Sabbath: Jesus in the Writings of Peter
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Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Col 1:13-14; Isa. 53:1-12; John 11:25; Ps. 18:50; 2 Pet. 1:1.
Memory Text: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24, NKJV).
As we have studied 1 Peter, it should be clear by now that regardless of the context, and whatever the specific issues he’s addressing, Peter’s focus was on Jesus. Jesus permeates all that he writes; it’s the golden thread woven through the letter.
From the first line, where Peter says that he is an “apostle” (“one sent”) of Jesus Christ, until the last, when he writes, “Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus” (1 Pet. 5:14, NKJV), Jesus is his key theme. And in this epistle he talks about Jesus’ dying as our sacrifice. He talks about the great suffering that Jesus went through and uses Jesus’ example in that suffering as a model for us. He talks about the resurrection of Jesus and what it means to us. In addition, he talks about Jesus not only as the Messiah, the Christos, the “anointed one,” but about Jesus as the Divine Messiah. That is, we see in 1 Peter more evidence of the divine nature of Jesus. He was God Himself, who came into human flesh and who lived and died so that we can have the hope and promise of eternal life.
This week we will go back through 1 Peter and look more closely at what it reveals about Jesus.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 20.
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We have a living hope through Jesus' resurrection from the dead which includes an inheritance in heaven that is imperishable.
With this hope in our mind, we should see trials and persecution as test for the genuineness of our Faith having in mind that Christ has suffered and died in our stead, therefore setting an example for us as a model to follow
If someone were to ask," how would you describe Peter"? What might the answers be? They should include personality.
The first epistle of Peter's central focus is on the Lord Jesus Christ. It covers the subjects of salvation by submission to Jesus Christ and suffering of our Lord Christ. Earlier on Peter had recognized the divinity of Jesus when he said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”(Matthew 16:16). The reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is found throughout Peter’s letters, in order to establish our understanding of salvation, submission, and suffering. Jesus’ death made it possible for us to be saved. It is perhaps not surprising that Peter devoted so much on Jesus in His epistle.He had been with Jesus at very critical moments and had observed at close quarters Christ's love, compassion and great care for humanity. He had been with Jesus when He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. He'd been with the Lord on top of the Mount of Transfiguration, and saw His glory. He had been with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. I submit that all these and other instances gave Petert insight into the real person and work of Christ. Admittedly Peter fell badly by his denial of the Lord but all of these were followed by sincere repentance. After Jesus arose from the dead He said to the women, "Go and tell Peter." Clearlt, this was a special message of forgiveness to Peter.