1 Peters Reflection Upon The Death of Christ (4)

4. Reflecting on 1 Peters understanding of Christs Death Generally, by looking at all the details that could be conjured from 1 Peters reflection on Christs suffering, one can note the strong pastoral concern that is poured out through the authors concern for the people. He constantly bridges the experiences of the believers to that of Christs; in what is imaged in this parallel is the unmistakable connection of suffering; like in Jesus life, so too in the life of his followers. This connection thus informs upon us care and the mystery of Jesus incarnation, where he became like one of us so that we can share in his life in all its fullness. Another thing that we can draw from in 1 Peter is how Christs death, provides for believers, a rich rationale of ethical living. Because Christs death is costly (1:18-19), it exhorts us in how we should live. Because Christs death is atonement for our sins (2:24), it paves the way for us being able to pattern our lives in the same attitude as how he responded to unjust suffering. Because Christs suffering accords to Gods will in that he suffered unjustly he was vindicated (3:18-22), it makes us possible to endure unjust suffering with the sure hope of vindication. Because Christ is our Lord, and if we like him share in his suffering, then, like him too we share in the promise of eternal glory. Lest we forget the great importance of Christs death, lies in fact in what it accomplished for us. As the author of 1 Peter understands, through Jesus death we can trust in God though our circumstances are trying (1:21) because of the hope we have in him. Through Christs death, it forms a new pattern for living, where his death liberates us from an empty way of life (1:18; 2:24-25) to a way that was provided for us by being purchased by his blood (1:19) and his sinless life (1:19; 2:22-23; 3:18). This also implies to us that because of his death, we have access to God (1:21; 3:18). 5. Implications of Christs Death in 1 Peter for Christians Living in Malaysia The Christology of 1 Peter with regards to Christs death as we have detailed above poses some viable critique to Christian living in Malaysia. One might find the exhortations that Peter gives to believers he wrote to somewhat hard to grasp. Where, the general consensus is for people to fight for their rights is an understandable case. No one wants to be stepped on. But for some situations, it might warrant Christians to heed the exhortations found in 1 Peter. The call for enduring unjust suffering is a foreign idea to most. The rich Christological

insight that Peter gives might have a place for Christians living in Malaysia to emulate where, the quite ethical demand of patterning our attitudes to that of Christ might work more as a credible witness in a world that thrives of fighting for their rights. Given also the conditions in Malaysia, though being claimed as a multi-racial and religious country, the designation of multi is in fact a foreign concept particularly in terms of religion. Sharing the Christian faith to Muslims in Malaysia might lead Christians behind bars. But verbal sharing of faith is not the only way of going being faithful witnesses. Given the strong ethical stance of living in response of Christ death being the centre of that demand, living out the faith might form a basis for communicating the Christian faith to the Muslim community in a non-confrontational way. Conclusion As we have seen above, 1 Peter has a rich Christology in reflection on Christs death for the church. In responding to the question where we asked, In what way did the author of 1 Peter reflected on Christs death? to which it was answered as; 1) redemption from a former way of life; 2) as ethical conformity where we are made complete by his atoning death; and 3) Christs Death as vindication. 1 Peter informs us to the ethical as well as the pastoral stance of the doctrine of Christs death, where it dispels the idea that doctrine is mere head knowledge, rather, doctrine is exhaustively practical as well.