Suffering Servants

1 Peter 2:18-25

Immanuel – 6/27/21

This letter from Peter swells with the great hope found in Jesus Christ, our living hope; and it is meant to fill us with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. This hope and these joys are held in the heart, understood in the mind. They are truths of the spirit; or you might say, spiritual truths.

But these gospel truths are not meant just for the invisible. They are to be made visible. They are to enter our physical world through our hands and mouths and attitudes. Peter has showcased the invisible. Now he tells us to make it visible.

And as we saw in 2:11, when Peter transitioned into part two of his letter, we make the hopes and joys of the gospel visible by doing good works and abstaining from gratifying sinful desires. We make war against sin in our lives and we fight to do good to others.

And then Peter drops an absolute bomb. It is something so strange, so upside down, that it is foolishness to this world. If the gospel is to be lived out in this world, then we must be committed to submission – our own submission.

As Peter writes in 2:13, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.”

The first human institution that Peter says we must subject ourselves to – that we must submit to – are the institutions of government: local legislators, the governor, even the president. Yes, we must submit ourselves to the leadership of our president and honor him, even within our hearts.

I know that sermon ruffled some feathers. But if the Bible does not ruffle your feathers from time to time, or if you try to interpret the Bible in a way that is more palatable for you, then you are doing it wrong. The Word of God is both confrontational and healing. You cannot just have the healing without the confrontation.

I wonder, how are you submitting yourself to God’s word?

And the words we come to today are just as confrontational, and perhaps even more challenging; but there is great hope and joy that courses through them.

Purpose

Faith subverts unjust institutions of man.

We are called to suffer.

Christ is our freedom.

Read 1 Peter 2:13-25

I could easily have chopped today’s passage up into three distinct sermons: one about enduring unjust suffering, another about our calling to suffer, and a third about Christ’s substitutional atonement. Part of me really wanted to do this because each one of these elements requires a deep dive and is so critical to our lives in Christ.

Ultimately, I decided against that and as you see, we are taking verses 18-25 in one big chunk. It is the largest chunk of Scripture that I have preached on thus far in this sermon series. I did this because a more zoomed out view gives us greater clarity on what Peter is really trying to get across, that we are servants of Christ, called to suffer, as we follow Him all the way to the cross.

For if we are following Christ then we must submit to suffering, serving, and the cross.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” -Mark 10:45

According to His own words, Christ’s purpose on earth was to serve and suffer; that we might be ransomed. In other words, Christ served and suffered that we might become free.

And on that note, let us look again at the first verse in our passage today.

Read vs 18

Oiketes

The NIV translation of the Bible uses the word “slave” here, and I think they get it wrong. The Greek word for slave is “doulos.” But that is not the Greek word that Peter employs in verse 18. He uses the Greek word “oiketes.” The ESV does a better job translating this as “servants.”

But even the word “servants” doesn’t quite capture who it is that Peter is addressing, because there is no English equivalent. We hardly have a category in our culture to draw a parallel to the servants that Peter is talking to. These servants faced nothing like the abhorrent and racist establishment of slavery that stains America’s past.

“Oiketes” primarily served the household. In fact, the word “oiketes” is derived from the Greek word for house: “oikos.” Many were unskilled laborers; but many were managers and overseers, doctors and nurses, musicians and artists, and teachers.

These servants – though they were not free – were paid wages. They could even expect to eventually buy their freedom. Many chose not to, because they preferred their arrangements rather than going out to make it on their own.

Still, “Oiketes” were servants – not free people. They had to fulfill the wishes of their masters. And they were definitely a lower class of people, with less opportunity and little legal standing.

None-the-less, they were generally well treated. Extensive Roman laws ensured just treatment of these servants. It was a whole well-established class of people, engrained into the culture of Rome.

The closest relationship in our culture, to the master and servant relationship in Peter’s culture, is that of employer and employee. It is not a perfect parallel, but it is the closest.

Again, it was nothing like American slavery. And I want to be clear, in no way am I saying that slavery – in any form – is a good thing. And I am not saying that the Bible is condoning any form of slavery. In fact, within the pages of the Bible – even within our passage today – resides the justification and impetus to dismantle slavery.

For Peter is less concerned with slavery and more concerned with submission. This is not primarily about the ills of culture, but the culture of heaven brought to humanity. And this heavenly culture is so powerful that it will eventually topple slavery – in Rome and in America. These are the words of an advancing kingdom that smashes the gates of hell – which is a dominion of slavery!

Look at those words again.

Read vs 18

Though “oiketes” were generally well treated, and many of their masters were good and gentle, there were still masters that were unjust. And this term – unjust – suggests dishonesty regarding pay, poor working conditions, unreasonable expectations, and even physical mistreatment. But regardless of whether the master is good or bad (so long as they are not demanding a sin be committed) these servants are to respectfully subject themselves to the authority of their masters.

This should remind you of verse 13; where Peter writes, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” Here is a human institution – that of master and servant – where followers of Jesus are called to submit. If you thought subjecting yourself to a corrupt government official was difficult, what about an unjust master?

Submission

And you might say to yourself, “I am not a servant like this, and there is no master over me.” Brace yourself, because Peter is using the human institution of servants and masters to teach us something that transcends times and cultures: something about submission and suffering.

Read vs 19-20

If you suffer because you have done something wrong or sinful, there is nothing noble in that. Those are natural consequences. Additionally, stoic tenacity that endures suffering through gritted teeth while the heart defies submission, that does not honor God.

The way of God seems like foolishness to the world. For the world would self-protect, would seek revenge, would rebel against their unjust masters. But the way of God is altogether different.

The way of God is to submit to the authority who wields the unjust suffering. And if it was doing good that brought about the sorrow, continue to lovingly do that good even though you know you will face injustice.

