MPC 8th August 2004.I Peter 3:13-4 - "Follow the Leader"
Dan Bigg MPC 8th August 2004.
Like it or not, sporting heroes are role models for lots of people. And the media loves to assess how they're going. Are they the kind of people we want our kids to be following? The Steve Waughs of this world are held up for all to see. Steve Waugh still gets a really good plug as a fine example for the next generation to follow. He's a great role model… good at cricket, honest, fair. Always ready to help the poor kids over in India. But what about Shane Warne? The guy's just back after a year's suspension after the last debacle. He's a shocking role model. Corruption… drugs… dodgy phone calls… girls. Definitely not the kind of role model I want for my kids.
I guess the problem is, the qualities needed to make someone good at sport are not always the same qualities you want to see in your kid. Aggression, self-centredness, recklessness, pig headedness… we commend it in the footy greats and attempt iron it out of the kids. If little Billy falls off his chair, pushes his brother over and smacks into the wall on the way to the bathroom we tell him to cut it out and be careful. But we cheer the same reckless aggression on the field.
But whether we like it or not sporting heroes are role models. Some set good examples; some set poor examples.
As Christians we're called not to model ourselves on sports stars. We're called to imitate Jesus Christ. Trouble is, that's not always easy. In fact, it's tough. Because if you look at the example of Jesus, you can see what it cost him. But in spite of that, we're going to see, today's passage is all about imitating Jesus. inspite of the cost. We're going to see it's worth following the example of Jesus... even if it results in persecution. Because in the end, it's worth it.
Peter wants the people he's writing to, to follow Jesus' example at any cost. He wants them to model their lives on Jesus. To use Him as the example to follow even if they run into trouble for doing so.
Generally, doing good is the way to stay out of trouble. The whole idea of suffering for doing what's right is a bit strange. If you're doing the right thing normally you shouldn't run into trouble. You should be ok. Verse 13 says,
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
If you're keen to do the right thing then as a rule you don't get hurt.
Peter's been stressing to his readers to do the right thing. To be really good people. He's been urging them to stand out in their desire to do what's right. To lead the way. To model submission. Submitting for the Lord's sake… to our governments, our bosses and to each other. It's how we maintain our Christian identity. We're to be eager and willing to obey those who rule over us. And normally, doing the right thing is the way to avoid suffering.
But there's always an exception to the rule. And the exception is when you find yourself suffering for what is right. Suffering purely because you confess Jesus as your Lord. Suffering because you're a Christian. In verse 14 we read,
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.
If you get into trouble for doing the right thing you're blessed. Sounds odd doesn't it. Don't worry about those who try to frighten you… keep doing good… keep doing the right thing even if it means suffering. That's what Jesus did, follow his lead. Verse 15 goes on,
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Basically by living as Christians we attract attention. People are going to start asking us questions. And the way we answer is very important. Our words and tone that we use, it's not to be aggressive or disrespectful. live and speak in such a way that if mud is being thrown at your good behaviour it won't stick. Whatever you do, don't chuck mud back. Simply be prepared ahead of time. Know the gospel so well that you're able to weave it into the way you answer. Just be honest and up front about what you believe and tell it when you're asked… even to those who seem do be looking for the opportunity to harm you. Tell people the truth about your trust in Jesus and don't worry about the consequences. Trust God. Do what Jesus did. He just kept on telling people the truth and doing good in spite of hostility.
It's really useful to actually know and think through what Jesus in reality did. If we have the example of Jesus firmly in our minds, it helps us know how to behave. How to keep doing the right thing, even if we run into opposition as a result.
In a nutshell, Jesus suffered the full penalty for a crime… a crime he didn't commit… the crime of rebellion. Jesus took the full punishment for our rebellion against God our Creator so we could once again live in God's presence. Look at verse 18,
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous... for the unrighteous... to bring you to God, he was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
You might be thinking, what's all the fuss about? I'm not such a bad person. I do the right thing, I try and help others, I even frown on people who do things I reckon are bad. Why is God so cut up about me? I'm actually pretty good.
