THE GLORY OF THE RESURRECTION
1 Peter 1:10-12; 2:7
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look! (1:10-12)
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” (2:7)
Introduction:
1. The resurrection gives meaning to suffering
1:11 says, “…when he [the Holy Spirit] predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
a. Suffering is not the end
– Many thought that suffering stops the progress in our lives. They thought that they are roadblocks on the way which have created so much inconvenience. They thought that the way becomes slower and longer.
– Suffering rather removes the hindrances in our lives. Suffering is the preparation to achievements in lives. Difficulties do not make us weaker, but stronger. They tend to make us more determined.
b. Suffering opens the way to future possibilities
– Suffering opens our lives to things we had never imagined before.
– The resurrection of Christ is something that the people of the time of Christ had never heard before. Pagan myths have their gods died and resurrected, but they are myths. But the resurrection of Christ is founded in history. Christ indeed died and rose from the dead. In 1 Cor 15:3-8 the Bible says, “3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
2. The resurrection of Christ is the ultimate transformation
1 Pet 2:7 tells us the changes that took place at the resurrection of Christ: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” The passage gives the picture of builders in a construction site. In those days they don’t have pre-fabricated parts of the building as we do today. Building a house today is a lot easier. Sometimes, it is like putting the Lego pieces together. But ancient builders will have to look at each stone and decide whether they will fit or not. If there is a piece that does not fit, it will be thrown away, not to be used for that project. 2:7 says that Christ is like the stone that was rejected, but miraculously, he has become the capstone. It is the most important stone for the whole building. You put in the capstone first. Then all other stones will have to fit together around it, and align themselves to it. If you remove the capstone, the whole building will become warped and fall apart.
This picture of the suffering and resurrection of Christ tells us four facts of the transformation that take place at the resurrection of Christ.
a. From victim to Victor (1 Peter 2:7)
– At the resurrection, Christ has changed from a victim to a victor.
Christ did not lie in the tomb forever. If it were so, it proved that sin had triumphed. If it were so, the victim will forever remain a victim. But the resurrection shows us that Christ has triumphed sin and death to become a Victor to be worshipped. He has become a Victor to show us that you can turn around from your past and start to live again.
Christ is no longer the victim to sin. He has overcome sin at his resurrection.
Christ is no longer the victim of death. He has overcome death at his resurrection.
b. From rejection to significance (1 Peter 2:7)
– The resurrection of Christ also talks about a person’s transformation from rejection to significance. Christ has become the cornerstone of the building: everything rests upon him. Without him the building will not stand.
Story of J. Oswald Sanders, once general secretary of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship
A New Zealander, in his younger days, he applied to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship to be a missionary but to be rejected. Then he turned to study law. He later became the Principal of the New Zealand Bible College. In the 1960’s when the Overseas Missionary Fellowship was looking for a person to lead the mission, Sanders was chosen. It is entirely paradoxical that years ago, he did not qualify to be a missionary with them. But who had thought later he was made the leader of this great missionary society.
His story has become an inspiration to many who went through rejection. Present rejection is not the end of one’s life. It is rather a challenge for us to work harder and walk closer to God so that one day he is able to exalt us. And this is what Peter said in 5:6, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.”
c. From alienation to community (1 Peter 2:7)
– Christ has become the cornerstone of the community: everyone is drawn to him
The resurrection of Christ also tells us about a person’s change from alienation to community. When Christ was crucified, he was utterly abandoned. He was forsaken by both friends and foes, and finally his Father. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ was the cry on the cross. But the stone that the builders rejected had become the capstone around which all other stones are laid. The truth is that the once rejected Christ has attracted many around him to become the temple of God, the community of faith. Men and women around the world find rest and comfort in the Christ who had suffered.
Larry Crabb wrote in his book, The Safest Place on Earth, said that the church is a community of people on a journey to God. Wherever there is supernatural togetherness and Spirit-directed movement there is the church – a spiritual community. (Crabb, 21). Then he ask, “Why? Why is spiritual community so rare? I suspect it has to do with the requirement of brokenness. We’d much rather be impressively intact than broken. But only broken people share spiritual community” (Crabb, 27). “A spiritual community, a church, is full of broken people who turn their chairs toward each other because they know they cannot make it alone. These broken people journey together with their wounds and worries and washouts visible, but are able to see beyond the brokenness to something alive and good, something whole. Each of us is wounded. For everyone one of us, ruthless honesty about what is happening inside us will lead to brokenness. (Crabb, 32).
The passion to protect ourselves, to keep our wounds out of sight where no one can make them worse, is the strongest passion in our hearts. And it will remain so until we experience a certain kind of relationship, until we meet the crucified and resurrected Christ, and experience a person like Christ, someone broken yet beautiful…” (Crabb, 35).
To build a community, we need understanding, forgiveness and acceptance. Christ’s resurrection has demonstrated overwhelmingly the power of forgiveness, acceptance. Christ’s suffering offers understanding to those who are broken by the power of sin in their lives. They can stand before God, not condemned, but loved, forgiven, accepted. And this is the foundation of community.
Let’s come to Christ with our hurts and wounds. Let his touch our hearts and make us whole again. Let him build us up into a spiritual community where brokenness is accepted, where the healing stream of the Risen Christ can flow freely.
3. The resurrection is to be experienced today
The resurrection of Christ has changed the world once and for all. Christ’s resurrection gives meaning to suffering. It has brought us into a new age. In this new age, he has brought an end to sin and death and has given us new life. Christ was rejected but was made the capstone. He has brought significance and community that we all need. But how is the resurrection life to be experienced?
a. Faith means we believe in the resurrection
In 1 Cor 5:11 Paul says, “Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. By believing in the fact of the resurrection of Christ, we have a firm foundation of our faith. All that the resurrection brings to Christ will be a reality in our lives as well.
b. Faith means we share in the resurrection
In “Jesus Only,” A. B. Simpson writes, “Jesus only is our Healer. All our sicknesses he bears, and his risen life and fullness all his members still may share.
c. Faith means we celebrate the resurrection
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia! (Hymns of Life, 137)
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