill:
• Think back to Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876),
• And P.P. Bliss’s great hymn, “Man of sorrows what a name” (or "Hallelujah, What a Saviour")
• The fourth verse goes like this:
“He was lifted up to die; (shame of the cross)
"It is finished" was his cry; (victory of the cross)
now in heaven exalted high: (that is the result of the cross)
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!” (that is my response to the cross)
Quote: William Sangster,
• William Sangster, the great British Methodist preacher,
• Once wrote concerning Jesus’ death:
• "If He was a man, it was murder;
• If He was God, it was an offering.
• If He was man, it was martyrdom;
• If He was God, it was sacrifice.
• If He was man, they took his life from Him;
• If He was God, He laid it down Himself.
• If He was man, we are called to admiration;
• if He was God, we are called to adoration.
• If He was man, we must stand up and take our hats off;
• If He was God, we must fall down and give Him our hearts."
Notice:
• Jesus bore our sins as he was on the cross. That is very clear.
• But Jesus' purpose for this sacrifice is equally clear in Peter's mind (vs 24):
‘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.’
• For Peter, the cross isn't just for Jesus, it is for us, too.
• Of course, this is what Peter heard his Master teach time and time again:
• (Luke chapter 9 verses 23-24)
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
• Jesus took up his cross and died in order to give life.
• For us, taking up our cross consists of dying to our old selfish, sinful way of life;
• And then following or living for Jesus wherever he leads us,
Note:
• The verse ends by quoting Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5,
• Most Bible commentators agree that this reference;
• Is not about physical conditions, but our spiritual destiny.
• The idea behind the word healed;
• Is to restore someone to health after a sickness
• As Christians,
• We have been healed from the penalty and power of our sin by Christ's wounds,
• By His death in our place, by His suffering for our good.
• The wounds—the suffering—of Jesus,
• Are the means by which Christians are healed, forgiven by God for our sins.
• So, this reference is not primarily about physical conditions, but our spiritual destiny.
• And the very next verse confirms that viewpoint.
“For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Or you can understand it in the past, present and future context.
• RE: Past – He has bore our sins – free from sins penalty.
• RE: Present – We have died to sin – free from sins power.
• RE: Future – We will be free from sins presence (no more sickness etc).
THIRD: Jesus is our Guardian Shepherd in Heaven (vs 25)
“For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Once again, this verse contains the imagery from Isaiah chapter 53 (verse 6).
• We all were like wandering sheep walking away from the shepherd,
• Lost and in danger.
• Notice: the wording here, “You were….but now”
• There has been a turning around, a conversion.
The title ‘Shepherd & overseer’ is really one title:
• Our shepherd expresses concern and oversight for his sheep,
• So instead of wandering we stay on the straight and narrow.
Ill:
• William Waldegrave lived in the late 1800s.
• He was the Lord of Radstock, England
• More importantly than that he was a Christian, a preacher and missionary.
• He is best known for his work during the Great Russian Awakening.
• One night after preaching,
• William was sat upon a train waiting for it to pull out the station and take him home;
• As he sat there, a young army officer ran up to the window and tapped on it;
• William Waldegrave opened the window and the soldier spoke to him.
• “Sir, I heard you speak tonight,
• But tell me, how can a man keep straight in a crooked world?
• As the train started to move, the preacher pulled a pencil from his pocket,
• Laid it in the palm of his hand, and asked, “Can that pencil stand upright?”
• The soldier replied “No, of course not”,
• William then took the pencil in his hand and held it in an upright position.
• “Ah!” said the young man. “I see that now you are holding it up”.
• “Yes,” said William. “And your life is like this pencil, helpless.
• But Jesus Christ is the Hand that can hold you.”
• With those words, the train pulled away.
• TRANSITION: Our shepherd expresses concern and oversight for his sheep,
• So instead of wandering we stay on the straight and narrow.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=uLjatIPaL6S7ivBYQdShW63QRsGcKVy9
