0814 IN HIS STEPS

AUGUST 14 = 1 PETER 2

WHERE HE LEADS ME

Some years ago, Charles Sheldon wrote a book entitled, IN HIS STEPS, which follows the story of several people who decided to take seriously the challenge that Peter lays out in this passage today. Considering that it was Peter who wrote it, we can be specially challenged, because we know that Peter was one who was an eyewitness to exactly where Jesus went after he said, “Follow me.” Peter followed, and was continuing to follow, and he challenges us today to do the same.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. …

Christ left us an example, that we should follow in his steps. In what way was Jesus an example? When he blessed the children? When he argued with the Pharisees? When he fasted in the wilderness? When he went to the cross? Yes, all that and more. 

But notice the particular context from Peter here: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example.” Peter is saying that when we follow in his steps, we very specifically are following him into suffering. And not just suffering, but suffering “for you.” We suffer for others, to bring them to a right relationship with God. And those who reject the message of the good news just might well turn against us and cause us to follow the same path that Jesus walked.

When we are persecuted, we need not focus on the persecutors who are bringing about the suffering that we endure. No, we are keeping our eyes on Jesus, who suffered for us. 

So we might sing, “Where he leads me I will follow…and go with him all the way. I’ll go with him through the garden (of dark Gethsemane) . . . and go with him all the way.”

So as we follow in his steps, what specific things do we see Jesus doing? Remember, Peter watched this firsthand, and he was amazed at what Jesus did and didn’t do. He says,

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

Jesus was completely innocent. He wasn’t riling people up, not insulting or lying or bringing trouble upon himself by his words. He did no sin at all. Ever. May we follow in his steps.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 

Even when Jesus was in the midst of being treated horribly by insults and torture, and all of it was completely unfair, he did not retaliate. He was the only person in history who would have been justified if he had fought back to defend himself. But he did not retaliate, and he made no threats.

Instead of defending himself, Jesus “entrusted himself.” He leaned heavily upon his relationship with his Father, and even in the Garden when he prayed not my will but yours be done, Jesus was entrusting himself to know that the Father’s will was his true delight and only goal. Peter includes the detail as to why Jesus did that level of submission. He says that Jesus entrusted himself to “him who judges justly.” He trusted his Father’s judgment as being “just,” even when Jesus himself was the one to take the blame for everything. God is just. All the time. No matter what. So trust him.

Peter goes on to give another doctrinal declaration of the gospel within this context.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 

Notice how Jesus was being a substitutionary sacrifice when he was on the cross. He himself (not an animal or anyone else) bore our sins. And he did it so that we could be born again, as Peter said in the first chapter. Or here Peter says, “that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” It is by the wounds that Jesus received that we receive our healing, just as by his death we receive new life.

There is a purpose to Jesus’ suffering. And there is a point to it all. A restored and right relationship for people to have with God. Sheep returning to the shepherd. That’s what this is all about:

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus said to count the cost before you commit to being a disciple of his. Peter knew what that cost was, and he was on his way to being taken to his own cross because he bore the name of Jesus on his life. He was going to suffer. But then, Peter was already dead to begin with, and was born again, so what happened in his remaining days in the flesh were of less consequence to him than we might imagine. 

May we follow in Peter’s steps, as he followed in the steps of the Master. Amen.