Sermon 5/3/20

SERMON: “Gone Astray”

May 3, 2020

1 Peter 2:19-25 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are 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.

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 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. 24 “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.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

You have heard the phrase, “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” If someone says you've made your bed, now lie on it or you have made your bed and will have to lie on it, they are telling you in an unsympathetic way that you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions or decisions. This phrase has been around for awhile. The phrase has been traced back to about 1590 and is related to the fifteenth century French proverb 'Comme on faict son lict, on le treuve' (As one makes one's bed, so one finds it). Realizing the fact that we have to face the consequences of bad decisions goes all the way back to the beginning. The consequence of Adam and Eve eating from the “Tree of Good and Evil” were devastating. Genesis 3:23-24 says, “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Banished? It doesn’t seem all that bad at first, yet the consequences go far beyond being banished from the Garden of Eden. The banishment keeps us out of heaven and the presence of God Almighty. Sin destroyed God’s perfect world with pain, suffering and ultimately death.

We are familiar with the consequences of our actions and behavior. The discipline of a father and/or mother for disobedience; we have been put in time out, sat in the corner and even endured corporal punishment. The punishment of the authorities at school for unacceptable behavior we may have received writing sentences, sack time, or suspension. The employee who has been disloyal is reprimanded, laid off or terminated. The law breaker in society has been fined, assigned community service or imprisoned.

The second chapter of 1 Peter is exhorting those who have been redeemed by Christ to live to a higher standard. We are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. The text tells us that we are to live up to God’s expectation in a pagan society. Some of the Christians were having a problem of living a more Godly life. They thought it was unfair that they should suffer for being good. St. Peter reminds them that suffering for doing what is right is commendable. Peter also looks at the other side, in verse 20, “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?” We have no credit before Almighty God for we have made our bed, now we must lie in it.

Even though we have been called to a higher standard, St. Peter states, “For you were like sheep going astray.” Those words sound like they came from the “lost” chapter of the Bible. I am speaking of Luke chapter 15 which contains the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. The Shepherd leaves the 99 in the open pasture in order to find the lost sheep. When He finds that lost sheep, He puts it on His shoulders, carrying it home. He rejoices that what was once lost is now found. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, desires that all sinners be saved. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The Shepherd is always calling out with the Gospel invitation. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. How sweet the sound of that voice. It is like a small child who is lost in a crowd. He cries out, “Mommy, Daddy.” There is a sound of fear and panic in that voice. The child finds great relief when he hears the familiar voice calling, “I am here.” The Gospel lesson for today from John 10:1-10 offers that same imagery of the Good Shepherd calling. John says, “His sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

St. Peter doesn’t focus long on us sinners but redirects our attention to the one who suffered unjustly, Jesus Christ. Verse 19 says, “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” Jesus was the perfect Son of God and was sent into the world to fulfill the Father’s will. Jesus became the embodiment of sin. 2 Cor. 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus had to bear the sins of the whole world. Isaiah calls Him the suffering servant and listed some of what He would endure (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12). St. Peter looked at it this way in verse 23, “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.” Why would He do this? The motivation was out of obedience to the Father and His love for us wayward sheep. Now St. Peter says in verse 24, “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.” The whole ministry of Jesus focuses what in Lutheran theology is called Vicarious Atonement. Vicarious Atonement means that Christ vicariously (in the place of man) rendered to God, who was angered over the sins of man, a satisfaction which changed His wrath into grace toward men. Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Holy Scripture reinforces this message in Matthew 20:24, 1 Timothy 2:6 and in Mark 10:45 saying, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 1 John 3:16 puts it this way, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”

The wayward sheep get lost so easily. They put their nose to the ground eating wherever until they get lost. The shepherd has to go and find them so they can return to the flock. We have gone astray following the desires of the flesh. We cannot save ourselves. The Good Shepherd seeks each of us from wherever we have strayed. Thankfully out of His great love for us sinners, He bore our sins on the cross and suffered the punishment we deserved. By His suffering we are healed. We now live the new life of righteousness He has given us.