This morning as we come to God's word, we come to be reminded of the good news.
We come to reflect on the death of Jesus and what it means for us.
We come to be reminded of his awesome love for us.
And we hear of these things through one of the men who knew Jesus very well.
He was one of the twelve disciples and more.
He was one of the inner circle of three, a best friend of Jesus, Peter, the fisherman from Galilee.
Many of you know the story of Peter.
He was called by Jesus.
He left it all to follow Jesus.
He was there for the many miracles that Jesus did.
He was there for the many parables that Jesus taught.
He was there when Jesus said the hard truths, the ones the people didn't like to hear.
He was there when Jesus was challenged by his opponents, the religious leaders.
Peter was there with Jesus in the upper room where Jesus washed the feet of all his disciples.
He was there as Jesus broke bread and passed the cup around the table.
Peter was there in the garden while Jesus was praying in deep anguish of soul.
He was there with the sword in his hand when Judas came to betray Jesus with the temple guards.
Peter was there in the courtyard of the high priest while Jesus' enemies had their way with him.
And as Jesus came to be tried by Pilate and led away to be crucified,
it doesn't say anywhere in the Bible in those moments where Peter was.
No doubt he feared for his life, having been one of the closest followers of Jesus.
Not only that, but he also bore the weight of his own personal betrayal of Jesus,
having denied that he even knew the Lord three times in the middle of the night.
But somewhere in the crowd, we suspect he was there,
watching from a distance as Jesus was tried and led away and hung up to die on a cross.
Peter was there three days later at the empty tomb.
He was there behind the locked doors that evening when Jesus suddenly appeared to them all alive.
Peter was there in Galilee some days later when Jesus had cooked breakfast for his disciples on the beach.
He was there walking with Jesus after breakfast as Jesus charged him to take care of his sheep.
And Peter was there some days later on the Mount of Olives when Jesus was taken up to heaven before their very eyes.
Peter was there at Pentecost in the upper room when the spirit of Jesus came down upon them all.
And he was there in the streets proclaiming Jesus of Nazareth that day and onward.
Jesus the Lord.
Jesus the Messiah.
He was there as the church of Jesus began to grow and spread from Jerusalem on outward.
And some years later, Peter sat down to write a letter to the followers of Jesus living far away in provinces and regions around the Mediterranean.
It's a wonderful letter.
It's full of reassuring truths about Jesus.
It's full of practical instruction for Jesus' followers about how they should live for him.
At one point in Peter's letter, he comes to talk about what to do when you're treated harshly.
Or when you suffer unjustly.
Think of that for a moment.
What should you do if you're a follower of Jesus and are being treated unjustly?
Or if you are suffering at the hands of someone who has sway, who has authority over you.
Even though you've done nothing wrong.
How would Peter answer that question?
What would his counsel be to us?
It's here that Peter's mind went back to those awful, soul-wrenching hours.
When his best friend, his Lord, suffered.
We're going to pick up the story or the words of Peter's letter in 1 Peter 2, verse 18.
It starts as an address to slaves.
Peter writes,
Slaves,
In reverent fear of God,
Submit yourselves to your masters.
Not only to those who are good and considerate,
But also to those who are harsh.
For it is commendable
If someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering,
Because they are conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?
But if you suffer for doing good,
And you endure it,
This is commendable before God.
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.
Do you see what's being replayed in Peter's mind as he writes here?
It's as if in Peter's mind he's there.
Watching it all happen again.
Playing it over in his mind.
The things that happened to Jesus.
What did Peter remember about those awful hours of Jesus' suffering?
He remembered,
As he watched it all unfolding,
The injustice of it all.
He,
Jesus,
Says Peter,
Had committed no sin.
I mean,
It would have been one thing if Jesus had been beaten and flogged and crucified,
Because he had done a whole bunch of terrible things.
Because he had done wrong.
But that was the injustice of it all.
He had committed no sin.
He had done nothing wrong.
He only ever did good.
To everyone.
All these years.
And he had only ever spoken the truth to people.
No deceit was found in his mouth.
Says Peter.
True.
Some things Jesus said had been difficult to understand.
Parables.
Even sometimes riddles.
Difficult questions.
