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1. How does Peter identify himself in the last chapter of 1 Peter? (1) What one single command does he give to the elders? (2; cf. Jn 21:15-17) What kinds of shepherd does he want them to be? (2-3) What hope does he give to them? (4) 2. What exhortation did Peter give to younger people (5a)? What virtue did Peter emphasize practicing in the Christian community, and why (5b-6)? Why might anxiety arise in regard to humbling oneself, and how can we solve it (7)? 3. What warning did Peter give and why (8; cf. 1:13; 4:7b)? How can we defeat the devil (9; Jas 4:7)? What encouragement do we find in the fellowship of believers worldwide? 4. What will the God of all grace do for suffering believers (10)? What is his doxology? (11; 4:11b) Who was with Peter when he wrote this letter (12a,13)? Why did he write this letter (12b)? What was his final greeting (14)?

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Through the last lesson, we learned that since Christ suffered in his body for us, we need to have a right attitude toward sin and suffering, that is to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ and to participate in the sufferings of Christ, rejoicing in the hope of Jesus’ glory. This could be the end of 1 Peter addressed to the scattered suffering Christians. Yet, Peter had to write chapter 5, appealing to the elders, “Be shepherds of God’s flock.” Peter had also young people in mind who would be future leaders. We come to know more and more the significance of raising shepherds or spiritual leaders in any time in history, particularly, when the times are more difficult. We remember that Jesus raised 12 disciples during three years of his limited earthly life, particularly one person Peter as a shepherd in the early Christian era. The end of the gospel story of Jesus is Jesus’ heart-felt conversation with Peter, “Do you truly love me?...Feed my sheep.” Peter must have been in reminiscence of this event and now appeals in this chapter, “Be shepherds of God’s flock.” May we hear this word of God very personally. In this last chapter, Peter also tells about several essential elements of Christian life. First, be shepherds of God’s flock (1-4). Verse 1 says, “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.” At the beginning of this epistle, Peter briefly introduced himself, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Now in this final chapter he identifies himself as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and a sharer of Christ’s future glory, out of his appealing heart to the elders among them. Particularly, Peter was an eyewitness of Christ’s sufferings. He also wrote in 2 Peter 1:16, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” The fact that Peter was an eyewitness adds to the truthfulness of his epistle, on top of having a clear conscience before God in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Especially being an eyewitness of Christ’s suffering, he testifies that Christ’s suffering was true, knowing why Christ had to suffer and how he suffered for the people of the world. And he assures that he will share in the glory to be revealed. Then, what is Peter’s appeal? Verse 2 says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers…” Jesus once had a vacation plan for his disciples to go to a remote, quiet place. However, when they arrived there, people already knew this and came to the place ahead of them. They were desperately in search of Jesus for his help. Mark 6:34 says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began teaching them many things.” People seem to have many problems. But one fundamental problem is having no shepherd. Another time when Jesus saw a crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36). Bible depicts God as the shepherd and his people as sheep. Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Sheep are really helpless animals. When they fall down, they cannot get up by themselves. At the same time, they are stubborn and near-sighted. They go their own way and then go astray, even to dangerous places where there are poisonous herbs. They are vulnerable to wild animals like wolves. They absolutely need shepherds. David was a shepherd boy, tending his father’s flock of sheep. He confessed his happiness having the LORD as his shepherd in Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” David himself became a shepherd king, who feared God and took care of his people with God’s truth and love. Since then, the people of Israel longed for shepherds like David. When the leaders of Israel could not be shepherds of God’s people, the Sovereign LORD said: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?...So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them” (Eze. 34:2-6). Then the LORD continued, “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Eze. 34:23). When Jesus came into this world, he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I know my sheep and my sheep know me…My sheep listen to my voice” (Jn 10:11, 14, 27). We remember how Jesus shepherded his disciples. Most importantly Jesus fed them with the words of God and revealed God to them. He said in John 17:6-8 in his prayer to God the Father, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world…I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent.” He also prayed for God’s protection and sanctification for them: “Protect them from the evil one…Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn 17:15, 17). He also said in John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” We especially know how Jesus shepherded Peter. When Peter came to Jesus through his brother, Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter [meaning rock]) (Jn 1:42). Jesus saw him with the eyes of hope from the beginning. Jesus taught him the words of God until he could confess, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” while many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and no longer followed him (Jn. 