Just one more comment on these verses.
[I've been going back and forth about whether to deviate from the readings. These appointed readings from 1 Peter seem to cover a lot of ground each time, and then today they skip the portion about wives and husbands... hmmm. But what I'm going to try to do is just do an extra post or two if I feel like I need to.]
"By his wounds you have been healed" (v. 24b).
This verse from Isaiah 53 is often used as the Bible verse to claim the promise of healing. And it's true that Matthew uses a similar verse from Isaiah 53 to show that when Jesus "healed all who were sick" he was fulfilling what the prophet Isaiah prophesied, which Matthew likes to do. Isaiah 53 is quoted here with regard to the life and ministry of the Messiah - not as a promise that true believers (who have enough faith) will never (or should never) get sick or suffer.
Peter ties it in with sin and with a straying life, and bearing our suffering by unjust authorities. He's not only our example in not resisting or fighting back or mouthing off, but his suffering bore our very waywardness. The wounds we receive through being unjustly treated are healed by his wounds. Our wounds lead us to actions and attitudes that further fester our wounds - to anger and hate, to defensiveness and fear, to aggression, to paralyzed hiding. When we operate from that diseased place we cannot love, we are not forgiving - we are living our own life our own way without God.
There are several references to Isaiah 53 here: "he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7); "he has borne..." (v. 4); "with his stripes we are healed" (v. 5); "all we like sheep have gone astray" (v. 6). And this whole key chapter speaks of God's servant (52:13) suffering unjustly, yet this was God's will (v. 10). Yet, God's suffering servant will be satisfied (v. 11), and will victoriously "divide the spoil" (v. 12).
It's very interesting that Peter uses this passage (about God's suffering servant, addressed to those suffering in exile) in his exhortation to suffering servants in exile.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.When it comes down to it, do we really trust God? Are we really willing to follow in Jesus' steps? Our instinct is to protect ourselves, to vindicate ourselves - and frankly either avoid, or misuse, the truth in the process. Jesus never did that. He (who was the truth) spoke the truth and bore the consequences, not running away to save his skin, nor calling down legions of angels, but submitting to the authorities and remaining connected to all his cultural and 'vocational" relationships so that they displayed his message against them (hard hearts, evil intent, whitewashed tombs...) in their treatment of him, yet he overcame them and every colluding demonic power through his suffering, death, and vindicating resurrection. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer appointed for the Lesser Feast Day of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last; Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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