An Empty Crib and The Empty Tomb- 1 Peter 1:3-7

Many great stories in literature and in cinema begin in the middle only to then go back to explain how what was shown first in the movie/story came to be. Thereafter, the plot moves from the midpoint that was mentioned first onto the end. Think of Forrest Gump or the Homer’s The Odyssey. This device is called in medias res and it has been employed by storytellers for centuries. I’d like to employ this device this Easter Sunday as we take a close look at 1 Peter 1:3-7 in lieu of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rather than begin in verse 3, I want to take us immediately to verse 6. After what Peter says here is understood, I want to explain how in the world Peter is able to provide the encouragement that he does by looking at verses 3-5. Finally, I want to explain the application of Peter’s main point by examining verse 7. 

This we will do by also looking at another story the same way—my family’s story. For you see, it just so happens, by God’s providence, that this Easter Sunday our celebration of Jesus’ triumph over the empty tomb coincides with what would have been my late son Landry Allen Dickson’s first birthday. Much as we are going to thrust ourselves in the middle of Peter’s text (1:6), I am going to share with you where my family is at present, only to then explain how we arrived where we are (informed, in part, by what Peter explains in verses 3-5). Finally, I will explain why this must be the case (as celebrated in verse 7).   All of this we will do in the context of what took place outside a rich man’s tomb 2000 years ago.

I. REJOICE GREATLY-1:6

In verse 6, Peter offers an encouragement to a church (group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ) that is struggling to survive. “Because of their Christian faith, the church was being marginalized by their society, alienated in their relationships, and threatened with—if not experiencing—a loss of honor and socioeconomic standing (and possibly worse)” (Jobes, 1 Peter, 2). It is in this context that Peter encourages the church to “greatly rejoice” (agalliaw) which is no small encouragement as the verb means to be “overjoyed” and is often used with corresponding verbal expressions and appropriate gestures that indicate elation.

However, Peter is not aloof or ignorant to what his audience is facing. In other words, the encouragement offered is not given by someone who does not understand what the church was going through at the time. Peter is not that guy who preaches to people with little or no idea of what people are actually dealing with. He doesn’t try to gloss over the fact that people are hurting, struggling, facing pressure, and enduring persecution. The world is hard, tough, painful, and tragic. He concedes this, identifies this, and makes the encouragement anyway. First, he acknowledges the very present struggle his audience was facing—"even through now” –i.e. at the very point in time.

Though my wife and I had led a relatively grief-free life up until recently, the pain of finding your healthy six-month old child unresponsive after a nap and days later placing his body into the ground is something that nobody can just walk away from. The grieve was, is, and will remain very present and very real. However, I’m sure my family isn’t the only one going through something today, right now. Pressure, heartache, persecution, uncertainty, confusion, etc. I want to admit, as Peter does here, that I’m not Pollyannaish about the reality of suffering. It is real, and yet, the encouragement given is still going forth to “rejoice greatly” anyway.   

After acknowledging the very present reality of the trouble that people face, Peter suggests that these troubles are for “a little while“ (1:6c). A little while compared to what? Compared to the eternity that Peter will reference later. However long one suffers, Peter understood that suffering to be brief compared to the glories that believers can expect in the end.

Not only are the trials one must “greatly rejoice” through a present reality and brief when compared to eternity, they are, for the church (again, for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ) necessary—“if necessary.” These words reveal that suffering is not an intended part of life; it was not ordained by God in creation. Suffering is present because of a fallen world that people messed up with their sin. Death, a principle cause of a lot of the suffering in this world might be understood because of this as a most unnatural phenomenon—made even more unnatural when it claims a healthy baby boy.

However, this expression “if necessary” also indicates that suffering itself is under the control of God, even if it is not part of God’s ideal world. Suffering may not be God’s desire or intention, but it is not outside the scope of his sovereignty (Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, 56). As a result God is able to work out, even in the suffering, things in such a way that history reaches its ultimate and good conclusion. This is promised to believers both here and in places like Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” It is interesting that Peter and Paul offer these truths, especially when one considers that when it came to suffering, aside from Christ, few suffered more for his cause. On these present struggles in the life of believers John Piper says, “Not only is all your affliction momentary, and brief in comparison to eternity and the glory there, but all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain,…every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory…I don’t care if it is cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness…it is doing something. Of course, you can’t (always) see what it is doing…when you mom dies, when your kid dies, when you’ve got cancer at 40, when a car careens into the sidewalk ad takes her out, don’t say ‘That’s meaningless!’ It’s not. It is working for you an eternal weight of glory.”

However, if we are sticking with the present for now, often the only thing that can be observed, felt, or remembered is the distress of various trials—“you have been distressed by various trials.”