6:67-68). At the time of Jesus’ suffering, when Peter became vulnerable, Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:31). Jesus foreknew that Peter would fail but also knew that he would come back. For this he gave them his prophetic words of truth, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me”, although it would hurt his pride (Lk. 22:34). Later on, even after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter went to the world out of deep sense of failure. Even so, Jesus did not give him up, showed his unfailing love until he was restored and reinstated him as a shepherd for God’s flock. We see the heartfelt conversation between Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s gospel. Jesus asked him three times, “Do you truly love me more than these?” “Do you truly love me?” “Do you love me” Jesus could ask such a question consecutively three times, because he truly love Peter consistently to the end. When Peter made a sincere confession of love, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs”, “Take care of my sheep”, “Feed my sheep.” Finally, Jesus said to Peter, “You must follow me” (21:22) that is going through the way of the cross and then to the glory, focusing on Jesus very personally. Peter must have remembered all this history of God and Jesus’ shepherding him, and said here, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.” In our 1 Peter study, we see the supreme importance of one shepherd, who could greatly encourage the first century scattered Christians under the fiery persecution not with human encouragement but with divine encouragement. We see his wonderful shepherding. First of all, he helped them to praise God for giving them a living hope through new birth in Christ Jesus, and taught them the meaning of the suffering to refine their faith more precious than refined pure gold. He enjoined them to be holy and live a holy life, craving pure spiritual milk of God’s word. He led them to come to Christ the living Stone to be build into a spiritual hose to be a holy priesthood assuring their identity as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession. He gave them a clear direction to submit to human authorities and toward each other and suffer for doing good, following the example of Christ, who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. He urged them to set apart Christ as Lord in their hearts not fearing people. He finally helped them positively to rejoice that they participate in the sufferings of Christ, committing their lives to their faithful Creator. In light of the words, “Be shepherd of God’s flock that is under your care”, may God help us to be shepherds of God’s flock for U of T students and raise up shepherds from this campus. Thank God that S. Ian and Jemmie are going to visit Justin in Ottawa this week. May God bless their shepherd heart for him and grow them as a shepherd family for God’s flock of sheep. Thank God that our leaders are serving God’s flock with his words in their own difficult situations. May God continually bless their shepherd life. In verses 2 and 3 we learn how to live as shepherds. He said, “…serving overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” We see that shepherds are to be overseers as Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseers of our souls. It means that shepherds should be awakened to watch over the lives of God’s flock of sheep, not to interfere their detailed lives, but to know their spiritual conditions and truly care for them. Proverbs 27:23 says, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.” Three negative commands are “not because you must”, “not greedy for money (or dishonest gain)” and “not lording it over those entrusted to you.” Three positive commands are “because you are willing, as God wants you to be”, “eager to serve” and “being examples to the flock.” Most significantly a shepherd must follow the example of Christ and be an example to God’s flock of sheep. We remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Then Peter says in verse 4, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…” James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Here Peter mentioned the crown of glory. While we have studied 1 Peter , the epistle for suffering Christians, the word “glory” or “glorious” draws our attention: in 1:7, “These have come so that your faith…may result in praise, glory and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed”, in 1:8, “even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”, in 4:13, “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” in 4:14, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”, and in 5:1, “…one who also will share in the glory to be revealed”, in 5:4, “the crown of glory” and lastly in 5:10, “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ.” Human glory is like the flowers of the field (1:24), but the crown of glory our Chief Shepherd gives will never fade away. May we be more and more familiar of the glory of Christ, as we are familiar with the sufferings of Christ in our shepherd life. Second, timeless teachings for Christians (5-9). Firstly, be submissive and humble. In verse 5 Peter says, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.” In this epistle, Peter specifically called, “slaves”, “wives”, “husbands” and now “young men.” Definitely, young men were in Peter’s mind. To raise them as future spiritual leaders must have been very important to Peter. He said of only one thing, “In the same way be submissive to those who are older.” Again here, “in the same way” is as Jesus was submissive to God, entrusting himself to God who judges justly (2:23). Young people’s tendency is to live independently being submissive to no one. However, without learning submission that is closely related to obedience they will be their own men, not growing before God. Submission is a fundamental attitude of spiritual maturity (Heb. 13:7, 17). Again, this submission is the submission before God in the consideration of Christ’s