What Jesus Did

Scripture:

1Pet. 3:¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. ²¹ And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Observation:

Writing to a persecuted church living in exile, Peter continues to help the believers confront the reality of their faith. There is no promise that the people of God will not suffer, but rather, a consideration that they will suffer because Jesus suffered. 

The next section is deeply theological where he makes clear what it is that Jesus has done for humanity. The broken relationship between God and humankind has been healed because of the work of Jesus Christ: 

1. He made the perfect offering for sin (cf. Heb. 9:11-14; 10:1-10) and thereby fulfilled the requirements of the law.

2. He endured the death due to unrighteousness as the penalty imposed by the law on sinners (cf. Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21).

3. He thereby removed the barrier caused by sin and opened the way back to God (Jn. 14:6). (Wheaton, NBC)

As Peter continues the picture gets a little more unclear. There have been many who have tried to explain the next passages and verse 19 is what has influenced the section of the Apostles Creed, “he descended into hell.” Then, there is the reference to Noah. Most would say that this is a foreshadowing of the place of the church, and that it also helps us to see the presence of the Triune God from the very beginning of time. Noah and his family represent the persecuted church, a small group of people, surviving in the storm of sin, but listening to the voice of God. The eight mentioned are but a few, but are an encouragement to the small band of believers in the first century who are living in their own storm. 

Finally, he goes on to comment on baptism, but this is all in light of the work of Jesus. Baptism itself does not save you — but resurrection power does.  Again, to reiterate what Jesus did, Peter gives us a glimpse of the exalted state of Christ. The one who emptied himself of all things for the sake of humanity is now, with all power and authority, at the right hand of God. 

Application:

Peter continually reminds us to focus on Christ. Throughout all of history Christs have been tempted to believe that it is their own works that will get them into heaven. Even if they did not say this, Christians often portrayed this through their own actions. There is an on-going temptation to rely upon oneself, and to see self as the Savior — rather than the Savior for who he really is. 

Just this morning I met with a group of people who were recounting the ways that God has intervened in the last week in the very simple and everyday moments of life. When we move along with God and His Spirit then we become participants in something much larger than ourselves. This can only happen when we genuinely realize what it is that Jesus has done for us. 

My heart is burdened for the storm in which we are living. The storm comes in waves of wind, rain and rough water, but ultimately, we find in Scripture that it is Jesus who calms the storm. It’s all about what Jesus did. 

Jesus is still at work today, both in terms of divine intervention, but also engagement through those who are filled with His Spirit. The whole point is that God’s people need to be united to Christ, and not just practice a form of cultural Christianity.  When we truly know the real Christ who has done a miraculous work to heal us of our sin we are radically changed and empowered to live like Him in the world. 

Prayer:

Lord, how do I say thanks for all that you have done for me? There are not enough words in all the world to express my heart of thanks. I want to know you more. Amen.