1 Peter 2:18-25 (Sermon 2)
Jesus, the Life-Giving Shepherd

1. All Christians are called to do good and suffer
2. Because Christ suffered as an example
3. And Christ suffered that we might live for righteousness
   1. He himself bore our sins
      1. He bore our sins
         1. Peter is again quoting Isaiah 53: "Surely he has borne our griefs [Lit. Illnesses]".
            1. Isaiah pictures the Messiah as the Great Physician, coming to heal the sick
            2. Peter identifies the true sickness (as does Isaiah when he says "He was wounded for our transgressions/ He was bruised for our iniquities" (Is 53.5))
            3. Christ is compared to the scapegoat upon whom the High Priest laid hands and drove it out of the camp, bearing the sins of the people.
            4. But Peter well knew that the sacrificial system hadn't worked. When Jesus appeared before him in the boat, he cried "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
         2. The chastisement for our peace was upon him and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.
         3. All our sins were laid on Jesus at the cross. The one who knew no sin was suddenly drenched in sin as with filth and slime.
         4. He bore this. He endured it, to say the least. And endured it patiently.
         5. But "bore" means more than "endured."
         6. He bore not merely the presence of our sins but the penalty for them.
            1. It was the chastisement for our peace (Is 53.5)
            2. His life was made an offering for sin (Is 53.10b)
      2. His bodily suffering is emphasized
         1. He himself did this
         2. He suffered as a man, i.e. vicariously. The fact that he suffered in the body indicates he suffered exactly what our sins merited.
         3. Here, at the cross, in a grotesquely visible form, is what every one of your sins deserves
         4. for the benefit of the slaves who were beaten even though they'd done nothing wrong. Jesus is again their example and their help
      3. On the tree
         1. "We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted" (Is 53.4)
            1. Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree
            2. For a Jew, the very fact that Jesus was crucified proves he wasn't the Messiah. But they miss the point that it was for our sins.
            3. He bore the curse of God on our behalf
         2. Thus his spiritual suffering is also emphasized
      4. By his wounds we are healed
         1. ironically, those very wounds take away our deadly disease of sin. We are healed. Those lash marks and nail prints, the increasing infirmity of that body—these make us healthier than we ever were. As healthy as Adam in the garden, indeed healthier for nothing shall now separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
         2. Again, think of the slaves, whipped even though righteous. May they not take encouragement from this that Jesus's patient bearing of suffering had a wonderful effect for them.
         3. May we not be encouraged as well?
         4. And may we not be willing to suffer in the body in this present life
            1. the one healing we needed has been brought about
            2. the suffering actually draws us close to Christ, uniting us with him in his suffering.
         5. Consider Peter's audience, persecuted while believing and often because they believe
            1. Are they not tempted to esteem themselves stricken by God for their sins.
            2. But they have been removed from those sins and the sins paid for.
            3. Naturally, they hoped Peter would tell them that this suffering was about to end in this life, that God was about to usher in a Golden Age of the church in which they would not need to suffer.
            4. Peter says no, fix your eyes on Jesus. Suffer with him as you set your hope fully on the grace to be revealed when he comes again. Until then it is your privilege and honor to suffer as those who don't deserve to do so.
            5. We are so often tempted to believe that God, who judged Christ, is now judging us as well for our sins. We feel we wouldn't suffer as much is we were holier. Untrue! Pursue holiness, but not to escape suffering; rather, that your suffering might be for Christ and with Christ and in Christ.
   2. That, having died to sin, we might live for righteousness
      1. Lit. That, having been removed from sin or made far from sin....
         1. Peter used this concept earlier when he urged you to abstain "be far from" youthful lusts (v. 11)
         2. Usually we think of our sins being removed from us (and that's legitimate)
         3. But God here encourages you to think of yourself as having been removed from sin. As one who was a sinner, you were very close to sin. Christ left your sins at the cross and ascended into heaven and has taken you with him. You are not only united with Christ in his death, but in his resurrection and exaltation. You are far away from the sins of your flesh.
         4. Peter no longer has to cry "Go away from me Lord!" He and his Lord have both gone away and left his sin behind.
         5. This has taken place. It's over! It happened at the cross and you have been baptized into that death.
         6. Believe it! Reckon yourself far from those sins. Consider yourself at such a distance from them. They have no pull, they hold no temptation, they are so far away!
            1. What do you have to do with fornication or adultery? Even lust must seem ridiculous, as ridiculous as a healed man longing for cancer again (or even the flu).
            2. What do you have to do with anger or jealousy or covetousness or pride? You been taken away from all that.
            3. You have already suffered for these sins in the body of Christ, why should you be punished in this life for them—whether by the government or masters and bosses or any other earthly authority?
            4. You must suffer to be sure, but like Christ. Be far from sin and let your suffering be like the one who knew no sin.
         7. And Peter will later use our union with the suffering of Christ to say "he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (4.1)
         8. But "be far from" also means "died to" as is clear from the contrast....
      2. Now we may live for righteousness
         1. We've died to sin by being made alive to something else.
         2. We have been created for good works that we should walk in them
         3. Rise up, people of God! Shake off the sins that entangle you. Shake them off in the strength God provides, as easily as Samson bursting through cords meant to bind him.
         4. While you live on this earth it is your privilege and within the power given by the H.S. to do those things you are called to do. Not only to die to sin but to live for righteousness.
         5. You are being conformed more and more to the image of the one who saved you.
         6. Come and display that righteousness before the world. Let them see your meekness, your honesty, your hard work, your respect for those in authority. It is these mundane things, remember, that Peter has commended, hoping they will bear an eternal fruit.
         7. Abide in Christ and you will bear much fruit. Cling to him and believe in him and the effectiveness of his work on your behalf.
         8. Do not think of these things as things you have to do (or you'll get in trouble).
         9. These are things you long to do, things you were made to do.

      TRANSITION: Do you worry that you lack direction or empowerment to these good works? You have a shepherd who guides and feeds you. Do you worry that sin will rise up again and destroy you? You have a guardian of your soul.

   3. For He will always be our gentle guide
      1. We were like sheep going astray
         1. We were wandering in whatever direction our fancy took us, eating poison grass, drinking filthy water, sinning as much as we felt we could get away with.
         2. We were our own shepherd, guiding ourselves wherever seem right.
         3. And we were our own guardians, protecting ourselves ineffectively from the devil who roared about like a lion.
      2. Now we have been turned
         1. Not now we have returned (don't be ridiculous)
         2. God has turned us over to Christ (and no one shall pluck us out of his hands)
      3. He is the shepherd
         1. The shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep lives to guide us in the paths of righteousness.
            1. Look to Jesus who has left you footsteps to follow in and now guides you in them.
            2. He leads you in paths of righteousness for his names sake
         2. The shepherd not only guides but feeds
            1. Peter do you love me?
            2. He feeds you through the preaching of the gospel
            3. He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies
            4. Here, each Sunday, you are nourished to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
            5. As physical food nourishes you for physical tasks, so you are here nourished for the task of bearing fruit
      4. He is the Guardian
         1. Not a different concept, but fleshing out the "shepherd" concept
         2. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
            1. Your enemy the devil prowls about
            2. but you are not afraid of him
         3. Your rod and staff they comfort me
            1. He disciplines, but for our good
            2. And the rod and staff also keep predators away (e.g. the discipline of the church removes bad company that corrupts good morals)
      5. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord. What has he commanded that he has not given? Then let us be bold to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, guided by his word, in the strength he provides, guarded by him from all evil.

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