You see, the reason we think we're good is because we always measure ourselves against each other. We've only got to know one person who's further down the how-good-are-you-ladder and we feel we're doing ok. We think we're doing fine… but are we?
There's a book White Coolies. It's a book about a group of women who lived through a Japanese prison of war camp. The author was one of the women who survived. These girls went through hell for 4 years. Slowly they got weaker, their clothes wore out, their condition deteriorated. They knew they were in a pretty bad way. They knew things weren't going too good. But it wasn't until their rescuers came that they realised how awful their condition was. They were starving wrecks. They looked a mess. Their cloths were rags, and they were dirty, and they stunk. They were so embarrassed and ashamed of their condition in front of their healthy, good-looking, rescuers.
You see… when compared with the people in good health, the girls saw all too clearly their real condition. And we need that sort of comparison to get a reality check on our real condition. We're all tarred with the brush of mutiny against God. We're all stuck in rebellion together and without God's help we wouldn't even notice it. There's no perfect guys wandering around the mall with halos above their heads we can match ourselves against. So… we match ourselves against each other. And what happens? We know we're not perfect... but (we say in defence), who is?
Well, God is… and God's standard is perfection. Compared with perfection, our "good living" is just a stinking embarrassment. That's why Jesus died. To bring us to God holy and perfect. Jesus suffered so you could be perfect and once again enjoy God's friendship.
But Peter wants to highlight how Jesus remained obedient to his Father in heaven in spite of injustice. He wants us to imitate Jesus when it comes to unjust suffering. And Peter uses the story of Noah an an illustration of how Jesus behaved when he suffered injustice. We're up to V19 which says,
Through whom also Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.
The way Noah acted highlights how Jesus behaved when he was unjustly treated. Ok, so what do we know about Noah? He built a boat. God told him to build it and he did. He gave up his day job, his ordinary life, to build the boat. People laughed and ridiculed him for trying to build a Titanic out of sticks. In their thinking he had a kangaroo loose in the top paddock.
And in the end, Noah suffered God's punishment of the flood like every body else. He got rained out too… and through all the unjust suffering he experienced, he just kept on doing what God had told him to do.
I think that's the point of the illustration because that's also how Jesus behaved when he suffered… he just kept on doing God's will all the way to the cross. Jesus suffered the ridicule of a laughing, mocking world who despised, rejected and killed him. And Jesus suffered the full penalty of God's anger against sin… our sins. And through all his unjust treatment he always did the right thing. He didn't retaliate… he didn't get bitter and twisted… he just kept doing good.
And look where he is in verse 22,
He has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-with angles, authorities and powers in submission to him.
He's alive. He's the ruler of everything. And the only hope for you and me and everybody else is to be linked to Jesus. To be connected to Jesus by Baptism. Verse 21. Not the outward sign which washes dirt off your skin but the real thing. The new life… the new heart… the answer of a good conscience towards God.
And if you've got that internal new life, stick with Jesus. Follow his example and keep doing good in spite of suffering. Imitate Jesus. Read verse 1 of chapter 4,
Therefore, since christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, for he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
If there's a chance you're going to run into trouble it's always good to be prepared. We keep a can of Mortein in the cupboard. So when those big, nasty looking spiders come inside we can demobilise them with heaps of spray then whack them with a shoe to do them in.
If you're faced with any situation it's always good to be prepared. And here Peter's saying, if you run into suffering when you're doing the right thing be prepared… set apart Christ in your hearts… do what he did... arm yourself with the same attitude towards suffering that Jesus had.
But this is where it gets really hard. Why are we going to run into trouble when we're doing good? What's the story? Well, it's because we've turned around. We're now facing God. Our whole mindset is God-ward. In the past we had our back to God. V3, We were living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. What a list! We lived our life ignoring God, with our backs to him as if he didn't exist. But now we're facing Him. We admit his existence… we want to please him. So we're going against the flow. We've done a U-turn. Verse4 says,
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of self-indulgence, and they heap abuse on you.