I wish I could tell you that I quote 1 Peter 1:6 to myself every day and as a result find myself outwardly rejoicing greatly all the time in spite of what my family has been through. But the struggle is real, and these truths, while compelling, are often overshadowed by what I am feeling in the moment. “How in the world am I supposed to rejoice? How is my wife supposed to have joy in the midst of this? Brief? Necessary? The grief is sure lingering longer that I would like and I’m finding it hard to see what the purpose is!” However, in spite of these moments of weakness, honest questions, and heartache, by the grace of God, Brianna and I along with our children are making it. Our marriage is not over nor is it on the rocks and we are not cracking under the weight of a crisis of faith in God or His goodness. How are we making it? The answer is the only way anyone can.

II. REMEMBER WHAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM YOU-1:3-5

How is Peter able to say what he does in verse 6? Because of what he reveals in verses 3-5. Though there are many ways to frame these important verses, it might be helpful in lieu of our focus this morning to think of Peter’s second encouragement in terms of remembering what no one can take away from you. In the midst of loss, grief, struggle, persecution, pressure, etc. in which one’s patience, relationships, opportunities, or even children are taken, one of the ways to rejoice greatly in the midst of these losses is for a believer remember what cannot be lost or stolen from them.

In 1 Peter 1:3-5, Peter identifies three things that cannot be taken away from believers that ought to help them persevere life’s struggles and losses. The first of these is one’s salvation—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused use to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1:3). In the beginning of his letter to the church Peter draws the attention of a preoccupied and bother people to the foundation of their faith—the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. So much is contained in this single verse that ought to inspire the believer. First, “Lord Jesus Christ” is a claim of Jesus’ divinity and special ministry as “Lord” is the Greek transliteration of YHWH. “Christ” indicates Jesus unique office as Messiah and Savior of His people. Second, “who according to His great mercy” betrays why God sought to save people in the first place—He loved them! In saving anyone God is not acting out of compulsion, obligation, or in reaction to something external to him. He saves as one who wants to save those who are lost and need saving. Third “has caused us to be born again” (anagennhsaV) is an aorist active participle that indicates that the direct object (people) play no part in what is being done (being born). Babies cannot cause themselves to be born any more than the lost can, in their own strength, make themselves born again and right with God. God is the active agent behind spiritual rebirth. Therefore, if people do not play any active role in being born again, neither can they lose their status of “child of God” once they have it! Fourth, the result of salvation is “a living hope” –i.e. an ongoing, motivating, confident expectation of a glorious future where once the threat of death and condemnation reigned. And finally, all of this is proven, confirmed, and legitimized “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The very event we celebrate every single Easter is the event that demonstrates the reality and assurance of salvation for every believer. After all, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:16-17, “If the dead are not raised, then not even Christ was raised from the dead. If Christ was not raised from the dead, your faith is worth nothing and you are still living in your sins.” On the other hand, if Christ is raised from the dead, then believer’s salvation is assured and neither nor the other blessings associated with it can be taken away.

So what evidence is there that the resurrection actually took place? I’m glad you asked. Here are twelve evidences that a growing number of critical scholars from both liberal and conservative, theist and atheist, historical and theological communities concede concerning the claim that Jesus was alive three days after he died.

1. Jesus died by crucifixion (though this doesn’t directly prove the resurrection it does help disprove that Jesus was in a coma or simply required resuscitation/rehabilitation).

2. He was buried (helpful especially when one remembers to what lengths the Romans went to in order to protect his grave).

3. The death of Jesus caused the disciples to despair and lose hope, believing that his life was ended (They were a wreck and they probably wouldn’t have been a wreck if he wasn’t really dead).

4. Although not as widely accepted, many scholars hold that they tomb in which Jesus was buried was discovered to be empty just a few days later (in other words, this was not a long time after the crucifixion so that a big plan/scheme to steal the body could have been formed and executed).

5. The disciples had experiences they believed were the literal appearances of the risen Jesus.

6. The disciples were transformed from doubters who were afraid to identify themselves with Jesus to bold proclaimers of his death and resurrection.

7. This message was the center of preaching in the early church (where once others things were emphasized).

8. This message was especially proclaimed in Jerusalem, where Jesus died and was buried shortly before (it was a staple among the church to talk about the deity, death, and RESURRECTION of Christ).

9. As a result of this teaching, the church was born and grew (if this was not a compelling message or found illegitimate, Christianity would have died early).

10. Sunday became the primary day of worship.

11. James, who had been a skeptic, was convinced to the faith when he also believed that he had seen the risen Jesus.

12. A few years later, Paul was converted by an experience that he likewise believed to be an appearance of the risen Jesus.

