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By His Wounds You Have Been Healed

1 Peter 2:11-25

Key Verse:2:24 “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.”

Last week through Dr. Joseph Park’s message we learned about our identity as chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, and God’s special possession. Have you ever thought about this identity last week? In chapter one Peter instructed us how to live as God’s chosen people and his special possession. He encouraged us to be holy in all we do. We must be holy as Jesus is holy. Here the word ‘holy’ does not necessarily mean moral purity, but spiritual purity that we must focus on God and worship Him alone. As children of God we also must crave pure spiritual milk for our soul which is the word of God. Last two weeks I took a vacation with my wife to accompany my brother and sister-in-law. During my trip, all my Bible students studied the Bible with me by zoom. We studied at Washington Park, at the resting place on the highway, in my hotel room, and so on. They were eager for spiritual milk which is the word of God in the midst of their tough school schedule. We also must crave the word of God like them. In today’s passage Peter continues to teach us how to live as God’s chosen people.

First, live for the glory of God (11-17) When I was in high school, I often determined to study hard for the exam. However, when I opened the book, I was so sleepy. The more I struggled, the more I was sleepy. In the same way when we live with a new identity as God’s chosen people, temptation always follows us. Sinful desires tempt us to return to our old sinful life. Fleshly desires and holy desires fight each other in our souls. Even to Paul the Apostle the same spiritual conflict occurred. He cried out in Romans “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do…What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Ro 7:15,24) Peter said in verse 11 that our sinful desires wage war against our soul. So we must abstain from our sinful desires. Look at verse 11. “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” 

Look at verse 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.” When we live with pride as God’s chosen people or Christians, we are often misunderstood or mistreated by ungodly people. Joseph in the Old Testament was a righteous man who walked with God. Even though he was sold by his own brothers to foreigners and worked as a slave under a foreign master, he did not complain about his life. Even he was falsely accused of sexual harassment by an evil woman. We know what Joseph did in this unfavorable situation. He trusted in God to the end and walked with him. Peter encouraged Christians to live like Joseph. He urged us to live good lives among the pagans. Here, ‘live good lives’ does not mean 'live luxurious and comfortable lives’, but mean ‘godly lives.’ He meant to live for the glory of God. He continued, “though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Some say that Chrtistians should be a walking Bible. They meant that people judge us not according to what we say, but according to what we do. They evaluate our attitude and our behavior. Joseph’s enemies turned to the God of Joseph when they saw God who had been with Joseph. King Pharaoh especially praised Joseph and his God. The centurion who had crucified Jesus repented when he saw how Jesus died. Jesus did not open his mouth to save himself. He did not retaliate against his enemies, but obeyed the cross. So, the centurion confessed, “Surely this was a righteous man!” (Lk 23:47) Jesus lived for the glory of God through his obedience on the cross and gave a good message to his enemies.

Peter continued. Look at verses 13-17. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority; whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slave. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” No one likes bureaucracy. We know that we need police officers for our safety, but we don’t like them. People under the Roman government hated the Roman emperor because the emperor exploited them. In fact emperors levied heavy imperial taxes in the name of Pax Romana, which means “Peace through Rome.” Peter was one of the victims of the Roman exploit. Still, Peter urged the suffering Christians to submit themselves to authorities. In the past Peter himself resisted the armies by cutting the ear of one of whom came to arrest Jesus in the garden. But now Peter asked us to submit ourselves to the authorities, even to evil emperors. Why? He answered that it is for the Lord’s sake. In order words, for the glory of God we must obey authority.

Paul said the same things in the book of Romans. He said this in Romans 13:1, which says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Paul said that rulers and people in authority are God’s servants, agents of wrath, who do for us in the palace of God. (Ro 13:4-5) What is the common point which Peter and Paul mentioned here about our attitude toward authority or government? We must live such godly lives for the glory of God. We must obey them for the Lord’s sake.

