By Evangelist Eric Smith “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.’ 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples,” Matthew 28:5-8. This passage is a portion of the very triumph of Jesus’ resurrection.
By Evangelist Eric Smith Jesus has gone through all the trials and has been taken out to be crucified. Two others are there to be crucified. Jesus then spoke what has become known as the seven last sayings of Jesus. “Father, forgive them,” Luke 23:26-37; “Behold, your mother. Behold, your son,” John 19:19-27; “I thirst,” John 19:28-30; “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:45-49; “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise,” Luke 23:32-43; “It is finished,” John 19:23-30; and “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit,” Luke 23:44-49. These words are so powerful and yet at the same time encouraging. Let us examine each one even though we know whole books have been written on these last sayings of Jesus.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” John 15:18-21.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations But you made it a den of robbers.’ 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and begun looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.” Mark 11:15-18.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
By Evangelist Eric Smith “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1st Peter 5:1-4. A lot has been gleaned from these verses during the last few weeks, yet we have only begun to scratch the surface of the profoundness of Peter’s letter. We will be examining the climax to this section today.
By Evangelist Eric Smith Peter’s underlining meaning is this is urgent. To see the urgency you must understand the full scope of the responsibilities or duties of the elders. Much has been written about eldership. To give the best summary is to quote Charles E. B. Cranfield, a Biblical commentator, “The chief functions of the shepherd, as they are depicted in the Bible, are to seek out the lost, gather the scattered, watch over and defend against wild beasts and robbers, to feed and water, to lead”.
by Evangelist Eric Smith “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as Gods wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as Gods wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1st Peter 5:1-4.
“And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1st Peter 4:18-19. The text begins with a quotation from the Septuagint verse of the Old Testament in the Greek from Proverbs 11:31. Translating from the original language to English it reads this way, “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” The reality is you can not take your relationship with Jesus Christ hap-hazardly. Many believe God is a loving God and therefore, He will not send anyone to hell. They forget God is also a just God and punishment will be given to those who need to be punished. Throughout the Scriptures you will find those who disregarded God’s instruction receiving their just punishment.
When it comes to the Church, Ananias and Sapphira are examples of what happens when you do not tell the whole truth. They decided together to say they gave all the money they received from the land they sold when true fully they had kept some of it for themselves. The fact they lied about what they gave to the Church cost them their lives. By Evangelist Eric Smith “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:16-17. After instructing that Christians should not suffer for wrong doing but expect the government will punish those who commit such crimes, Peter continues with suffering from being a Christian. Once again the “if” would be better translated “when” which tells you it will only be a matter of time until you suffer because the world is against Christianity. There are only three places where individuals, who have made Christ their Lord and Savior, are called Christians in the Scriptures and this is one of them. The other two are in the book of Acts. Other names were used for believers who were a part of the Church; disciples, brethren, saints and the Way are some of the names. Most of the names had been used before for God’s people. The name Christian is the fulfillment referred to in the Old Testament of a new name given by God.
By Evangelist Eric Smith “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even a meddler” 1st Peter 4:14-15. Peter is continuing his instruction for those who suffer for Christ. In the verses we are examining including verse 16, there are three contrasts of suffering. Remember, Peter is encouraging his readers to remain faithful to Jesus because the end results are far greater then any suffering an individual may go through.
By Evangelist, Eric Smith
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If any one speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1st Peter 4:10-11. This paragraph begins with verse seven and is one sentence continuing through verse ten. Verse seven starts with the end of things being near at hand and therefore Christians need to be “clear minded”. What we are looking at now is another area where Christians need to be sound minded so they can make a sound judgment. The judgment or choices you make just might make all the difference in your eternity. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
1st Peter 4:8-9. Peter finished writing about praying and then he wrote the verses we are examining. “Above all” is telling us to pay attention to the instruction Peter is now giving. He goes back to the subject of love which already has been dealt with several times in this letter but in a different perspective. Love, above everything else is the most important. By Evangelist Eric Smith
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and selfcontrolled so that you can pray,” 1st Peter 4:7. This passage continues with the translation difficulties we have been finding in the last few verses. It depends on how the previous verses are translated to understand what there meaning is. For this is the reason theses passages must be kept in their contents. To help understand this passage we need to remember what was happening or what was about to happen when Peter wrote it. Peter has already dealt with Christians and their suffering for Christ. He encourages the readers to live according to God’s will. Studying history shows there was already a certain amount of persecution against Christians for their belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ which often led to death. Peter wrote this letter just a few short years before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans when many Jews losing their lives in 70 AD. |
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