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Suffering Servants Series: The Triumph of Hope 1 Peter 2:19-25 5th Sunday of Easter, Year A A sermon preached at First
UMC De Queen/Gillham on April 20, 2008 by the Revd David S Williams In a classic work titled In His Steps, Pastor Charles Sheldon
challenged believers to take pause and ask at the beginning of every activity
and in the course of ever decision, “What would Jesus do?” In his book, Sheldon narrated the transforming impact of this
practice in his own life and ministry. Not only were individual believers
transformed, so was the church as a witnessing community. Many, seeing Jesus before their very eyes, were converted. The
communities in which believers lived and the businesses in which they worked
were influenced for good, not only evangelistically but morally. Sheldon’s book continues to be a challenging portrayal of what God
could and wants to do through us. Were we willing to follow Jesus at all
costs, to listen for his leading, and obey him in all things, to put our
Christian convictions above every other consideration in life, indeed, the
effect would be revolutionary in our church and world as well. Challenging as this book may be, most contemporary Christians have not
a clue as to the scriptural context of its now famous title, In His Steps.
Or even, the contemporary bracelet, WWJD. Taken directly from 1 Peter 2:21,
the words are linked to the sufferings of Christ. Have you ever thought of yourself as a “suffering servant,”
especially if you’ve ever worn that WWJD bracelet? As followers of Jesus,
imitating him in all we do, we must seriously reckon with the fact that, in
today’s passage, we are called to suffering. Much of this material in this part of 1 Peter is derived from Isaiah
53. In the form of direct quotation, interpretive paraphrase and allusion, it
constitutes the most extensive use of Isaiah 53 in the New Testament. This
ancient prophecy concerning the Suffering Servant, Peter says, was fulfilled
in Jesus’ passion and therefore, must be in our lives as well. Graphic words and images are used to describe Jesus’ suffering: “They
hurled insults at him.” “He bore our sins in his body on the tree.” “By his
wounds you have been healed.” Clearly, some aspects of Jesus’ suffering were physical in
nature. Yet just as clearly, his sufferings were emotional and psychological
as well. He was subjected to verbal abuse. Taunted and humiliated. As well as
beaten, pierced and crucified. And then comes this word, “To this you [all] were called because
Christ suffered for you leaving you an example that you should follow in his
steps.” How in the world do we interpret and apply these words? How do we
emulate Christ’s example as Christians today? How can we become more
Christ-like? We must reckon with the prospect and probability of personal
suffering. One of the most difficult things that seminary did not prepare me
for was the pain of ministry. I’m not alone in this. I have heard horror
stories of minister’s experiences of mistreatment from hurtful parishioners.
What about you on your jobs? We must reckon with the prospect of suffering both personally and
professionally. Our sufferings may not be exactly the same as Jesus’
suffering. It is unlikely that any of us will die by crucifixion. However, we
ought not think it’s strange or surprising if we suffer threats or
insults. If Jesus so suffered, certainly we cannot expect to be exempt
from this kind of abuse. That may not be our lot personally, but then
again, it may be, for some of us at least. Now, not all forms of possible suffering are included in this
passage. Jesus’ suffering is merely illustrative. It may be that we will
endure other forms of physical, emotional, psychological, mental and/or
social suffering. It’s not the kind or nature of our suffering which
is expected to conform to Christ’s example. Rather it is our attitude and response to suffering
which is most important to Peter. Here we have a lot to learn from Jesus.
When they hurled insults he did not retaliate. When he suffered he
made no threats. Even in the midst of the most intense personal pain
he committed no sin. And no deceit was found in his mouth. How should Christians maintain that kind of composure under such
duress? The secret is found in the words, “instead, he entrusted himself
to God who judges justly.” In other words, the innocent will be
vindicated, according to Peter. We all know the normal human tendency is to respond in kind. If our
spouse angrily yells at us, we raise our voices too, even louder if possible.
