1 Peter 5 “Encouragement”

The part of our scripture talks about humility and it ends with the idea of encouragement. Now, I was thinking about this fact when it struck me that unless one has a humble heart, there is no need for encouragement! If one is haughty and overbearing, certainly that person does not need to be encouraged! To receive God’s encouragement in your life, start by humbling your heart before God!

When King David of the Old Testament times started building his capital in Jerusalem with the first Temple, we know that he did not complete it. It was God’s plan that David’s son Solomon, “wise King Solomon,” would be the one to complete that project. Solomon had a direct connection with the Lord as we read in 2^nd Chronicles. And, this is the quote that is referenced again in 1 Peter 5: “If my people will humble themselves, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin.” You will find this sentiment also in Proverbs and in James—really it runs throughout the Bible.

At the time of King Solomon then, the Ark of the Covenant had just been moved to the newly built temple from a tent—a tabernacle in Shiloh—a rather modest and humble setting to be sure. So, Solomon had the job of finding a way to honor God’s law appropriately while at the same time keeping humble. And, although the temple that Solomon built was large and lined with cedar paneling, compared with the great temples and pyramids of other ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians next door, one could rightly say that the temple was in fact humble. It was really just a basic box. It was not a pyramid or a ziggurat. It was nicer than a tent, but it was still more for function than to impress.

Our congregational forbears when they left the grand cathedrals of Europe to come to the New World back in 1620 were quite taken with this idea of humility. They did not build any church at all. They met in the “meetinghouse.” The classroom for the children, the village governance, and the church were all the same building. They would not even decorate that building with a cross. When those same missionaries came to Hawaii, they kept the ideal of humility and did not even place a cross on this building.

So, we have struggled with this notion of being humble at the same time of lifting up Christ as our King! We feel a lot of tension there. We note that Jesus himself always chose to be humble. He walked everywhere in his single pair of sandals, wore a commoner’s mantle, and never asked for any special treatment, and yet he is our King of Kings. Being Christ-like today is synonymous with being humble while at the same time recognizing how great Jesus is!

I am reminded that even after Jesus’ Resurrection, when people first see him, they mistake him for the gardener (John 20:15). In all of his resurrection glory, he looks like a gardener! That really gives me hope.

Despite the general theme of being humble in our text, Peter starts with what might be considered a prideful less than humble statement. He notes, “I am an elder of the church.” That is the first thing he says. The word here is “presbyter” in the Greek, from which we get the “Presbyterian church.” It is not just a designation of someone who is older in years. It is “elder” as in having a greater authority. It is almost like saying, “I proudly tell you to be humble.” As an aside, Peter was about 65 years old at the time of writing this, so he got the senior discount at Big Save and rode the Kauai bus for one dollar.

I was thinking about Peter and the way he presents himself here in this scripture. I am torn as to whether he is really humble or prideful. Admittedly, Saint Peter confuses me here. The concept of “humble leadership” is a bit confusing–so I refer you to Christ on this point. He is our example of humble leadership to be sure. Jesus was the greatest person ever to walk the planet, and he was humble.

In verse two then Peter talks about an elder’s duty to be like a shepherd to the flock. We cannot help but recall back to the end of the Gospel of John and Jesus’ final words to Peter: “Peter do you love me? Feed my sheep.” That is repeated three times. Jesus really wants to make sure that Peter hears and understands this.

Well, here is the confirmation that indeed Peter did finally understand what Jesus was telling him. He is repeating the exact same instructions down to the new leadership within the newly established church. We today still use the language of “tending the flock.” The term “pastor” is really a Latin reference to being a shepherd. A “kahu” in Hawaiian is a shepherd.

This idea is expanded in verse 3 as we are to be as examples to the rest of the flock. Now, usually when we hear the words “Take so-and-so as an example” it is not a good thing that is said. Right? “Take Hitler for an example.” “Take Caligula for example.” What if we apply this to the writer of this letter himself? “Take Peter for example.” What was the example that Peter left us with?

He was a humble fisherman to be sure. When he heard Jesus’ call to follow, he did! That is a great example. Then, Peter ends up denying Jesus not once but three times at the time of Jesus’ betrayal. This is not a good example. Peter is not there at the time of the crucifixion but rather is hiding away with the other men while the women are at the Cross and later at the tomb. Again, this is not a good example. Then, at the time of the Pentecost, Peter is taken over by the Spirit and preaches a sermon that causes thousands to be baptized. That is a super great example to follow.

To put it neatly, when Peter is focused on the great ministry of Jesus, and is following Jesus’ will for his life, he is a great example of leadership. When he is not focused on Jesus but on himself, the leadership model collapses. Every Christian should take that to heart!

Like Peter, we should realize that at times we fail at being the best examples that we could for Jesus. The simple reality is that as much as we would follow Jesus in our own lives, we are not Jesus. As much as we ask ourselves that question “WWJD,” “What Would Jesus do?” WE are nowhere close to being able to claim truly being Christ-like. We mess up too much. And, that is something to remind us to indeed be humble!

In verse 7, one of the things that we are to example for others apparently is how we deal with anxiety: “Cast all of your anxiety on Him. . . .” In verse 10 we see that Christ “himself will restore, support, strengthen and establish you.” Is that the real clue on how to be humble? I do not have to worry about establishing myself because Jesus already has planned that out for my life?

I cannot tell you how many times I had one thing planned, but God had other plans. Last week’s outdoor worship and bingo is a great example of that! We had to move it inside because of Hurricane Lala. Yet, many of you have commented to me that it was the best outdoor worship we ever had–indoors. I must admit, there is a certain something to coming together to worship God as the storms are raging all around us.

Whatever plans we thought we had, God has other plans for us. Nothing to get anxious over. God just has something else in mind.

The plan that God has for us, as we read in 1 Peter 5, is that we may not get the crown and the glory in this world. But, turn the page because the story is not over yet. Just like when Jesus died on the Cross and the Roman’s thought that it was the end of the story, “God has more light and truth to break forth” (Jonathon Edwards on seeing the Pilgrims off to the New World.)

The Book of Revelation talks about our having “crowns in heaven.” In Revelation 4:10 we can read about what the elders do with those crowns once they are in heaven: “. . . they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, ‘you are worthy, our Lord and God.” Peter counts himself as an elder, well, the angel tells us in the last book of the Bible that even in heaven, our humility before Christ will be perfected. Whatever glory we have earned in this world, we give it back to Jesus.

Amen.