As you know, in our Sunday morning sermons we’ve been considering some of the ‘Gracious Commands of the Gospel’ that are discovered in 1 Peter.  Over the next (and last) three weeks of this series we will probe one final, and quite surprising, command.

The nature of this particular exhortation, growing from the saving grace and mercy we have each received in Christ Jesus, is a bit difficult to comprehend.  This is why we will take three Sundays to examine it.

Our initial text for this command is found in 1 Peter 2:21-23.  Here, the Apostle Peter summons us to “follow” our Savior, our “example,” even to the point of placing our ‘feet’ in “His steps.”  Likely, there is nothing so far in these words that shocks or surprises anyone.

However, when we consider the wider context of this exhortation, we see its connection to suffering.  Peter says here that our Lord has left us an “example” of suffering in which we are to closely “follow” Him.  In fact, he makes this command even stronger when he says, “to this,” a life of affliction, “you have been called” (v. 21).

Later, in 1 Peter 4:1, the Apostle will put it this way: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.”

Are we really commanded to suffer?  Has our Lord actually ordered us to “follow” closely His “steps,” those that led to His agony and death?  And if so, what does this mean?

Well, I have a feeling that you now understand why we need to travel slowly and prayerfully down this road.  Of all of the ‘Gracious Commands’ that we find in the New Testament, this one will be the most challenging.

Let us pray that we will hear, understand, and receive our Lord’s Word as we gather to worship Him on Sunday.