As I begin my study on 1 Peter I want to first gain a better understanding of the man who has written this letter and why he has written it. This letter, as the name implies, was written by the Apostle Simon Peter. The Apostle Peter is probably my favorite of the 12 disciples. John has always been my favorite writer, but Peter is my overall favorite, and I believe many people would agree with that. Peter lived a very powerful life of faith and had many defining moments.
This is the Apostle Peter who left his fishing business and his livelihood behind to fully follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20.) This is the Apostle Peter who walked on water with Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29.) This is the Apostle Peter who was one of three disciples present for the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-3.) This is the Apostle Peter who witnessed Jesus perform many miracles and healings, including the healing of his mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15.) This is the Apostle Peter who was always mentioned as a leader of the twelve. This is the Apostle Peter to whom Jesus gave the name “Peter,” which means rock, and said: “on this rock, I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18.) The Apostle Peter lived a remarkable life and we find some of his most defining moments in Jesus’ last days.
After the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and his disciples went to Mount Olive. Jesus tells his disciples that they “will all fall away from me this night.” Peter is quick to respond and says “though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Peter was telling Jesus that the other eleven may fall away, but he would not. After all, he was Peter, the rock and a faithful follower of Christ. How could he ever fall away from his Lord? Sure, the others may fail Jesus, but not Peter. Jesus responds directly to Peter and tells him, “truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter was shocked to hear those words come out of his teacher’s mouth and told him, “even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:30-35)
Later that night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. As men seized Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck one of the servants of the high priest, cutting off his ear (John 18:10.) I imagine the words of Jesus, predicting Peter’s denial, were still on Peter’s mind. Peter was to prove to Jesus that he would always be with him and boldly swung his sword at one of the men’s head. Surely Jesus would be proud of him for his courageous action. But Jesus rebuked Peter’s actions by telling him to put his sword away and healing the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51.) As Jesus was taken into custody the first of his predictions comes true as all of the disciples left him and fled (Matthew 26:56.)
As Jesus is being taken to the high priest, Peter follows him, but at a distance (Matthew 26:58.) Peter had left all that he knew to follow Jesus, but now as Jesus is being arrested and threatened with death he followed at a distance. The closeness was gone. His teacher was being taken away from him. He follows at a distance in fear of being associated with him and accused alongside him. The boldness that Peter had shown time and time again was disappearing. As the men took Jesus away they were taking away Peter’s faith and hope.
Later, as Peter is sitting outside, a servant girl approached him and said, “you were with Jesus the Galilean too.” Peter denies her accusation and says, “I don’t know what you mean.” Two more times Peter would be approached and accused of being a follower of Jesus and two more times he would deny it, declaring “I do not know the man!” Immediately after Peter denied knowing Christ for the third time a rooster crows and Peter is reminded of Jesus’ words. Peter left, weeping bitterly, knowing he had let down the man that he vowed never to deny. (Matthew 26:69-75) As Jesus was killed, so was Peter’s faith. Peter’s hope was dead because Jesus was dead. The man who had just boldly swung his sword at the head of one of the High Priest’s servants the night before, now could not even look into the eyes of a small servant girl and admit that he was a follower of Christ.
About 30 years after these events Peter writes his first epistle which we know today as 1 Peter. In his epistle, Peter is quick to remind his readers that we have a “living hope.” So what happened in between Peter being a hopeless defeated man, to now proclaiming to have a living hope? He answers this in verse 3 of chapter 1. We have a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” As Jesus died, Peter’s hope died. But on the third day, that glorious Sunday morning, Jesus resurrected from the dead and walked out of the tomb. As Jesus meets with Peter, all of Peter’s hope is restored and made stronger than ever before. Peter tells his readers in verse 3 that we have a living hope because we have a living Lord. Jesus Christ is alive! He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Peter writes this epistle to Christians who are being persecuted in various parts of the world and he is sure to remind them of the good news of the resurrection. He refers to his readers as “exiles” or “aliens,” and “sojourners,” in a world that is not their home. He reminds them that even though their earthly situations are bad, they have better things ahead of them in their heavenly home. He encourages them in times of persecution to rely on God and follow the example set for them by Jesus. He wants them to know even when their earthly situation seems hopeless, they have a living hope through the resurrection.
A few days ago I jokingly texted my wife after not hearing from her in a while saying, “still alive?” She intended to reply, “yes, I’m alive,” but her message was autocorrected to “He’s alive.” I smiled, knowing what she meant, but also happy to get an unintended reminder that Jesus is alive. There is never a bad time to be reminded of the wonderful news of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! That was one of Peter’s purposes in writing this epistle, and my purpose in this post. Jesus is alive. He died in our place on the cross, but on the third day he conquered death and rose from the grave. Now we have a living hope because we have a living Savior. Our hope is alive because He is alive. If you are a believer then you have cause to rejoice no matter your current situation on earth. Rejoice in the resurrection! Rejoice in the victory that Jesus shares with us! When he died, we died. But when he was raised from the dead, we were raised from the dead. Rejoice! He is alive!
