Participate in the Suffering of Christ
1 Peter 4:7-19
The End of all Things Is near (4:7-11)
There can be little doubt that Peter anticipated the imminent Second Coming of Christ. We must consider this carefully, as some two thousand years have passed since he wrote of his expectation and the entire earth continues, as Paul says, to groan in waiting (Romans 8:22-23).
As we consider Peter’s expectation, we should first note that it was commonly shared by the New Testament writers: Paul tells us that the night is nearly over (Romans 13:12); this same idea is expressed by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:24-25); James says plainly that the coming of the Lord is near (James 5:8); the idea is strongly emphasized in the Revelation of John (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). Indeed, even the words of Christ have been understood in this manner (Luke 21:29-32) though it is not certain what scope our Lord intended with the phrase “this generation” and the implication of a fairly-fixed timetable (within the lifespan of His audience) would seem in contradiction of His statement that only the Father knows when the day will be (Matthew 24:36).
What, then, are we to make of this scripture? Peter himself has given us a clue, as he has said that the prophets of old were not only speaking to the people of their time, but were speaking to us of our salvation through Christ (1:10-12). Whatever Peter may have thought about the imminence of the return of Christ as an immediacy in time, he was not wrong in his eager anticipation – an anticipation that we may have lost in the passing of time.
Despite the passage of time, there are several ways in which the coming of our Lord remains imminent. First, as Peter suggests, the coming is inevitable, as all of salvation is an act that is already complete (1:18-20). Second, there is the immediacy of death. It may not come today or tomorrow or for many years, but if we depend upon our earthly lives, then we put our trust in this world, and such trust is always misplaced (Luke 12:16-21). Finally, though thousand of years have passed since Peter lived in eager expectation, we could see our Lord come in glory this very day. He must find us watching (Luke 12:35-40).
How may we be ready? The answer is we must love and show love, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. The end is indeed coming, and many that the Lord loves do not know of that love (Luke 10:2; Romans 10:13-15).
Participate in the Suffering of Christ (4:12-16)
In his excellent book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard J. Foster offers a beautiful, if mystical, idea regarding intercessory prayer. He reasons that, because the power of our God is not limited even by time, we may in this day pray for our Lord as He suffered on the cross. Peter presents an idea that is similar in its mysticism: as we live our lives as Christians, we participate in the suffering of Christ.
What an honor to be able to pray for our Lord as he suffers! What an honor to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:10-12)! What an honor to participate in the suffering of Christ (Philippians 1:29)!
But as much as I find Foster’s idea challenging philosophically, so do I find the idea from Peter challenging in a very practical way. Though it seems at times that I take arms against a sea of troubles, the anguish and strife I have suffered in this world arises almost entirely from my effort to live in this world. Spiritually, I lead an easy life, sheltered from the challenge to take up my cross daily (Luke 9:23-25) and to love others as my Lord has loved me (John 13:34-35; 20:21).
Time for Judgment to Begin (4:17-19)
The Day of the Lord is at hand, and with that day, the day of judgment. Nothing on this earth is hidden from that judgment, to the remotest corners and the inmost parts (Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 139:1-6). It will begin with those who call upon the name of the Lord (Ezekiel 9:1-6; Matthew 7:21-23). If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, who then can be saved? I am thankful that all things are possible with God (Mark 10:23-27)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
(Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 KJV)
