"People are like tea bags -- you have to put them in
hot water before you know how strong they are."

Read II Timothy 1:8-12 and 2:8-10

We cannot duplicate the sufferings of Jesus.  Just as His birth was so unique and never to be duplicated; so His passion will never be duplicated – it is “one of a kind”.  I do not believe that we can or should seek to duplicate the actual passion sufferings of Jesus (that strangely misses the point).

Yet, we, in our own way, as disciples of Christ will suffer.

It has been spoken.

It has a purpose.

A steel sledge is used to break the power of sin and provide forgiveness.  This is the passion of the Christ.  It was the Lord’s will to crush Him and the raise Him from the dead. 

A rubber mallet is used to mold and inspire obedience.  This is the suffering of Christ’s disciples.  (Who has the rubber mallet in his hand has generated a good deal of discussion over the centuries)

We have looked at what the apostle Paul had to say about this, but there is another of the apostles that had an important message concerning suffering of disciples of Jesus.

PETER AND SUFFERING

To borrow an expression from my wife to describe Peter – he was at times a real “nut-case.”

But isn’t Peter one of our favorites?  I can so identify with him and his rather embarrassing situations recorded in Scripture so that they can be marveled at for all time until the Lord returns. 

Don’t let these obvious examples from Peter’s life stop you from recognizing that he was one of the greatest! 

The gospel of Mark we believe was written down and given to us by John Mark.  But did you know that Mark was a close associate of Peter in those last years?  The information on the things said and done by the Lord were probably accounts relayed through the preaching of Peter.  Mark under inspiration accurately preserved all this material.

I Peter is some of the most polished Greek of the New Testament.  When learning to translate Greek – you steer away from I Peter for a time.  It is difficult.

II Peter is the last of Peter’s letters.  It is brief and it is obvious that Peter (just like Paul in II Timothy) knew that his time was drawing to a close.

2PE 1:12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Peter did know how to blunder and blabber (don’t we all); but don’t miss the greatness of this humbled servant of God.

How did the ministry of Peter all start?

What did Peter mean saying, “as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me”?

We need to go to John 21 to see.

This is Peter’s unforgettable discussion with Jesus.

Some call it the restoring of Peter.

There are lessons for us today if we will look at 4 parts of this unforgettable discussion.

I.                    The Lord’s invitation to Peter – “Come” (John 21:1-14).

·        There are a lot of things that the Lord could have done.

·        There were many things they would like to have said – especially Peter.

II.                 The Lord’s conversation with Peter – “Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15-17).

·        “These” other disciples or all “these” things.

·        Matthew 14:22 – Peter walks on water

·        Luke 5:1-11 – miraculous catch of fish

·        John 13:18-38

·        All of this in mind when this discussion takes place.

III.               The Lord’s plan for Peter – “You are going to die for the glory of God” (John 21:18-19).

IV.              The Lord’s final invitation to Peter – “Follow Me!” (vs. 19).

Peter’s explanation of this to those who were suffering in I Peter.

1PE 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

  1PE 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

  1PE 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1PE 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

1PE 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 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. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 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? 18 And,

  "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

    1PE 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1PE 5:10 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. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

It is the Lord’s will that we are not afraid when we suffer. 

It is the Lord’s will that we trust Him and grow in faith when we suffer.

It is the Lord’s will that we do not fear the one who can destroy the body; but rather the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

What does that mean, if we don’t understand that this was all the Lord’s will?