Stuff about spiritual realities.
That at times confounded people.
But he had never once lied.
He had never once deceived anyone.
No deceit was found in his mouth.
What else did Peter remember from those awful moments when Jesus suffered so cruelly?
Verse 23.
When they hurled their insults at him.
He did not retaliate.
When he suffered.
He made no threats.
Peter had a bit of a reputation.
He seemed to be a little impulsive.
Quick to speak his mind.
Quick to draw the sword.
At least one time.
He majorly put his foot in his mouth.
And was rebuked very strongly by the Lord Jesus himself.
And on a couple occasions.
Peter failed to speak the truth.
When it really mattered.
It's very difficult to keep a rain on our mouths.
Peter.
No doubt.
Knew that.
About himself.
But what really caught Peter's attention.
Was that Jesus was not like him.
In that regard.
In all that Jesus suffered.
That evening.
And that day.
He never once.
Hurled an insult.
He never once.
Lashed back at them.
He never spit in their faces.
Like they did in his.
It was amazing.
One of my favorite quotes.
Not from the Bible.
Is this.
A glass can only spill.
What it contains.
My neighbor across the street.
When I was a.
A young boy.
He always spoke so kindly.
And so respectfully.
In my presence.
Being an older boy.
And me just a little kid.
But then one day.
I watched him drop a fence post.
On his toe.
And the profanity.
That came flying out.
Shocked me.
But a glass can only spill.
What it contains.
And often times.
When the glass is really.
Jostled and bumped around.
Is when what's inside.
Spills out.
Peter knew what spilled out.
In his own life.
When he was.
Bumped.
And jostled.
And treated rudely.
And yet Jesus suffered.
More than any man.
Ever has.
And yet not once.
In all of that.
Did he.
Insult.
Or threaten.
The people.
Who treated him.
So terribly.
Hail.
King of the Jews.
The soldiers mocked.
Save yourself.
Come down from the cross.
If you are the son of God.
Prove it.
Said the passersby.
Oh.
He saved others.
But he can't save himself.
Said the religious leaders.
He's the king of Israel.
Let him come down now.
From the cross.
And we will believe in him.
He trusts in God.
Let God.
Rescue him.
If he wants him.
After all.
He said.
I am the son of God.
God.
And.
We can't even begin to imagine.
What it was like.
For Jesus.
To hang there on the cross.
And hear these insults.
And mocking words.
What was it like.
For the one who really was.
The king.
Of the Jews.
The messiah.
Chosen.
By God.
To hear words like these.
what was it like for the one who really was the son of god to be spoken to like this
what was it like for the one who had the power to save to save people from god's wrath
to be told to his face that he's powerless and pathetic and that everything that he's
promised to those who believe in him are just empty words if there was ever a moment in which
jesus could have cursed men or at least in which we imagine that he could have
this was it and yet what came out of the glass of jesus in these moments
father forgive them for they don't know what they're doing
yes this caught peter's attention that day
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
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 said peter
the beautiful gospel is here from peter's own pen speaking of any of us who might suffer
even though we haven't done anything to deserve it speaking of injustice here's the amazing thing says peter
jesus suffered what he did in his body on that cross for our sins
not for his own
jesus himself bore our sins
in his body
on that cross
think about all the filthy things you have ever done
ever said
ever thought
think about all the good things
the right things that you have failed to do
failed to say
jesus took the punishment for all our sins in his body
on the cross
why
the simple answer
is love
because he loves you
he doesn't want you
to bear your own guilt
to face the consequences you deserve on that final day
he loves you
does your heart know
that
jesus death was not an unfortunate tragedy that should have been prevented
jesus suffering
and his death
on that cross
was for
something
it had a deep and glorious purpose
and
this is what it is
peter says
by his wounds
you have been healed
think about jesus wounds for a moment
what kind of wounds
were they
i'm not going to go into all the details of crucifixion this morning
i'll simply say
his wounds were fatal
and yet
the wounds he suffered at the hands of others
had a deep
and glorious
purpose
it's by them
the wounds of jesus
that we are healed
made whole
given life
cured
of our
spiritual
problem
here is the greatest example of those words
that joseph said to his brothers long ago
what you meant for evil
god
meant
for good
the blows
the piercings
