Grace, Love, & Second Chances

1 Peter 1:1-2

End of Luke, transition now to the book of First Peter. I was blown away by the sermon today, it really spoke directly to my heart. I was caught off guard and humbled to yet another level. This demonstrates and emphasizes even more the depth of biblical passages, for so much can be said of even these two opening lines! I was moved to tears.....streaming down my face and without let up. It was like a hard hit to conscience over and over again like tsunami wave after wave. Spoke of the background and character of Peter; Former name Simon “the one that is heard” -----> Jesus renames Peter “the rock” Jesus gives Peter not only a new name, but a new vocation and new community. He is transformed into a fisher of men and leader of God's chosen exiles. Paul took the West, Peter goes East......spread out from Jerusalem to rest of world. Preach the good news! (Acts: disciples disobedient to God's commandment to branch out from Jerusalem, so persecution ensue, leading to scattering) Connection to Babylonian exile and scattering of the Jews. Tension between community and mission. Vertical worship meets horizontal community with others and mission to reach others. I agree that of the two lateral focuses, commission reigns. We are nothing without it. Nothing but a group of Christians, a club and nothing more. I stress this because I fairly recently heard the objection of a believer-turned-nonbeliever say that he could not accept how Christians felt the need to convert others. He was unsettled by the fact that followers of Jesus had to bring people of other faiths to this particular one. But think about it! Read the Bible for starters! The last passage of Matthew for instance. I think that objections stem from biblical ignorance and generic misinterpretation. I know that clarity beyond belief hit me when I actually pursued the character of Jesus and PERSONALLY read about his life and mission. The confusion about why the necessity to “convert” others is cleared up remarkably by educating oneself firstly about Jesus' whole purpose here on earth. Discovery awaits those who care enough to find out, not by secondhand biased accounts of random people/friends but direct study of the original source (although secondhand as well) written by truly reliable authors. Peter, as uneducated as he may have been, speaks incredibly honestly and educatedly even in the prologue of this book. I think that this is a reflection of a certain observable truth: those who are ACTUALLY and DEEPLY in touch with the Lord despite level of human education and instruction, are given divine wisdom and penetrating words of insight. It boggles the mind: ever wonder how Christian apologetics proponents are able to sustain their position with such sturdy foundation despite repetitive attempts by nonbelievers to destroy or undermine their arguments? Beside the simple fact that Christianity is indeed TRUE, I point to the faithfulness and utter sincerity of defenders of Jesus. God rewards those who are entirely loyal to his cause. He gives them insights and illuminates otherwise impossible instances of revelations because of the simple fact that they have dedicated their lives to praise his name, glorify his person, and spread his message to all who are able to hear. Atheists and opponents cannot, by their very nature, tap this resource and are in a despairing position from the outset.
Anyway, back to the passage: Trinitarian construction, election, foreknowledge, sanctification, blood of Jesus. Peter encompasses quite a lot even in two verses. Worded beautifully; I especially like the intertwining of God the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ. I look forward to studying the rest of this book more deeply. So much has already come alive and given new meaning to me. Looking glass mirror example. WOW. We are the reflection of what the most important person thinks of us. Think about that. Is it true for you? Wasn't it true for Peter? Simon-Peter complex. Reversion back to his old, sinful, doubting ways. But Jesus loved him so unbelievably much that he kept giving him second chances, persisting in affirming Peter that he is indeed the one chosen to lead the new church. Remember how Peter denied Jesus three consecutive times before his crucifixion? But later, after the resurrection, when Peter again feels so insufficient and inadequate as a follower of the Lord, he goes out to fish (something he hadn't done in a while) and Jesus is on the shore preparing breakfast for his beloved disciple. When called to come to him, Peter without a moment's hesitation jumps into the water and swims ashore. Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter says “You know that I do.” It is as if Jesus restores and counter-balances those denials of Peter before. He restores Peter, yet at the same time, convicts his soul in such a critical way. I cannot tell you how much I was overwhelmed as I listened to this story. Peter, the disciple and Jesus, the most gracious of masters, became SO REAL in that moment. I was overcome with empathy and could not help but substitute my own self in that exchange of unimaginable love and grace. I saw myself as Peter, as a person of self-undervalue, as a failure and humbled wreck of a person. My eyes welled up with tears as I realized just how forgiving and gracious Jesus is. He invested himself in Peter and could not afford to let him go. It hit me that Jesus is doing that very same thing with me. I am unworthy and messed up, but Jesus sees my incalculable worth and will not let me go. I am INFINITELY grateful for this kind of unimaginable LOVE. Back to the reflection part mentioned before: think about it. Did not Peter persist and respond to his call because the most important person in his life – Jesus – saw in him such great value and worth? Imagine how your own life would change once you realized just what that most important person thought of you? It becomes so ridiculously irrelevant what others believe about you when you know how Jesus feels about you. And it emboldens a person to no foreseeable end. Take that to heart. Lasting change IS possible through Jesus. In fact, only through Christ, is lasting change even possible at all. Consider what you choose to call others....“curer of cancer”......how will it affect their future self? Does it change a person? Well, look at Simon. He was subsequently called Peter “the rock” by Jesus. He then became the rock, the founder of the first Christian church. He was a leader and loyal follower of Jesus the rest of his natural life, all the way to his martyrdom following the establishment of the first church. Jesus recognizes in us the gifts and attributes that have potential to further his mission that has yet to be completed. Peter was the first to say, “You are the Christ” among the other disciples. Jesus probed Peter, asking whether he really did love him more than the others. Peter failed tremendously and even went so far as to deny his Lord publicly. But Jesus did not forsake him. He showered him with grace and love that I cannot make sense of. He extracted from Peter that which was innermost dwelling inside him and brought it to light. He used Peter's genuine humility for his kingdom. And I look at that with so much admiration. I would be truly blessed and honored to be such a vessel for his mission and kingdom. I don't know how God wants to use this small, insignificant life of mine, but I offer it to him in totality. I am done trying to construct my own reality and insulating myself from harm or insecurity. Jesus is my King and Guide from now until the end of my days and beyond. There is latent potential energy within this shell of a life as there is in a bullet awaiting the pull of a trigger. Let that trigger be Jesus Christ and let the target be my duality of nature. Shatter the Simon-Peter complex within my own soul and permit only PETER to emerge from this body, speaking Jesus Christ's good news to the poor and building churches upon a rock. Leave in pieces the weak, loud, undisciplined and unruly Simon. Jesus, I love you and proclaim your name as the One and Only Christ. Savior of my soul and Lord over all. Use me, call me to your mission, guide me, comfort me, I am yours, always. Amen.