Hope in Jesus

God calls us to live as people of peace. The only way we can hope to live out our calling is in Jesus. Therefore, Peter described the example we have in Jesus.

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22, quoting Isaiah 53:9).

• Jesus kept His focus on fulfilling the calling and will of the Father.
• He did not commit any offense against God.
• In contrast, we are guilty of breaking the basic law of all creation: thinking we are in charge—we are not God.
• Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) and “the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6).
• No guile, fraud, or deceit is found in Him.
• Imagine that—Jesus never tried to deceive anyone.
• When I read the basic definition of deceive, we’re all guilty!
• Intentional or unintentional, we do and say things that lead others astray.
• We give mistaken impressions.
• We don’t often admit the truth, even to ourselves.

*Why is it so difficult to live as people of peace?

*What would it look like to live in truth?

 Peter—and Isaiah—invite us to take a closer look at how Jesus lived a life of peace.

“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23, paraphrasing Isaiah 53:7).

• Jesus was subjected to evil, but did not blame, threaten, or show disapproval in return.
• He placed the outcome, His whole life and future, to the one and only judge of all, the Lord God Almighty.
• Jesus gave Himself to the charge of the Father’s loving kindness and care.¹
• He was willing to conform to justice, following God’s divine leadership:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

• Micah summarized all the law hundreds of years before Jesus summarized it again.²

*What is our natural reaction when we experience evil against us or someone we care about?

*How can we entrust ourselves to God?

*How can we apply and live out Micah 6:8?

Peter’s next words encompass the heart of the entire gospel message.

“’He himself bore our sins’ in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24 quoting Isaiah 53:4-5)

• When we die to our sins, we cease to be what we were before.”³
• The word for “sins” here is the same word Peter used in verse 22 to say Jesus committed no sin.
• We cease to miss the true focus of life, which is God.
• Stated positively, we move into a new life that has a true focus on God.
• Only by looking closely at Jesus’ life can we hope to live like Him.
• We “live for righteousness” through our
• “new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3).
• Living hope is active and will endure.
• To live for righteousness is to live steeped in the “living, efficient, enduring Word,”⁴ or in Jesus.
• Jesus’ wounds left scars—ongoing reminders of the cost of our healing.
• We are healed from the spiritual consequences of sin—that’s the miracle here.

*How would you describe the heart of the gospel message in a single sentence?

*What does it mean to make God the main focus of our life?

*How does a living, active, enduing hope help us in our walk with God?

*What does it mean to you to be healed from spiritual consequences of sin?

 Why would Jesus do such a thing? Because of who we are and Who He is.

“For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25, quoting Isaiah 53:6).

• Lest we forget, we are people who wander.
• Wise words from a hymn⁵ remind us of God’s loving remedy.
• The word Peter used for “return” implies that once we return, we will never leave again. It means “convert,” or to change our character and/or beliefs.
• As our Shepherd, Jesus watches over and cares for us.⁶
• Jesus is also the Overseer, the one who has authority and duties related to the care of our soul.
• He wants to do this for our entire being—our “mind, feelings, spiritual and immortal nature, rational and natural faculties.”⁷

*Who are we? Who is Jesus?

*What does it mean to wander astray?

*How have you experienced Jesus as Shepherd and Overseer of your soul?

 Understanding all Jesus has done for us as our example and reason for hope enables us to commit to communicating with Him,⁸ in praise and in prayer.

*How can you live this week in hope, praise, and prayer?

 

1. Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 1103.
2. Matthew 22:38-40
3. Zodhiates, 220.
4. Zodhiates, 698.
5. Chris Tomlin, “Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing)”, accessed June 15, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9I_-ShgVBE.
6. Zodhiates, 1191.
7. Zodhiates, 1494.
8. Dave Workman, “Dynamic Praying” (Ephesians 1:15-23), (sermon, Grace Church, Chico, CA, June 11, 2023).