Follow in Your Shepherd’s Steps!

A new box of crayons is a beautiful sight with so much potential. In the hands of children or adults, crayons create some of the first squiggles or beautiful pictures, and are used to write simple messages of love or encouragement, but that all comes at a price to the crayon. The more it is used, the less there is to be used, but do not feel back for the crayon, it has no feelings. Plus, the purpose of the crayon is to be used, not to sit in a box.

Using up a crayon does not cause it to suffer, but there are people who suffer for doing good. Some doctors face prison time for traveling to other countries to helping people living in dangerous and oppressed places. Some students and employees face rejection for eating with someone their peers have labeled an outcast or uncool. A shepherd might have an arm or leg maimed by a wolf while protecting his sheep. Or a shepherd might go so far as to give his life to save his flock.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. In our New Testament reading from 1 Peter 2:19-25, Peter reminds us of the good our Shepherd, Jesus, has done for us as his once lost and wondering flock. Peter’s first letter was written to encourage believers facing persecution for their faith. He also gave them encouragement to live godly lives amidst an ungodly world. To better understand verses 19-25 of 1 Peter 2, we need to go back to 1 Peter 2:12, which reads, 12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Peter encouraged believers to live good lives, not because everyone around them would immediately praise them, it would lead to a promotion, it would get them likes on social media or free their lives of problems. Instead, he knew that believers live good lives because God has given them faith, filled them with hope in forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven, and filled them with love and thankfulness, which would all be challenged by the unbelieving world that would hate them as they hated Jesus. So, believers needed encouragement to live good lives and understand that their enduring goodness, even when hated and suffering unjustly, might allow the love of God and the message of Jesus’ forgiveness to be felt and heard by unbelievers, so that more once lost sheep would be brought into the Good Shepherd’s flock, eager to give glory and praise to Jesus when he returns.

After Peter gave his general encouragement in verse 12, he went on to speak to specific groups. In our reading today, his first hearers were slaves. Peter recognized that Christian slaves needed encouragement. It is thought that at the time of Peter nearly half of the Roman population was slaves. There were many different circumstances of slavery, some with kind masters, some with oppressive, and some slaves had backbreaking work, while others had quite tolerable tasks. Without approving of slavery, harsh practices or excusing any kind of brutality and sin, Peter encouraged slaves to obey their masters. He did so by pointing them to the spiritual reason for obedience writing, 19 “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” Peter understood this encouragement would be difficult to hear. He made it clear that the reason to endure unjust suffering is because of God. He continued, 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. Peter went on to make the simple point that if you do wrong and are punished, do not expect a good job or commendation as if a parent would give a high five to their child after a timeout. Rather, he taught that if you suffer for doing what is good for the sake of God, then you are worthy of God’s commendation.

Avoiding unjust suffering feels better than God’s commendation. When someone makes you suffer for doing good, you try to get out of it, or you talk incessantly about how unfair it is. When you are insulted for doing good, you retaliate. When you suffer for doing good you threaten to get even. When others make you suffer unjustly, you sink to their level. You take it upon yourself to make it right, to be justified. You ignore God’s promise to punish the wicked on his timeline, and you make yourself judge, jury and punisher. When unjust suffering hurts you, you try to heal yourself by causing more suffering. Avoiding unjust suffering may feel better, but considering what you feel is a justified response to unjust suffering rather than God’s response puts you in place of God. It takes you off the path that follows Jesus, which is a dark path that can lead to hell.

Jesus walked the path of unjust suffering. Without Jesus, suffering is too much for us, even if we suffer for doing good, the temptation to fight back, get revenge and grumble overwhelms us. Jesus was not overwhelmed. He suffered for you as Peter wrote, 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. Peter’s encouragement was not only for enslaved Christians of his day, but for us as well. We are called to unjust suffering as part of our Christian life following in Jesus’ steps. Peter’s next words show how Jesus suffered for us, which both saved us from the eternal punishment of our sins giving us eternal life in heaven and from pursuing sin in our earthly lives until we reach heaven. Peter quoted the Old Testament prophet Isaiah writing, 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” Jesus did not say or do anything wrong when he suffered unjustly. He was accused of blasphemy, claiming he was God, which he is, but the wicked did not believe him so they crucified him. Peter went on, 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Jesus’ response to insults and suffering was silence, except for a few words like those recorded in Luke 23, 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And we see how the innocent Jesus could suffer unjustly in Peter’s next words, 23… “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Jesus trusted the highest authority above all earthly governments. God judges justly and he judges all. He will punish those who cause others to suffer. He will reward those who suffer unjustly for his sake. God’s justice for all sin was carried out on the cross as Peter went on to write, 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” This is the gospel. Jesus saved us from our sins and eternal punishment in hell by his death on the cross. Christ suffered unjustly to save you.

He also saved us to live for him to walk in his steps. His healing not only waits for us in heaven, but it has begun now as Peter wrote earlier in 1 Peter 2, “11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” You are foreigners and exiles, citizens of heaven, living on earth. Our Good Shepherd will bring us from the sparce grazing, cold, predator filled world, to heavenly pastures. That is the comfort of Psalm 23, 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley.” Included along the right path through the darkest valley is unjust suffering. We are called to this because we are no longer sheep going astray but have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Peter wrote, 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. The Christian slaves Peter addressed, were lost in their sins, but their Shepherd, Jesus, brought them back. He brought you back as well. He is your Overseer constantly watching over you. In our Gospel reading from John 10, we heard, 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Jesus came to give us eternal life, purpose in life and protection in life. Yes, it is difficult to suffer unjustly, to suffer for doing good, but to give up suffering for doing good lands you in the thief’s trap, living an ungodly life destined for death and destruction. Your source for strength will always be Jesus, just as he was for those who lived at his time. In our Old Testament reading from Acts 2, the early Christian church was described, 42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” Today we have the same teaching as the apostles, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life to save his sheep. At that time, they had wonders and signs to prove the reliability of the apostles as witnesses of God. Today, the way we live as Christians serves as a testament to open doors to share the apostles’ teaching, Jesus. As an employee, even at the lowest level, you have important work, a God given calling. You may have a great boss or one who is against you at every turn, you may suffer unjustly, but no one can take away the confidence, security, value, joy and purpose you have from God. Also, if you would like to help those caught in modern slavery, most notably human trafficking, share the Gospel and live righteously as Peter did. Trust the Word to work in the hearts of wicked masters, to give comfort to those enslaved, to give resolve to Christians who work in governments to stop slavery, to encourage even unbelievers in government to put a stop to slavery, to stop those who give money to industries that enslave others.

A new box of crayons is a beautiful sight with so much potential. Using up a crayon does not cause it to suffer, but there are people who suffer for doing good. Our Good Shepherd Jesus suffered unjustly on the cross to save us from our sins. By the grace of God, you get to say with confidence from Psalm 23, 6… “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Until then, as Peter wrote, 12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” With a clear understanding of God, you understand that your life, purpose and identity are not defined by your earthly position, but your position as a member of God’s kingdom. Endure unjust suffering for the sake of God and follow in your Shepherd’s steps. Amen.