It's no wonder we clash. We're going the other way, we want to do God's will. God takes centre stage in our life. And as people who want to please God our desire is to keep on doing good as Jesus did. Our longing should now be to do good to all people and go out of our way to care for each other.
Have a skim of verses 7 to 11. Peter says, encourage each other to keep going. Encourage each other to keep on following Jesus' example. To keep doing good to all people even if you suffer for doing it. Keep on looking after each other… keep on praying… keep on really loving each other… keep on giving of ourselves for the good of other people. Jesus did… for us. Because our aim is to live to please God by doing good. So keep at it even if you run into suffering as a result.
In the last section we're given us a couple of reasons why we're blessed, even in the face of suffering, when we follow Jesus' example. Remember back in verse 14 of Ch3 Peter said if you suffer for what is right you're blessed. Now he tells us why. He says don't be surprised if you experience suffering for your faith, rather rejoice (v. 13) because your suffering is going to pay off. You're going to end up with Jesus. Where he is in glory with all authority and power is where you'll be. So keep doing good even if you're suffering for doing it.
A missionary from Sudan came and spoke in my old church. He showed a video of a group of Christians in Sudan living in the most miserable conditions out in the desert. They were living out there because they had been ostracised from society. They'd literally been kicked out by their anti-Christian political leaders. And even out there it wasn't safe. Occasional raids were made and the miserable huts they'd been able to put up were knocked down. We saw this scene where all these persecuted Christians were standing triumphantly in front of this odd looking building made of sticks and tin. This was their new church building they'd just put it up. These guys just kept going… patiently suffering injustice and wrong although they were innocent. They followed Jesus' example. And that's what we're to do. Don't get bitter and twisted if you're suffering undeservedly as a Christian. Follow Jesus' example. Keep doing good. And put your hope in God. Think about the future glory he promises to give to all who remain faithful.
Such suffering should not be regarded as our unhappy lot in this life. Suffering unfair treatment has an extremely positive side to it. Suffering actually gives us assurance. It shows we're made of the right stuff. Verse 14 says,
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
If you suffer unjustly because you're a Christian it's a sure sign you're one of God's people. Suffering tests our faith. Peter knew what suffering for the name of Jesus meant. He lived in the time when Nero was the Roman Emperor. When Rome nearly burnt to the ground in 64AD Nero blamed the Christians for no credible reason. The Christians were hated and blamed simply because they believed in Jesus. Nero rounded many Christians up and put them to death by tying them to poles dipping them in tar and setting them on fire.
And in places all around the world today Christians are suffering the same kind of persecution. Suffering for the name of Jesus. To say you're a Christian in many places could mean the loss of your job your property and even your life.
We don't suffer physical danger as Christians in Australia. But we cope emotional and mental persecution and that can be worse. What about those condescending, sarcastic comments you get about your faith? I spent 10 years working with a chap who never seemed to tire of telling me Christianity was for the weak. For those too feeble to stand on their own two feet. A crutch for pathetic people. Maybe you're suffering the same kind of emotional blackmail. Peter says don't just wear it. Rejoice in the reality that such suffering proves your faith. Don't waste time trying to come up with a nasty reply, when you're ridiculed, think of ways to show Christian love to those people instead.
Suffering for the name of Jesus is nothing to be ashamed of. There's shame involved in suffering for doing something wrong, but not for doing the right thing. So keep doing good regardless of the cost. Trust Jesus. Live your life following his example. Keep doing good. Verse 19 says,
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
We have our example to follow. He's not a sports hero, he's Jesus Christ our Lord. The Saviour who urges us to follow his example to keep on doing the right thing even if it means suffering unfairly. And in the end where he is in glory is where we will be. So lets hang in there and continue to encourage each other to follow Jesus.