I Peter Chapter 5
“There were thousands who were eyewitnesses of our Lord’s sufferings who, nevertheless, saw not the true meaning of them. They saw the Great Sufferer besmeared with His own blood; but into His wounds they never looked by faith. Thousands saw the Savior die, but they simply went their way back to Jerusalem, some of them beating on their breasts, but none of them believing in Him, or really knowing the secret of that wondrous death.” [Spurgeon]
Have you ever thought about that fact? The fact that many people saw Jesus die on the cross yet did not believe that He was the Messiah? They were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ suffering but continued on the same path of a life unchanged. Peter’s life was changed dramatically by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to whom he was a witness. He also was considered an elder or leader of the church. He was someone to be looked up to in the church, yet he taught others what Christ had taught him – to humble yourselves before the Lord.
Let's Reflect
1. As we saw in the last chapter a believer may suffer physically for the cause of Christ. Peter wants to teach the church leadership (the shepherd), who in turn will teach the flock that they will be a participant in such sufferings as well as a partaker of what?
2. A Pastor of a church is known as the shepherd and also what other name?
3. What reward will the chief shepherd, Jesus, give to those pastors who shepherd their church with humility?
4. Peter then talks about the virtue of humility in all believers. Why do you think Peter says that we can cast all our anxieties on Jesus in regard to humility?
5. Peter calls the devil an adversary that prowls around like what animal? The devil hopes that believers will be terrified by hardship and persecutions so that he can devour them up (ruin their testimony for Christ).
6. It is comforting to know that we are not the only ones experiencing difficult times. Believers all over the world suffer for the sake of their faith. However, Peter reminds us that the believer belongs to the brotherhood; and that the God of all grace will do what?
7. Peter suggested that just as family members greeted each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, that they should do so in the church as well. Why did he suggest this?