submission. Then Peter says, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” Humility can be one of the most significant character to Christians and the most difficult one to fallen sinners. Man fell because of pride, regarding his idea above God’s word. St. Augustine said, “If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility.” Peter quoted the words of Proverbs 3:34 and wrote, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If God becomes the opponent of someone, who can bear it, even if all people support the person? On the contrary if God wants to give grace to a certain one, no one can stop him, even the whole world. It is a universal truth that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So Peter said, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility.” Then Peter says again in verse 6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may life you up in due time.” Mary wrote in her song, “He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Lk. 2:53-54). This has been God’s way of working in history. He never fails to life up the humble in due time. It is true in God’s church also. May we truly believe this, “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may life you in due time.” When we try to humble ourselves, we can have anxieties because of many worries for ourselves and our beloved ones, not being sure of what our futures will be. So, Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Because he truly cares for us (Ps. 121:4), we can humble ourselves before him. Secondly, resist the devil. Look at verse 8. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Here Peter clearly said of their enemy. Those who persecuted them were not their enemy. The devil was their enemy. Throughout history the devil has been the enemy of God and his people. As God is invisible, so is the devil. Yet the devil’s work is evident. The devil is like a roaring lion, seeking an opportunity to devour someone among God’s people, threatening the person, destroying a house church, and the whole church. The devil is very diligent working 24/7 without a vacation. The devil had no mercy and the devil’s weapon is lying. Jesus said in John 8:44, “…He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” He tells a lie from his own nature, and lying is natural to him. Peter said, “Be self-controlled and alert.” Peter must have remembered how Satan attacked him. At Jesus’ personal question, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus was very pleased with his answer and replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Then when Jesus told him about Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, Peter strongly rejected the words of Jesus out of his human love for Jesus, saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Already Peter was attacked by the devil. For Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mt. 16:16-17, 22-23). Jesus was really alert. But Peter was not alert at that time after making a wonderful confession of Christ. Usually when there is the work of God, the devil is jealous of it and makes every effort to undo it. We should be self-controlled and alert. Especially a shepherd should be alert to protect God’s flock of sheep, praying for them, as Jesus was alert. As we studied in the previous part, Jesus said in Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that our faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” We can infer that because of Jesus’ prayer Simon Peter could turn back after his miserable failure of denying Jesus three times. Here Peter said continually, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” We should never allow the devil into our hearts or into our minds. We must resist him. Specifically, he can attack us through our thinking, and we should reject any ungodly or humanistic thoughts. We are to discern whether a thought comes from God based on the word of God’s truth or from my own thinking prompted by my own evil human desire, which the devil uses. We should resist him and refuse any ungodly crafty, wicked, or devilish thought, standing firm in the faith. “Standing firm in the faith” can mean “standing firm in the faith in word of God.” We need to hold to the words of God in our battle against the devil, the liar. We remember that Jesus defeated the devil’s temptation with the written words of God (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10). Also, “standing firm in the faith” can mean “standing firm in the faith in God’s power through coming to God in prayer.” James also said in James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Then Peter said, “Because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” No Christian is exempt from the devil’s attack. All true Christians throughout the world engage in a spiritual battle against the devil. It is good to remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Third, the God of all grace (10-14). Verse 10 says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” What an encouragement! Sometimes our hardship or suffering seems to be long. But here Peter said, “after you have suffered a little while.” Our God is the God of all grace. God the Father does not want his children to suffer long. Again, the suffering of God’s people has a clear purpose and the God of all grace will himself and restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us, for he called us to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. There is a final blessing in Peter’s final greetings: “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” Peter’s encouragement flows to the end, showing God’s true grace. Then in verses 13 and 14, “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” Thank God for his calling, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.” May we indeed be shepherds for God’s flock, clothing ourselves with humility and resisting the devil with faith in the God of all grace to restore us and make us strong.

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