1 Peter 3:16–18 ‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.’ (v18a)
When you are going through a trial it is enormously valuable to talk with someone who has been through what you are going through. This was the basis of the Paraclesis course* which Trevor Partridge launched. He was urging congregations to identify people who had come through tough times positively and pair them with people in a similar position.
Peter is not just giving us techniques to ‘win friends and influence people’, but urges us to imitate Jesus. As he ministers to people who are suffering unjustly, quite naturally his mind goes to one who’s gone before. If we think our suffering is in any way unjust, we look to the one who was utterly perfect and yet condemned to die as a criminal.
The risen Jesus, who we set apart as Lord of our lives, is the one who knows the pain of betrayal, unjust accusation and physical death. Of course, some people have been through similar struggles to us are no help because we believe they are on a different level to us, and we might feel this of Jesus. But the Hebrew writer talks of Jesus being able to sympathise with us in our weaknesses.
His humanity was utterly real and the temptations He faced no less piercing because He was the Son of God. As such, we have a high priest who represents us who is one of us! So, as you live your twenty-first-century life, you can speak with one who fully understands, even if He never used a mobile phone, dishwasher or microwave. He faced it all and He lived the perfect life and can teach you to do the same.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Thank You, Lord, that Jesus understands what we’re going through. Help me to lean on Him more and receive the advice He gives. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Are you able to befriend someone who you suspect is going through a tough time that you can identify with?
Scripture To Consider:
Ruth 1:11–22; Isa. 53:4–12; 2 Cor. 1:3–7; Heb. 4:12–16
