Peter had seen Jesus Christ. His readers had not. And although some of them were probably alive during the life of Christ, their location was distant, and they never had a chance to see him for themselves. Peter stresses that fact in this week’s passage.

You can see it for yourself in 1 Peter 1:8-9.

Peter had walked with Jesus, watching him perform miracles, hearing him teach, experiencing life with his Master. Since he had visually seen the Savior, it may have been easier for him to place his faith in him. But his readers, scattered around the world, had no such opportunities to see Christ. Peter makes a significant point out of this to reassure them in their struggles and suffering.

Peter had experienced the love of Christ first hand. Remember just before the crucifixion, Peter boldly stated that Jesus was the Messiah, and then rejected and denied him three times. At the end of John’s gospel, Jesus restores Peter by asking him three times if Peter loved him. Of course he did.

This experience probably set the stage for a certain level of amazement at the faith of his readers. He had see Jesus. He had had this conversation with Jesus about love. But the people to whom he is writing had not, and yet they still loved Jesus. I wonder if Peter was stunned at their level of faith, amazed that they could love without seeing.

Of course, Peter knows that it is not his physical connection with Jesus that makes him Peter’s savior. He knows that Jesus is the Son of God and has been sent to redeem the world. It is not necessary for us to have been with Jesus in Galilee in order to be associated with him, in order to be saved by him.

We do not see Jesus now. But one day we will. And Peter uses that fact to encourage his readers here. His statements about seeing Jesus and loving Jesus are in the past tense. We have not seen Jesus. But his next statement is in the present tense: we are filled with joy. We are receiving the goal of our faith. In doing so, Peter contrasts the past and the present with the future, pointing out that our inheritance is being held for us in heaven.

Peter would agree with Paul’s sentiment, expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:7: We live by faith, not by sight. And even though we have not seen Jesus, not had the believers in Asia Minor, we believe in him still, we love him still.

That brings joy. Even in the midst of persecution and suffering, we have hope. We can rejoice.

That can only come through faith.

Question: What helps you maintain your joy and hope in Christ? How do you maintain that when the trials of life seem to drag you down? You can leave a comment by clicking here.