"The Stoning of Stephen"
This is the 7th post in my series on the Book of 1st Peter. The resources used in this series are sermons from Jamie Rasmussen (Senior Pastor @ Scottsdale Bible Church), Dr. Wayne Grudem's The First Epistle of Peter: An Introduction and Commentary
In any serious study of the Scriptures, it is imperative that we keep our eye on the context of what we are reading.
The general context, for the early Christians, was that of persecution and martyrdom. The Apostle Stephen was stoned to death somewhere around AD 35, and in this text we find ourselves, in the era of Nero, where things have only gotten worse.
Peter, in this text, refers to these Christian's suffering, but he doesn't give us any details regarding their specific trials.
Nonetheless, in our study verses today, and in spite of all that is going on around them, Peter tells us that they had "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory".
When you encounter life's struggles, do you have joy inexpressible?
I must confess, I don't think I have this joy. When I am struggling with something, I generally have to work to get my thumb out of my mouth. It seems that my focus is generally on myself and not on Christ.
So...what is it that these early Christians can teach us?
Let's dig in...
Notes from Dr. Wayne Grudem's The First Epistle of Peter: An Introduction and Commentary
(vs 8) Though you have not seen him, you love him...this is something for us to contemplate. None of us have seen Christ either. I suppose it is an advantage, on their part, because they knew people, or at the very least, heard of people who had physically seen Jesus. It is also important to note that the word love here is the Greek word "agapao". This is the type of love where you are willing to lay down your life. These early Christians were literally willing to lay down their lives for someone they have never seen!
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory...Peter restates his sentiment from you have not seen him, to: though you do not now see him. You haven't seen him, and you don't now see him...yet you love him, and now he says,"you believe in him". Dr. Grudem points out that these phrases are present tense. It isn't something that they did, it was something that they were doing! This was no doubt accomplished through prayer, worship and constant reflection on the Scriptures.
From Dr. Grudem: "A strong contrast is clear: whereas in the earlier verse Peter spoke of strong rejoicing in future hope, here he says that our personal, daily fellowship with Jesus Christ himself is cause for even greater rejoicing, unutterable and exalted joy!"
Dr. Grudem goes on to tell us that this word unutterable, or inexpressible is only found here in all of the New Testament. It is "joy so profound as to be beyond the power of words to express". Peter also speaks of being filled with glory. This term reminds us of that bright, shining radiance which is surrounding the presence of God himself!
More from Dr. Grudem: "It is thus joy that results from being in the presence of God himself, and joy that even now partakes of the character of heaven. It is the joy of heaven before heaven, experienced now in fellowship with the unseen Christ".
Do any of you have this going on? I mean really! Unspeakable, glory filled, daily fellowship with Christ that is so remarkable that you can't even speak? Oh...and this is also going on during severe trials and tribulation. I don't...(hanging head). I need more of you Lord Jesus!
(vs 9) obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls...we don't have a new sentence here. There is a clear progression:
- we don't see him
- yet we love him
- we don't see him now
- yet we believe in him
- we rejoice with inexpressible joy
- this joy is filled with God's glory
- we do this daily, in the present tense
- until we obtain the outcome
- our salvation and eternal inheritance in and through Jesus Christ.
The joy of heaven before heaven. I want that! How do I find that? Peter, through the Holy Spirit, has just told us.
There is much to meditate herein!
