New Class offering for Ekklesia: 1 Peter: Part Two (2:13-4:14) Submission, Suffering, and Service
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) The mission of Christ on earth was one of submission. All that He said and did was done in line with the will of His Father, even to the point of death on a cross. Now, Jesus reigns on high, having been exalted by the Father to the highest place, and we await the Day of His appearing, when His reign will be known not only by faith, but by sight. So, what of the followers of this Suffering King? We will continue to see how the Apostle Peter spells out our discipleship. While we may be tempted to close ourselves off from the world, or perhaps to rebel against “worldly” governments, Peter instructs us that as followers of a King Who Served, so we are to be people who humbly serve. Even when we face “fiery trials,” we should not be surprised or scared, for our King has faced the ultimate trial, and emerged victorious. As we keep our eyes on Him, we follow His example, and are guaranteed His ultimate fate. This letter represents a timely message for today. Our behavior towards the world and towards one another speaks a powerful message about Jesus to watching eyes. Pray that we will be blessed by God’s Word together!