Suffering while being mindful of God means looking beyond what is seen to what is unseen. It is thinking not with the mind of a sinner, but with the mind of Christ. Being mindful of God means continually trusting in God to care for every right that is trampled upon. It is trusting in God to sweep away this injustice with righteousness and justice; and to vindicate you from every false accusation and unwarranted sorrow.

Trust God with your suffering!

And here we get our first peek into something that is far greater than the human institution of servant and master; a freedom that subverts unjust human institutions.

This is the opposite of a servile, weak, broken attitude. The is the ultimate demonstration of freedom; that no matter how much you are beaten down, now matter how many slanderous words are spoken against you; no matter what the whip strips from your back; your hope cannot be taken and your joy remains unbroken.

For when the injustices of this world lash the skin from our backs, precious gold glimmers underneath.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. -1 Peter 1:6-7

Respectful, loving submission – even in the face of injustice – subverts the powers of this world with the power from another. This attitude reveals that no follower of Christ is forced into submission, but chooses it willingly. No master enslaves us, for we have been bought by Christ; and slavery to Christ transforms servitude into freedom.

With these words slavery is abolished. Though the institution stands, the man is free. And yes, these words and others will eventually lead to the toppling of the institution of slavery. But before God is concerned with the human institutions, He is concerned with our hearts. Indeed, the ways of God are foolishness to the world.

It can only make sense because of the path cut by the King of this strange and divine kingdom – the King who is Himself the Suffering Servant.

Read vs 21

When God caused you to be born again to a living hope, when He called you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light, He also called you to suffer. Paul writes a very similar thing.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake. -Philippians 1:29

Called to Suffer

God gives the gift of faith and God gives the gift of suffering. And if you are Christ’s, that means He has called you to both. But the context of our passage in 1 Peter is slightly more specific. Not only has God called you to suffer, He has called you to suffer unjustly.

The scope of this passage has now dramatically zoomed out. No longer is this just about “oiketes;” this is about every believer, and anyone who faces a higher authority: from the government, in family, in your occupation, in education, in any institution of man. God has called you to suffer – even unjustly.

Why has God called us to suffer?

Because I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -Galatians 2:20

We are followers of Christ. He died our death so that we can live His life. We have been called to suffer because, as Peter writes in verse 21, Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

Could Peter be any more clear? Suffering is not our fate; it is our calling.

Once Peter had rebuked Jesus for talking about suffering. A Messiah who suffered was unthinkable to Peter. It was foolishness! But Peter helplessly watched it all happen. He listened the courtroom injustices. He saw His Lord unjustly crucified. He saw the empty tomb. And now Peter understands.

As servants of Christ, we follow Jesus to the cross; and not just to the cross, but also into the injustice of the kangaroo court filled with slander and condemnation from the world.

Read vs 22-23

From verse 22 to verse 25, Peter is strongly referencing Isaiah 53, written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Here is just a small piece of it:

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

-Isaiah 53:4-7

We might be accused of lying, even though we didn’t lie. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t liars. We might be accused of stealing, even though we have not taken anything. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t thieves. For we all – every one – have turned astray; and our lives brim with iniquity.

The Lamb

But completely unlike us, Jesus is blameless, utterly pure; never a lie, never a sinful thought, never a lazy moment, never any shred or shadow of sin. And any accusation against Him would be the epitome of injustice.

Can you imagine how impossibly difficult it would be to stand in a room surrounded by people accusing you of all manner of things you never did; and then they spit on you, and sucker-punch you? The pressure to sin in that moment would be almost unbearable: sins of hate, sins of revenge, sins of self-centered victimhood; all sins that vainly attempt to take matters into your own hands; all sins that Jesus never committed.

In that moment, instead of demanding justice, Jesus chose meekness and submitted Himself to the injustice of man. He could have called down a legion of angels and obliterated His accusers. With a word He could have forever silenced them. Instead, with the kind of courage that can only come from a man perfectly free, He chose to submit Himself to the merciless injustices of man.

This He did by casting Himself completely upon the justice of the Almighty Judge. With full assurance, Jesus knew that His Father would right every wrong. With full assurance, Jesus knew that His submission – and His blood – was purchasing the freedom of countless souls bound by the chains of sin.

Read vs 24-25

This is the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. All the sins of the elect concentrated upon Jesus. Not because Jesus deserved it, but because He freely chose it. He submitted to it. The reviling and condemnation that we justly deserve, Christ faced it for us – on our behalf. He took our curse. He died our death.

Now, His wounds become our healing. His broken body is our freedom. And no matter what human institutions might claim, we are all free to live in joy and in hope and in righteousness; for we have freedom and life in Jesus our Lord! No master enslaves us, for we are slaves of Christ. No one forces us into submission, but we joyfully follow Jesus there.

This was also the heart of Paul.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I might gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share in His sufferings, becoming like Him His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. -Philippians 3:8-11

When we follow Jesus into suffering, and especially unjust suffering, we come falling into the arms of the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. He will ensure that no chain will hold us. He will ensure that no injustice will go unpunished. God Himself will vindicate His royal priesthood; and the little that was taken, He will restore. But even more, He is keeping us for an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading…ready to be revealed at the last time (1 Peter 1:4-5).

Brothers and sisters, with such a faith, what power do the institutions of man really have over us? We are free in ways this world cannot understand. And our faith – which allows us to freely soar – only gets stronger, brighter, when we follow our Lord into our calling, and submit to suffering.

Suffering is not easy. It never will be. Ask yourself, are you ready to endure suffering for the sake of Christ? We are not to go looking for it, but we are to understand that it is coming; for to this you were called.