By Such Stripes Are We Healed
by Jack Shaver
©The United Church of Canada, 1985
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 0-88622-196-X
7M/12/85/APL
Used with Permission
Palm/Passion Sunday
Once nobody, now somebody
I Peter 2: 4-10
First Peter is another early Christian writing that is more tract than letter, concerned with the dangers and problems confronting the whole church and presenting a message of general relevance. It is written in main-line, official, religious language which nonetheless retains the fresh, living quality of the language of discovery.
- It seems the main problem the letter deals with is the persecution that is being experienced generally throughout the church. It is interesting to note how hard and often the writer undertakes to make the distinction between harassment that comes from trouhle-making and harassment that comes from faithfulness to Christ. In the midst of three or four attempts to address the problem, he uses metaphors that flash deep gospel insights like the facets of a jewel.
- But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God's people.
- Once you were nobody, now you are somebody.
I had an interview once with a bright 15-year-old boy who had been placed in a juvenile containment institution under an indefinite sentence. The young man confessed to an interest in history, which subject he was taking by correspondence. Surprised, I asked him why he was interested in history. He told me about his desire to reach
back and put his finger on how things came to be. Becoming even more interested, I expressed a wish that he would have a chance to work on this quest face to face with a teacher, instead of in a correspondence course.
He replied, "Teachers! I can't stand teachers. I can't stand anyone in authority. I can't stand parents, that's why I'm here. I've been declared incorrigible. That's why my sentence is still indefinite. Whenever I have anything to do with anyone up there I have to figure out some way to put them down."
What a powerful attempt to move from being nobody to being somebody! And with what disastrous results. The boy's vigorous attempts to prove he was somebody turned everyone into his enemy.
First Peter is talking about a more excellent way.
You get to be somebody because God calls you somebody.- Once you were no people, now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, now you have received mercy.
- You get to be somebody because God forgives you.
How deep within human beings is the need to justify our existence, to prove we are somebody. How great the futility and devastation that accompanies all our attempts at self-justification. How complete the surrender for us to let it be God who justifies.
No wonder the early Christians got to use the metaphor of a rejected stone and a stumbling stone becoming the headstone of the corner.
I so like our author's little aside in chapter one, verse 12. This is the kind of news "into which the angels long to look."
- Speak Lord
Living God,
Your word is a lamp unto our feet. - Penetrate our darkness with your great light.
We stumble around in our darkness; - we fail to do the good we set out to do;
- we do a lot of harm we try not to do.
- Our good undertakings do damage;
the world's darkness terrifies us; - our consciences make us afraid.
- Penetrate our darkness.
We stumble over you in the darkness. - Somewhere underfoot is our salvation.
We need the light of your word to recognize it.
We run here and there by the light that we and ours see by.
Reach us with the light that is for everyone.
No one lights a lamp unless they have in mind illuminating someone or something.
Keep your light before us where it can penetrate our dull sight.
Through Jesus our Lord.
Amen