the fatal injuries of jesus body
are
the remedy
the cure
the healing
that we need
and again we might ask
why
why would he do that
for me
for you
for the world
and peter tells us why
verse 25
for you were like sheep going astray
but now you have returned to the shepherd
and overseer
of your souls
why would jesus suffer like he did
for us
because he looks at us
like a good shepherd looks at his sheep
he saw that we had gone astray
and he cared about us
enough to come after us
and do what needed to be done
to bring us back
to the shepherd of our souls
to god
our father
love
is why
he did it
to save you
to save me
to bring us back to god
the shepherd who cares for us
you might be here this morning
thinking
wow
what a wonderful thing
that he died for me
that he took the punishment
for my sins
I'm not worthy of that
this gift of forgiveness
it can't possibly be for me
I've done some pretty awful things
peter's answer is this
just one chapter later
in the very same letter
for christ also
suffered
once
for sins
the righteous
for the unrighteous
to bring you
to god
this gift of jesus love
is for
the unrighteous
it's for those who admit
who confess to god
that yes
i have blown it big time
i have sinned
i do deserve your punishment
it's love
love in the heart
of christ jesus
that's why he chose
to suffer for unrighteous
people
like you
and me
to bring us
back
to god
many of you have
heard this before
but i want to say it again
what do we need to do
to receive this gift
of god
forgiveness
for our sins
you might be wondering
i've already told the first part
which is to admit to god
that you are one of those unrighteous people
that you have done things
that are not right
next
the bible tells us
that you must believe
believe jesus
and we're talking about
deep
sincere
relational
belief
trust
embrace
jesus
with your heart
and with your soul
finally
the bible says
we must confess
jesus
basically it means
to declare
our allegiance
to him
yes
you are the king
you are my king
you are my lord
my savior
and we mark that decision
as jesus commanded us to
by baptism in water
this is the way to receive
god's gracious gift of love
god's forgiveness
a
admit to god
that you're a sinner
b
believe jesus
and c
confess
jesus
as your lord
and savior
that's it
the moment that you do that
god does a miracle
in you
and the rest of your story
will change forever
god puts his own spirit
inside of us
and the spirit begins to produce
all kinds of good things in us
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
gentleness
faithfulness
goodness
self-control
power to change
to live differently
to live righteously
and much more
i could go on about this
peter has so much to say
in his letter about
what god has given to us
through jesus
he talked about new birth
he talked about a living hope
he talked about an inheritance
that we have
in christ
kept in heaven for us
that can never perish
spoil
or fade
all of these things
are gifts of god's mercy
that we don't deserve
but that god has offered
through jesus
to us
because of his kindness
they're gifts made possible
and secured
for us
by the suffering
and death
of jesus
at the cross
and that's what we mark today
as we come to the lord's table
in just a moment
we're going to partake
of the bread
and the cup
the bread
represents jesus
body
and the cup
represents jesus
blood
it's the death
of jesus
that we remember
as we eat
and drink
from this table
and it's the fiercest
and most glorious
love
that we celebrate
with this bread
and this cup
if you've made
that decision
like i talked about earlier
admit to god
that you're a sinner
believe in jesus
confess jesus
as your lord and savior
then i want to invite you
to partake with us
this morning
in just a moment
charles is going to come up
and pass out the elements
and if you have made
that decision
please join with us
eat and drink with us
mark and celebrate
this love
with us
if you've not made
that decision
please just let the bread
and the cup
pass you by
until you're ready
to make that decision
we'll take a moment
in silence now
to pray quietly
and i encourage you
to talk to god
in the quiet of your heart
and after a few minutes
of that
charles will come
and pass out the elements
we'll wait until
all have been served
and then we'll eat
and drink together
in unison
take a moment
and i'll meet you
Amen.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, thank you for this incredible gift.
Thank you for dying on that cross, for suffering, for enduring the insults, all of it, for us.
We love you so much.
Amen.
Bless us as we do this in remembrance of you.
Amen.
You can put your cups in the little holders in front of you in the seats.
the seats. And I'll invite Teresa to come back up and we'll sing one more song together.