The life of Peter is a fascinating study in the New Testament. I have found that the “ups & downs” of Peter’s life are encouraging in that Jesus worked with the “cracked pot” of Peter’s life and I believe he does the same with me. Last week we looked at the Last Supper in Luke 22. This Sunday I want to connect the words of Jesus, “this is my body given for you” with the failures of Peter’s life. What do I mean? It is curious to me that a short time later Peter denied that he was a friend of Jesus. It is hard to believe that after Peter spent three years with Jesus the words of a servant girl intimidated Peter and he denied he knew Jesus. Jesus knew Peter would fail. Jesus prayed for Peter in Luke 22:31, “I prayed for you, Simon (Peter) , that your faith may not fail”. Jesus was talking to Peter. Jesus is talking to us. This Sunday I want to talk about the “Vicarious Humanity of Jesus”. (vicarious – on behalf of someone else) We sometimes think that the death of Christ on the cross is all there is to the ministry of Jesus. But the ministry of Jesus continues today as He sits at the Father’s right hand “interceding for us”. (Hebrews 12:2) When we don’t see the totality of Christ’s Person and Work we miss much of the reality of His ministry. Christ’s work includes His incarnation, His crucifixion, His Resurrection, His Ascension and ongoing intercession. This is all worthy of worship no doubt. But let’s also remember that we are in union with Jesus each moment as born again believers in Jesus Christ. Paul makes this clear in Galatians 2:20, “I no longer live but Christ lives in me”.
Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. The Person of Christ holds all of creation together according to Paul in Colossians 1:17. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”. The Power and Presence and Person of Jesus is beyond our comprehension. In fact we often try to “limit” Jesus Christ to what we can understand and comprehend. This may be why our worship is sometimes rather dull and halfhearted. Jesus is bigger then what we can understand so don’t let religion limit your thinking about Jesus. So what does the word “vicarious” mean? Vicarious means, “on behalf of or for the benefit of someone else”. Jesus died for our benefit. Jesus took our sin to Calvary for our benefit. His “vicarious substitutionary death” was for the benefit of all humanity. But is that the end of the work of Christ? If we see our “union with Christ” for what it is then there is more to Jesus then Good Friday. Jesus is presently living inside of me by the power of the Holy Spirit. When my “faith” feels half-hearted or weak Jesus is living inside of me to sustain me and sustain my faith. Trying to improve and do better is exhausting. Focusing on Jesus and what He has done and is doing is life giving.
God Bless You
Pastor Drew