If someone verbally insults us we add insult to injury. If another hurts us
we try to hurt them back. And we all know that an inflammatory situation is never brought
under control by adding fuel to the fire. We cannot heal our own wounds by
hurting someone else. But like Jesus we can trust God to make things
right, to reconcile relationships gone broke, to give us peace. Like temptations and trials, sufferings are the common lot of all of
us. None of us can escape. Somewhere, sometime, perhaps, when you least
expect it, suffering will enter your life and mine. It may be slight and
temporary; it may be intense and long-lasting. Most likely you will have little control over it. But you can, by
the grace of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit, control your
attitude as well as your response. Jesus did. The experience of suffering gives no excuse for the use of
questionable language toward another, abusive treatment of others, self-pity
or sin. Rather it is a crucible in which true faith and character, being
tested, shines forth clearly. It shines forth in the attitude we display when we are
suffering: in our acceptance of God’s will for our lives, his goodness and
provision, in our capability to entrust God with the determination of right
and wrong, in the purity and grace which flows from our lips and lives. Not only are we called to follow in Christ’s example of suffering, but
in doing so, we receive his blessing and favor. The word translated in
v. 20 in the NRSV as “God’s approval,” quite literally means, “grace.”
It is because of God’s grace that we can endure; and in so enduring we become
a graced people or a blessed people. Peter describes this grace or blessing throughout this letter. In
this passage he says when we are suffering for doing the right thing, simply,
when we are being hurt because we are living as a Christian witness and
someone has it out for us, there can be benefits from our suffering. Two of these benefits can be appropriated from Christ’s example. In
Isaiah, we learn that “by his wounds we are healed.” The noble, godly
endurance of suffering has healing power not only for ourselves but in
the lives of others around us. Healing grace can flow from open wounds and often does. The grief
stricken words of a wounded parent can bring repentance and restoration to a
broken family relationship. The bloody persecution of Christians in My spouse is a testimony to that reality. Many times she has shared
her story of abuse with other women and many have experienced the ability to
express their pain, which is the first step in their healing. Many times,
I’ve heard you share your stories of pain and suffering with me, that have
touched me bone-deep, in the core of my soul, that has helped me work through
my own pain and become a more compassionate person to others. Secondly, Peter also says that Jesus himself “bore our sins in his body
on the tree that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” Suffering
also has the power to save, especially suffering on behalf of others can
be a source of grace and a witness to God’s redeeming love. By his own testimony it was the pain he caused his believing and
faithful wife which drove a promiscuous country singer, like Johnny Cash, to
God. It was Jesus shed blood which brings us forgiveness and life. Self-sacrificial
suffering has saving power. The bottom line is this: as Christians we are called to imitate
Christ – to follow his example. The literal language of v. 21 uses
three very descriptive terms to challenge us: ü
To leave behind something for someone else to use. ü
A model or pattern or example for someone to follow. ü
Literally a footprint. In the plural here, it is a continuous line
of foot prints. Thus, it imagines a trail or track left behind for someone to
follow in its place. “To this you were called because Christ also suffered for you
leaving you an example so that you should follow in his steps.” Fred Craddock shares the story when he was on a recent airplane
trip. He says, “The passenger in the next seat noticed my reading material
and asked, ‘Are you a Christian?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied. To which she asked
further, ‘Do you mean by that that you are not Moslem or Jew, or do you mean
it in a personal and intentional way?’ I replied that I was by faith and commitment a Christian and
wondered aloud why she asked. ‘Until recently,’ she said, ‘I was generally classified as a
Christian, but now widowed with two teenagers to raise in a world of
violence, drugs and permissiveness, I have had to put up or shut up. But
being sincere is not enough. Decisions are tough, and I need help.’ For two hours we tried to help each other” (WBC, 41). Following the footprints of Jesus is not easy. It will
ultimately lead us to the cross. And as a community faith daring to walk in
the way of Jesus, we truly need to help each other as we journey to the cross
together as people of suffering and of hope. That is why this passage reminds me of a poem called, Footprints
In The Sand. One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the
beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he
noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him and the
other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he
looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along
the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed
that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This
really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it: “Lord, you said that
once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have
noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one
set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would
leave me.” The Lord replied: “My son, my precious child, I love you and I
would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see
only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you” (written by Mary
Stevenson). May our lives be as servants refined in the fires of suffering
and perfected like his, in the comfort of knowing Jesus carries us, and calls
us to carry one another in his name. Let us walk In His Steps. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. |
