Away from Home

After a breakfast barbeque on the beach by the Sea of Galilee the risen Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, gave the apostle Peter the task of feeding and strengthening the flock of God. The early chapters of the Book of Acts record the ways in which Peter did that in the opening years of the life of the New Testament church. But some thirty years later Peter was still fulfilling the Chief Shepherd's commission as he writes to the Christians who were scattered throughout the region of Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. They were geographically scattered but needed to be theologically grounded because they had to suffer grief and all kinds of trials, possibly as a result of the persecution of the Emperor Nero in AD 65.

As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, it encountered widespread opposition because the followers of Jesus constituted a direct challenge to immorality, idolatry, paganism and emperor-worship. Christians became social outcasts as bizarre rumours spread from town to town about their beliefs and behaviour. Misunderstood and mistreated Christians in the Roman Empire needed to be reminded of the security they enjoyed through faith in Jesus even though they personally had never seen him. As strangers in the world of Rome they were nevertheless citizens of the eternal city – the city of God.

As Peter wrote to encourage their faith and assure them of their place in the coming glory when Jesus Christ is revealed, so this word of God comes to us in the 21st century with the same nourishing power. Come and be strengthened by the Shepherd's voice as we study this wonderful letter on Sunday Evenings this term.

Phil Jenkins

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