Pass on What You Learn - 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1:13 to 2:3; 2:9-10; 5:1-11 (Copy)

“He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” (1 Peter 1:3)
 
Following the untimely death of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria struck up a close attachment with one of the ghillies at Balmoral Castle, a local, largely uneducated lad called John Brown.  However, Victoria saw much more in him and came to rely upon his friendship.  She wrote that he had, “Strength of character as well as power of frame – the most fearless uprightness, kindness, sense of justice, honesty, independence and unselfishness combined with a tender, warm heart.”  He was her rock.  After his death, Victoria had a life-sized statue of Brown placed in the grounds of Balmoral, with the inscription, “Friend more than Servant. Loyal. Truthful. Brave. Self less than Duty, even to the Grave.”
 
Jesus said to his disciples, “I no longer call you servants…I have called you friends” (John 15:15).  One of Jesus’ closest friends was Peter, formerly an uneducated fisherman.  But Jesus said, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).  The Greek word for Peter, cephas, means rock.  In a sense, Peter was Jesus’ rock and he is ours too.  Peter had very many great qualities: bravery, honesty, loyalty, and a readiness to believe and follow Jesus.  Peter was loyal to Jesus and said that he was ready to die with him.  However, on the night before Jesus died, when he was betrayed, Peter failed him, denying that he even knew Jesus three times – just as Jesus had said that he would.
 
Some days after Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared again to the disciples and spent time with Peter, forgiving and reassuring him, and restoring him to his ministry as the rock of the church (John 21).  When the Spirit came at Pentecost, it was Peter who stood up to speak for all the believers.  Now a man on fire, he delivered perhaps the most powerful sermon ever preached. 
 
Later in life, Peter wrote three letters to the church in every place, and much of the letters contain Peter’s wisdom on the lessons he had learned.  They are of vital importance for us.  As we read the depth of wisdom and spiritual insight, and the height of authority that his letters contain, we should marvel at what can happen to a person who becomes a friend of Jesus: that is true greatness.
 
As we pray today let’s talk to Jesus as we would talk to a close friend for whom we have enduring love and the greatest respect.  Thank Jesus for considering us his friends.  Let’s ask him to teach us and for his advice on all the challenges and opportunities we’re facing in life.  Take time to listen to his reply.
 
With the words of 1 Petr 5:1-11 in mind we can also pray for Bournemouth’s church leaders at all levels, whether overseers (Bishops), pastors, elders, Connect Group leaders or leaders of ministry teams.  We are called to a very high standard and I know all too well how deep our failures can be.  But everything rises and falls on the quality of servant leadership that we can bring to the body.
 
“Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)