The beginning of the end of the Stay at Home instructions we’ve been adhering to seems to be coming to a gradual end. Restrictions are being relaxed and various places of employment are reopening. Our economies are beginning to move forward again slowly… but forward none the less.
Let me ask you… How have you fared in your personal time with the Lord during these pandemic days? It seems possible that not long from now we may be permitted to reconvene at Bethel. What that might look like we still don’t know but I am excited with anticipation about meeting again with those of like precious faith in a face to face fashion remembering the Lord together. When we do get back together, I wonder… will people notice a difference in you? I have been wondering that about myself.
We read of Peter and John in Acts 4:13 “Now when they (the religious elite) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Seems to me that for Peter and John to have made such an impression for others to notice you could say that to them the Lord Jesus was “precious”.
Peter wrote about this in his first letter (1 Peter) to the Christians who had been dispersed throughout the regions. In the NKJV we see the word “precious” used 5 times and these occurrences all appear in chapters 1&2. The limitations of our English language do not show that in the original Greek there are actually 3 distinct words used. Let me share a brief consideration of each and may we see the Lord Jesus as being “precious”.
A) Our Faith in the Lord Jesus (1:7)…
We read here, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes”. The Greek word that Peter used here and translated “precious” is relative to the monetary value of something. He wanted these dear saints to know that their faith in the Lord Jesus was rich and that the value of the treasures of earth could not begin to compare with the immensity of the value of having faith in the Lord Jesus. In Hebrews 11:26 it tells us that Moses considered that the reproach of Christ held “greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt”. Like Moses we should cling to our faith in the Lord Jesus knowing that our faith in Him is paramount. It is precious.
B) The Blood of the Lord Jesus (1:18-19)…
Here it says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ.” Peter uses the same Greek word again but this time to highlight the unsurpassed value found in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He speaks to the high cost of our salvation. The reality is that the true value of His blood cannot be quantified. The blood of bulls, goats and lambs was insufficient to permanently quench the wrath of God against our sin. Rather, our redemption required the pure, undefiled, spotless, unblemished, untarnished, holy life-blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What a cost! Oh what a redemption is ours (John 3:16 / Romans 5:8). Indeed His blood given for us is precious.
C) In His Representation of Who God Is (2:4)…
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious”. Peter shares that the Lord Jesus was God’s choice even as John also announced on the shores of the Jordan (John 1:29). Peter though uses a different Greek word here translated “precious” to highlight the value of reputation. From God’s perspective, the Lord Jesus, far surpassing any other, was fully suited to reflect and represent completely and entirely the very character and essence of God (Hebrews 1:3). In everything, the Lord Jesus radiated the personage of God Himself and did nothing of Himself but only that which the Father directed Him to do. He truly represented God in total perfection, preciseness and essence. He was God’s choice and in reflecting the very nature of God to us, the Lord Jesus is precious. D) In His Perfect Standard of Holy Living (2:6)…
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Again, Peter, using the same word from 2:4 highlights the surpassing value of the standard of holy living that the Lord Jesus established with sinless perfection. The Bible says that we have all fallen short of God’s standard of perfection because of sin (Rom.3:23). Comparatively, Jesus was without blemish and without spot. The Lord Jesus was entirely sinless and therefore well suited to be THE standard of holy living. With Him as the chief cornerstone we, as blocks in this spiritual house, are to align ourselves with Him and pattern our own lives after Him (1 Cor.11:1 / Eph.5:1-2). As we endeavour to do so and… to those who “believe” (ongoing active connotation here)… we will never be disappointed because of Him. He is the chief cornerstone and He is precious.
E) In the Immeasurable Value and Totality of His Person (2:7) …
“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious”. Finally, Peter uses yet another Greek word translated “precious” highlighting the value of the Person of the Lord Jesus. In the sporting world or the world of business, owners are always looking to find a person who is the “total package”. Peter is saying, in effect, that to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He is the “total package”. He is the difference maker, He is not of this earth and He is the chain breaker. Everything Peter has highlighted finds it center in the Lord Jesus. He indeed is our hope (Titus 2:13) and our only qualification to stand accepted in the presence of God Himself (Heb.10:19-22). Apart from the Lord Jesus we have nothing to offer relative to merit or worth to overtake the offense of our sin which we have committed in our rebelliousness toward God. Without Him we can do nothing of eternal value (John 15:5). Without Him we cannot lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Matt.6:19,20). As such, our faith in Him is precious. As our Redeemer, His shed blood procured our salvation permanently appeasing the wrath of God against our sin and that is precious. The Lord Jesus is precious in His exacting representation and reflection of God and in His holy standard of living of which we can model our lives after. When we bundle all of this together we ought to rejoice in the immeasurable value and totality of His entire person to us and declare in a resounding way with heartfelt affirmation and soul searching conviction that to us who believe, He Is Precious!
F) Wrapping up …
Let’s step back now and process this. Let’s reflect inwardly for a moment and ask a couple of very personal questions of ourselves… Is the Lord Jesus precious to me and will others notice when I see them? May it be so for the benefit of … 1. Our own personal growth in Christ 2. Our corporate growth and edification in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God 3. Others as they see our light shine (Matt.5:16 / John 13:34-35) and know that we’ve been with Jesus
Amen.