In verses 18-20 Peter instructed slaves why and how they must live such good lives. Look at verses 18-20. “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 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.” In Peter’s day there was a slave system, and there were many Christian slaves. Christian slaves suffered much under their ungodly masters, not only because they were slaves, but because they were Christians. Many masters manipulated their Christian slaves because of their humble and submissive character and attitude. Still, Peter encouraged the suffering Christian slaves to endure suffering and obey their evil masters. This is for the glory of God. Peter said that the evil masters are still conscious of God. He meant that they were watching over their slaves and testing their faith. 

Around Peter wrote this letter, there was a great fire in the city of Rome. Historians say that Nero, the evil emperor of Rome, lit the fire in the city of Rome to get some poetic inspiration. Later when all the blame came to him, Nero turned all the blame to the innocent Christians who lived in the city of Rome. But the suffering Christians did not resist against Nero or the Roman government. They just left the city and moved to other places. Even though Nero lied and persecuted Christians, many people who lived in the city of Rome were conscious of God. They knew the truth and admired the Christians who lived pure and good lives. There were many hidden Christians among Roman aristocrats. As we know, the mother of Emperor Constantine was a Christian. Later the conversion of Constantine opened the new page of Christian history. In the same way when we endure all false accusations or persecution from the evil people, God will give us final victory. This is because even the evil people are conscious of God like the Roman centurion who confessed his faith. God gave them conscience in their hearts, so later they may repent and turn to God. Here is another reason why we must endure our sufferings and be submissive to authority.

Second, Jesus endured the cross. The purpose of studying history is to review our past, to realize the present, and to prepare for our future. When we study how our Founding Fathers established this country, we know how to live as citizens of this country. In the same way, good examples always give us the right direction for our future and courage to endure present sufferings. This is the reason why God commanded the Israelites to remember what God had done for their ancestors while they lived in Egypt and when they were in the desert. God wanted them to learn a lesson from their history. In the same way Peter urged Christians to remember Jesus and to follow his good example. 

Look at verses 21-23. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threat. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” We have studied how Jesus reacted when he was arrested, suffered, and died. Was he crucified on the cross because of his sins? No! Peter quoted Isaiah 53:9 to prove this. He committed no sin, but he was crucified. Did Jesus open his mouth to defend himself at the trial before Pilate? No, he was silent like a sheep. Did he retaliate against his enemies when he was hung on the tree? No, when he suffered, he made no threat at all. How could he do so? Peter answered in verse 23. Jesus did so because he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. Jesus trusted in God the Father. He believed that God would raise him up from the dead. Jesus believed that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Ro 8:28) Jesus endured the cross. By doing so, he went ahead of us and showed us a good example of how to trust in God and how to endure our present sufferings. This reminds us of Hebrews 12:1-3. “...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Amen!

We fix our eyes on Jesus and follow his example because we receive comfort and healing in his death. Look at verses 24-25. “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!” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Amen! When we are sick, we are eager to get healed. When I got a cardiac arrest, I envied those whose hearts beat normally. Unfortunately, we don’t have anyone to replace our sickness. There is no one who takes over our sickness and bears our sins. Each person must carry his own cross. This is the story before Jesus came to this world. Jesus came to bear our sufferings and heal our sicknesses. His coming and healing had been prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah and written in his book. (Isa 53) As it is written, Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross. So, by his wounds we are healed. How was it possible? It is possible because Jesus paid the price of our sins by his blood. The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sins (1 Jn 1:7) and sets us free from the influence of sin. As a result, we die to our sins and live for righteousness.

The fact that Jesus bore our sins and died on the cross became a great comfort to those who were suffering. Jesus became the source of comfort because he went through the sufferings which we are now going through.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, which says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Amen! While living on this earth people hurt and be hurt for each other. The place where they hurt each other, deep wounds remain in their soul, which need healing from Jesus. Between a nation and a nation, between a community and a community, between employer and employee, between a parent and children, between husband and wife, between brothers and sisters, we need healing from our broken relationships. When we think that we are mistreated unjustly, it is time to come to the cross of Jesus. When we are hurt and wounded by others, it is time to come to Jesus for healing.

Jesus endured the cross and went ahead of us as a good shepherd. We are comforted when we see Jesus and come to him. Amen!  Peter concludes this chapter in verse 25, “but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Amen!  Let us read verses 24-25. again.

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