To a scattered church in turmoil, Peter reminds them of their God-given identity through four powerful statements. They are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God's special possession. All of this has been proven by the ultimate rescue Jesus had provided over sin and death. This identity gave them, and gives us, not only hope for the future, but the truth around which we ought to order our lives in worship.
In Hebrews 10 the author encourages us that in the midst of struggle and turmoil to not turn back to religion, but instead rely on our relationship with Jesus to draw near to God, hold on to hope, and encourage one another.
After Jesus ascends to heaven, Peter assumes the role of being the rock of the early church that fishes for people. And rather than trying to gain power to control a physical empire, Peter tells a new story of the power of the resurrection...and it changes the course of history.
Peter's stunning and dramatic fall is met by the even more stunning and dramatic forgiveness of Jesus. In this story we see the incredible reversals that happen in Peter through the reconciling and restoring work of Jesus.
Peter's self-confidence led him to follow Jesus at a distance as he was led away to trial. But it also set him up for a dramatic and stunning fall. He would deny Jesus not once, but three times and not in high profile circumstances, but amidst accusations from a servant girl. But, as the gaze of Jesus catches his eye it not only exposes his failures and brokenness, it also offers and equally stunning and dramatic loving forgiveness.
As he toils in the garden, Jesus asks Peter to keep watch with him. In so doing, he's redirecting a self-confident Peter away from self effort and toward dependence upon God. It the presence of God and through prayer, our intentions becomes conformed to God and his kingdom.
In John 13, Peter learns what it means to be cleansed by Jesus and to join him in serving others. We learn that when our identity is rooted in the Gospel, we can join Jesus in serving others, too.
Jesus' cursing of a fig tree is meant to show his disciples the danger of external religion. This story, married with the cleansing of the temple, points out that while everything might look good from a distance, the truth is that religion cannot produce what God desires - a heart bent toward him.
Contrary to Peter's inquiry, forgiveness is not a religious action to be counted. Instead it's the natural overflow of the gospel in our lives. The King has infused his kingdom with a culture of forgiveness. And when we are truly impacted by his forgiveness, we cannot help but forgive as well.
In a strange story that seems to center on a fish with a coin in its mouth, we actually find that Jesus is revealing to Peter that "the family of the King is free." In Peter's context and ours, this means we are free from religion, free to worship in the true temple, and free to act in love.
When Peter and two other disciples witness the transfiguration of Jesus, they are overwhelmed and want the experience to continue. But Peter's offer of building three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah is quickly corrected by God. Too often we cloud the gospel with spiritual experience, futurism and religion and in so doing miss the sufficiency of Jesus only.
When Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, he believes Jesus is the rightful king. And he's exactly correct. What he misses is just how Jesus is going to establish his kingdom - through sacrifice instead of through power. And he is calling all who follow him to do likewise.
Jesus miraculously walking on water was an act of power, but even more so an act of love. It demonstrates God's willingness to come from the security of the mountaintop into the storm to rescue humanity. And Peter models for us the exact right response - to abandon our manmade protections and go to Jesus.
In the midst of racial strife and injustice in our country, we can find hope in a God who is impartially aware and moving to bring healing. As the church, we should embody this as a way of life.
One of the earliest lessons Peter and the disciples learn from Jesus is how he prioritizes his time with the Father. Even after a long and exhilarating day of ministry, Jesus retreats to meet with God showing the disciples (and us) the power of regular meetings with God to realign our identity, purpose and direction.
In Luke's gospel, Jesus' call of Peter is preceded by his miraculous catch of fish. In this seeming intrusion of Jesus, we see Peter's process of embracing Jesus. He defers which leads to worship. And his worship enables him to follow Jesus. Peter gave Jesus space to show himself and Jesus demonstrated his desire to grant him an abundant life.
To an exiled prophet and people, the vision of a valley of dry bones coming to life must have brought unthinkable hope. And to those who have realized their brokenness and that of this world, the life that only Jesus can bring offers far greater hope, not just for the future, but also in the now. In the footsteps of our king, we then move to proclaim and breath new life into this world.
The story of Esther reminds us that we all have a divine purpose and have been providentially placed by God. So in this midst of a broken world, and now a community quarantined by pandemic, could it be that God has placed you in your spheres of influence for such a time as this? You have a significant role to play!
Jeremiah's letter to the exiles was both good and bad news. Seventy years of captivity, but even that could not rescind God's faithfulness. His plan for them was a certain future and it brought with it resolute hope. On the basis of this hope, the prophet tells the people to intentionally invest their lives, even while in exile.
The story of Joseph shows us two seemingly contradictory and yet equally true realities. This world is broken and so there is pain and suffering. But God is committed to restoring all things and therefore is working good in the midst of it. As we face global pandemic, it causes us to ask real questions about God. If we know him, it should also cause us to be looking for the good he might be working in the midst of it.
After the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, three young men found themselves in exile - a whole new world with all new challenges. They even found themselves on the very precipice. And yet, their faith preserved them in the midst of their fear. Like them, we can have hope in the midst of real struggle and separation.
The eyewitnesses accounts of the centurion and Mary to the crucifixion and resurrection are so informative to us. They show us the significance of a real encounter with Jesus that leads to a whole new identity and mission. By the Scriptures, we too are eyewitnesses called to bear witness to a waiting world.
To finish his later to the Galatians, Paul takes the pen himself to write the conclusion. Those who oppose the gospel boast in their fleshly self-effort, but Paul aimed to boast only in the cross. It is the cross of Jesus that bestows new creation and the experience of mercy and peace.
Our view of ourself drastically affects our relationships with others. A flesh-centered view leads to love of self and ends up in provoking and envying others. A gospel-centered view leads to love of others and moves towards them with humility and boldness.
There is an ongoing battle in the life of the Christian between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is our sinful self that craves control, power and the right to be king. The Spirit glories Jesus as the rightful King. It is only through the power of the Spirit and the internal, transforming work of the gospel that the fruit of the kingdom of Jesus is manifest in our life.
Religion has no power to gain us access to God or to transform us. It is on the gospel that can set us free into God's family and unto a whole new experience of life. So, stand firm in this gospel!
In Israel's history, Abraham famously had two sons. Ishmael was born out of human effort, but Isaac was born out of God's promise. Paul uses this example allegorically to show us that faith in human effort leads to slavery, while faith in the gospel leads to freedom.
Paul, as their founding pastor, offers a plea for the Galatians who he clearly loves. His desire is that they would not fall trap to idols, even religious ones, but rather that they would be formed in Christ. Like the Galatians, these are things we should be zealous for as well.
The glorious truth of the gospel is that in Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith. What was once just a promise hoped for has now been fulfilled and realized by Jesus' redemption of humanity. And for those who embraced this gospel, the call is to regularly and intentionally clothe ourselves in it.
Paul makes it very clear that the promises of God have always been the point, not the Law of Moses. But if that's the case, what was the Law for? Was it a trick? Was it simply to preoccupy the Israelites' time? Paul helps the readers understand here (and in Romans) that the Law served a good purpose in guiding us to see what a life devoted to God should look like...but also convicting us that we could never do that on our own. Praise God that the promises come true in Jesus and the indwelling of...
