Our Sermons

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  April 30, 2032

Psalm 23 is arguably the most beloved psalm in the Bible. Two quick internet searches for the most popular psalms both had Psalm 23 at the top of their list. By the end of the service, you’ll have sung it three different times in three different settings and there’s more that we could have sung. It’s a staple in nearly every funeral service. And when I was in college, my professor had us memorize it in Hebrew–no I don’t have it memorized anymore.

If you were to ask people their favorite part of Psalm 23, I imagine that some would gravitate to the idea that we lack nothing in our Good Shepherd. The picture of green pastures and quiet waters is certainly appealing, especially coming out of this long winter. The prepared banquet sounds awesome with the blessings overflowing. And who can beat dwelling in God’s house forever? 

Do you think anyone would pick walking through the valley of the shadow of death? Not likely. And yet, that’s at the heart of the psalm. And it’s something that everyone has to go through and deal with. We’re all on that path right now. We’re all living in the valley. And for some, the struggle is more obvious, the sufferings are more visible. But we’re all there. In fact, as Christians we are called to be there. Look at what Peter writes to us today on this Good Shepherd Sunday: “But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God. Indeed, you were called to do this…” 

It’s almost nonsensical. Does the Bible really say that we are called to suffer? Say what? Suffering is favorable? It’s good? This is completely backwards, isn’t it? This flies directly in the face of conventional thinking. When people question the existence of God, don’t they often point to the fact that people do suffer, often unjustly, as their reason for God not existing? “If there really was a God, then why are all these bad things happening?” How can we understand this? That’s our prayer today. We ask the Holy Spirit to be with us today as we look at this initially challenging Word of God. We ask that he help us to find the immense comfort in these words and to understand the gift of grace that God has given us. The Grace to Walk Where Jesus Walks.

Let’s listen again to what Peter says: “For this is favorable: if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God. For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God. Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps.” 

Peter writes to Christians who are being persecuted for their faith. What that persecution was exactly, we’re not sure. Whether it was the slander of the Gentiles as mentioned in verse 12 or mistreatment from the government as implied in verses 13-17, we don’t know. What we do know, however, is that this persecution was especially true in the relationship between slaves and masters. And that is specifically who Peter is writing to in these verses. These are Christian slaves who found themselves relegated to the lowest level of society in the Roman empire. And if that wasn’t bad enough, now they were suffering because of their relationship with God. And so Peter writes to comfort them and to encourage them. But it seems a little strange, his initial encouragement. Literally he says, “For this is grace: if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God.” Grace? Sorrow over suffering is grace? This is God’s undeserved love? How can that be possible? 

Peter continues: “For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable (again grace) with God.” Peter doubles down. Again he says that suffering is a loving gift of God. He goes on. “Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps.” 

Wow. These are hard words to process. We all suffer in one way or another. But how many of us embrace suffering? How many of us patiently endure it? Isn’t our first reaction to avoid suffering at all costs? Isn’t our inclination to do everything we can to eliminate suffering? Does this mean that the rest of our lives is going to be nothing but pain and sorrow if we want to follow Jesus? 

Here’s where the context is so important. Peter isn’t saying that we should be seeking out suffering. He isn’t saying that we can’t take medicine to help feel better. He isn’t saying that our lives have to be constantly filled with physical or emotional pain. This isn’t talking about all kinds of suffering. This is talking about suffering that comes as a result of being a Christian. This is talking about what Luther called the Theology of the Cross. 

Do you remember what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, about how we’re blessed when people insult, persecute, and falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of Jesus? When he said that we’re blessed when people hate us because of him? Peter is saying the same thing. We are going to suffer because of our relationship with Jesus. This is grace! But too often we avoid it. Too often we retaliate. Who among us hasn’t gotten into a war of words when people disagree with our beliefs? Who hasn’t been tempted to not give a full effort or to put in an honest day’s work as a way to get back? Or perhaps we’ve fallen prey to the lie that some like to preach that if you’re a true believer, if you’re truly living your right life, then you’ll see nothing but blessings. 

The valley of the shadow of death is a lonely place when we try to walk it alone. But thankfully we are not alone. Even though we have failed to embrace the grace found in suffering, Jesus suffered for us! Listen to what Peter says: “He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. When he suffered he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

In every place we have failed, Jesus lived perfectly. For every time that we have retaliated, Jesus took it. For all of the times that we have avoided the suffering, Jesus suffered. If anyone suffered unjustly, it was Jesus. He himself carried every sin but his own. He was cursed by God as he hung on the tree of the cross so that we could be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. Our Good Shepherd healed us by his suffering and death!

“For you were like sheep going astray, but now you are returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Did you hear it? You were going astray. You were on the wrong path. But no longer. No in that valley of the shadow of death, Jesus used the rod and staff to return you to the path. He gave you his life and death and resurrection. He gave you his undeserved love. He gave you his grace. And now, you have The Grace to Walk Where Jesus Walked. The very actions of Jesus that saved you are also now your example to follow. It is grace to walk where Jesus walked. It is a privilege to follow in his footsteps. Living in his righteousness, we can endure sorrows when we suffer unjustly for our relationship with him. We can do the right thing, knowing that often it won’t be welcomed, it won’t be celebrated, knowing that it might bring suffering because we have this grace. Should we be tormented by our sins, we have God’s assurance that Christ has suffered for them. Should we be troubled by persecutors and mockers of the faith, we know that God will finally vindicate our cause in his just judgment. Should we be assaulted by sickness or adversity, we can look up to him who is our Shepherd and Overseer and know that we rest secure in his loving hands. We entrust ourselves to the Lord. We can do this, we can be righteous even in the face of injustice, we can walk where Jesus walked because we are relying on God’s grace. We understand that life on this side of heaven will involve suffering. But we have a Savior who is our Good Shepherd. He is with us as we walk through this valley and so we have no reason to fear. And as we suffer, we might even lead someone to see their Savior.

A seminary professor shared a story about a pastor in Vietnam. This pastor had been thrown into jail because of his faith. The prison guard who was placed over him hated Christians. He figured that he could beat the faith right out of this pastor, so that’s what he tried to do. This Christian pastor suffered horribly at the hands of this prison guard. But he endured. He didn’t cry out. He didn’t retaliate. He followed Jesus’ example. And it made an impact on that prison guard. He couldn’t believe this behavior. And because of this, the pastor was able to share his faith. To this day, that prison guard comes to visit this pastor at his home every year for Christmas, no longer an enemy, but a brother in Christ. It certainly doesn’t have to be that extreme, but since we also have the grace to walk where Jesus walked, to patiently endure the suffering that comes our way, our behavior can have an impact. And who knows, maybe you too will have the chance to turn an enemy into a friend and bring another sheep back to the Good Shepherd. 

I want to close today with a blessing, a blessing that is spoken at the end of a committal service that fits so well on this Good Shepherd Sunday. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.