John 21:15-23
I can imagine Peter, writing a letter, reflecting on all that he heard and seen and experienced with Jesus - how profoundly impacted He must have been, so indelibly marked - His mind, heart, soul, spirit - could never be the same.
Reflecting on his own calling, Peter would write encouragements and instructions to the rest of us who would see and hear, turn and follow, leaving behind, one ask at a time, the stuff our security, our identity, those things we have set our affections on, lived on, lived off, lived for…
Jesus’ question for Peter is the same question He asks us today “do you love me more than… these?” more than this, and this, and this, and, what about that, or them, or these?
What Peter wants for us is what he experienced with Jesus - all of it. And through the years, I am sure, as Peter lived out the faith he’d received that first day, as he worked out his own salvation, he had a moment to stop and reflect, to consider what it has been to walk with Jesus and to do it effectively, and, ineffectively, to have growing assurance, and increased faith and hope.
So, he opens his letters with reminders; encouragements; exhortations. In these brief statements, Peter reminds us who our Father is, who our Comforter is, who our Savior, and Lord, is. Peter remembers what it was to hear Jesus’ voice, to watch Him sojourn in this world, praying, speaking, touching, embracing; rebuking, correcting, warning, and pleading. (Heb 5:7)
So Peter, in the introduction of His first letter, gives us a glimpse of what he ultimately wants for us - that we would know God and be effective in our knowledge of him - in our personal relationship with Him growing in hope and assurance, effectiveness in all things, Jesus.
1Peter 1:1-2
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
To God’s elect,
...exiles scattered throughout…
...who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, (Rom 8:29; Eph 1:3-14; Heb 1:2)
...through the sanctifying work of the Spirit - set apart, created, now, in Christ Jesus, for good works, beautiful works, works prepared in advance for our doing
...to be obedient to Jesus Christ - loving Jesus in return for having been loved, trusting His commands as much as we trust Him… and
...sprinkled with his blood - cleansed from all unrighteousness, forgiven of our sin - not only set apart but made ready to do what we have been created to do - truly vessels of noble purposes; right, just, fair things, good things (Ps 51:7;Heb 9:13,24;10:22;11:28;12:24)
And as he encourages us to rejoice, to persevere through, even to cheerfully endure every trial and temptation… I am sure he pauses for a moment, pen in hand, a drop of ink forming on its end, and he goes back into the recesses of his mind, and when he arrives there, it was like yesterday, yesterday, and Peter is transported to the garden, the sleep, the ask - again and again. He remembers being awaken from his sleep… the commotion, to betrayal, the sword, the rebuke… then on to the courtyard, the tension, to fear, and the denial, another one, and a third… to the cocks crow. And after days of grief and anxiety, wanting and wishing, begging forgiveness and hoping to be at least forgiven and loved - the restoration, his being restored.
And with that, he writes some more! 1Peter 1:3-9
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This was not the first, neither would be the last - temptation and trial, the test of faith… and each time, God is there. And Peter wants us to know, to experience, to be assured - that we are loved and held and heirs with him with Jesus.
So, being reminded of these truths and having our faith, again and again, proven genuine - to us - it might behoove us, to profit us, to re-inform, protect, and enliven us, to dwell, again, on these truths - that we might be - effective in our knowledge, our relationship with, our hope in, Jesus.
Phill 2:1-5 with this in mind, let us live an effective life in Christ…
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
If, If, If, If
Then
Being confident of this:
Phil 1:6 that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil 2:14 it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
And go on to Peter’s second introduction - one that reassures us of God’s faithfulness - and that we have been given everything we need to live this life in Christ in a way that bears, not just fruit, but much fruit.
This leads us to Peter’s second letter - which begins with Peter’s instructions to us to foster, cultivate, work on our relationship with God in a way that it, our being connected to God, would itself be effective, and that effectiveness might result in fruitfulness.
2Peter 1 so, what is it to be effective?
To be useful - to be about the master’s business (Matt 25; Luke 12) - in good works, stiving and taking hold, thought, and profit - to receive life and to bring life - to bring a return for the investment made - in you
To be fruitful - that we would bear - much fruit (John 15; Gal 5:22-23); bring profit. To give the Spirit permission to guide our thoughts and actions, to bring our faith to bear in and through us - and this according to God’s standard, not the world’s impression - yielding the ongoing, ever-increasing nature, character, and righteous goodness of Jesus (2Cor 5; Eph 2) the good works we were created in Jesus to do - the reflection, or fruit, of our creation - to marvel of all creation (Eph 2).
To know - God - both about and personally by experience.
To walk with Him in trusting and loving obedience (Ps 119; John 14; Gal 5)
To keep one’s eyes fixed upon Him (Col 3; Heb 12)
While setting apart in our hearts Jesus as Lord (1Peter 3:15)
We will be effective, we will bear fruit, we will do the good prepared in advance for us to do - the very things we were created in Jesus to do
To know Jesus, to live as Jesus, having been chosen by the Father, set apart and empowered by the Spirit, to and for our obedience to Jesus - in response to His merciful, gracious and kind love - that we would effectively bear much fruit - regardless of our circumstances…
Psalm 1 - 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 - “7“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