For these reasons and many more, people like Brooke Foss Wescott has concluded “There is no historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ.” Dr. Paul L. Maier agrees saying, “No shred of evidence has yet been discovered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology that would disprove that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was actually empty on the morning of the 1^st Easter.” Harvard Law professor Dr. Simon Greenleaf adds, “According to the law of legal evidence used in courts of law, there is more evidence for the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ than for just about any other event in history.”

When believers say “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” they are on very stable ground in making that claim. The reality of the resurrection confirms who Jesus is and what he did in providing salvation to repentant sinners. No one, not even God Himself can take that away!

Not only can the believers’ salvation never be taken from them, neither can their inheritance. Peter reveals as much in verse 4 when he says, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” The point here is that while Christians may suffer in this age …there is waiting for the faithful a reward as sure and as real” as anything else (Davids, The First Epistle of Peter, 52). The glories of this anticipated inheritance are illustrated by three adjectives that Peter uses in verse 4. First, it is “imperishable.” Unlike everything that is found in this world, a believer’s inheritance will not decay or rot. Second, it is “undefiled,” betraying something of its purity and holiness. Third, it “will not fade away.” In stark contrast to the generations, countries, landscapes, people, institutions, and programs of this world, a believer’s inheritance is eternal and will never age, grow obsolete, or wither.

This amazing inheritance not only possesses all these amazing qualities, it is “reserved in heaven for” believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The trust that contains a believer’s inheritance is protected by the full faith and credit of God himself in a bank that is not of this world! What a promise! What a gift!

In addition to a very real salvation and a glorious inheritance, believers can never lose the presence of God. Peter describes believers as those “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1:5). Paul says it this way in Philippians 1:6, “for I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ.” Not only does God appear to be with believers in these verses, he appears to be guarding them. The picture is that of a fortress in which the believers are held. To be sure, the enemy assaults the compound with everything it has, but God protects his own. The purpose of this protection is “the salvation prepared to be revealed in the last time”—i.e. the ultimate culmination of the salvation process—glorification. What Peter means here is that God never leaves believers alone, but instead offers his protective presence to insure believers will persevere to the end.

It is only after Peter establishes these precious and protected gifts that he then encourages his audience to rejoice greatly, even in the midst of great struggle (in verse 6). “With verse 6 Peter shifts the focus from the certainties of future…glory to the more dismal realities of the present. However, the future…perspective is important, for it is meant to determine how Christians are to face life in their present situations” (Jobes, 1 Peter, 92). Certainly the rejoicing that Peter encourages is not a continual feeling of hilarity, nor is it a denial of the reality of pain and suffering. It is an anticipatory joy that believers can know when they remember what cannot be taken from them—their salvation, their inheritance, and God’s enduring presence.  In other words, when believers do not feel like rejoicing for a whole host of justifiable reasons, they must lean on what they know to be true—God is with them, glory is waiting for them, and they are saved! Believers must in these moments of weakness and pain learn to speak to themselves rather than merely listen to themselves (Crawford Loritts).  So how is my family making it in the midst of our great loss? We are “tak[ing] these truths and day by day focus[ing] on them” even when we feel differently. This we must do because of what Peter says in verse 7.

III. RETURN TO GOD HIS GLORY-1:7

“So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:7) God’s glory is at stake and if there is anything that we learn from the creation of the world, the Ten Commandments, the life of Jesus, and what we are told about the future, it is that God’s glory is why we were made in the first place. After all, God did create us, loved us in spite of our sin, sent his Son to die for us, rose on the third day of us, and is coming again for us. What else can I do but bring him glory?

Yes, my son is dead. But God’s Son is alive and in this I can rejoice in my pain, grief, and suffering. In my rejoicing I give God glory that I could not otherwise do. Anyone can rejoice in the victories of life, but it is a peculiar thing to look upon someone who is suffering and yet rejoicing nonetheless. How am I going to uniquely draw people’s attention to the Lord Jesus Christ if I allow my grief to usurp my faith. The answer is, I won’t, and neither will the church if it fails to rejoice greatly, even in the midst of struggle.

So What?

I’ve been given salvation in Christ, a glorious inheritance, and the presence of God. I might lose my son, but no one, nothing, can take these away from me. Because of this, I “greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” Can the same be said of you? Have God saved you through Jesus Christ? Do you have an inheritance waiting for you in glory? Do you know a personal relationship with God? Peter’s message is for the church and believers therein. Unbelievers, those without these permanent, protected, and perfect blessings cannot, as believers can, rejoice greatly in anything, let alone their pain. Their suffering promises no end, is meaningless, and doesn’t lead anywhere. Friends, all that Jesus Christ is and all that he ever did is as real as the tomb is empty. Isn’t it about time you embrace him? His resurrected life is the most compelling hope available for a new life both for today and forevermore—so compelling that this grieving father is able to celebrate renewed life and the hope that it brings on the very day his late son was to turn one.