Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
1 “And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share His glory and His honor when He returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock of GOD entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve GOD.” ~ 1 Peter 5:1-2
Elders were church officers providing supervision, protection, discipline, instruction, and discretion for the other believers. Elder simply means “older”. Both Greeks and Jews gave positions of great honor to wise older men, and the Christian church continued this pattern of leadership. Elders carried great responsibility, and they were expected to be good examples.
Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, was one of the three who saw Christ’s glory at the Transfiguration: 2 “Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance changed, 3 and His clothing became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly process could ever make it. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.” – Mark 9:2-4 – The Transfiguration revealed Christ’s divine nature. GOD’s voice exalted Jesus above Moses and Elijah as the long-awaited Messiah with full divine authority. Moses represented the law, and Elijah, the prophets. Their appearance showed Jesus as the fulfillment of both the Old Testament law and the prophetic promises. Jesus was not a reincarnation of Elijah or Moses. He was not merely one of the prophets. As GOD’s only Son, He far surpasses them in authority and power.
Often the spokesman for the apostles, Peter witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection, preached at Pentecost, and became a pillar of the Jerusalem church. But writing to the elders, he identified himself as a fellow elder, not a superior. He asked them to “care for the flock of GOD,” exactly what Jesus had told him to do: 15 “After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love You.’ ‘Then feed My lambs,’ Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love You’. ‘Then take care of My sheep,’ Jesus said. 17 Once more He asked him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, You know everything. You know I love You.’ Jesus said, ‘Then feed My sheep.’” – John 21:15-17 – Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. The first time Jesus said, “Do you love (Greek agape: volitional, self-sacrificial love) me more than these?” The second time, Jesus focused on Peter alone and still used the word translated into Greek, agape. The third time, Jesus used the word translated into Greek, phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, “Are you My friend?’ Each time Peter responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo. Jesus does not settle for quick, superficial answers. He has a way of getting to the heart of the matter. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked you, “Do you love Me?” Do you really love Jesus? Are you even His friend?
Peter took his own advice as he worked along with the other elders in caring for GOD’s faithful people. His identification with the elders is a good example of Christian leadership, showing that authority is based on service, not power. – 42 “So Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that in this world kings are tyrants and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 43 But among you, it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give My life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:42-45 – James and John wanted the highest positions in Jesus’ Kingdom. But Jesus told them that true greatness comes in serving others. These verses reveal not only the motive for Jesus’ ministry but also the basis for our salvation. A ransom was the price paid to release a slave. Jesus paid a ransom for us because we could not pay it ourselves. The disciples thought Jesus’ life and power would save them from Rome; Jesus said His death would save them from sin, an even greater slavery than Rome’s. Jesus’ death not only saved the disciples from sin and slavery, His death released all of us from our slavery to sin.
Thank You Jesus, for Your self-sacrificial love for us – for Your Agape. Thank You for Your Phileo – Your brotherly love and friendship. Jesus You are a true and perfect example of how to be a servant of our GOD. Help those of us who seek leadership in YOUR Kingdom Father GOD, by examining our true motives for wanting a position of leadership. We know this is something YOU do not take lightly and neither should we. Help us to search our hearts and ask ourselves: Do I love Jesus? Am I a true Friend of Jesus?
Photo: Smith’s Fort Plantation (Surry, VA)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
