18. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19. but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Word of God in the Old Testament was God’s story of redemption toward the nation of Israel. During one of the most difficult periods of their history was the occupation of Palestine by pagan forces since the fall of Judah by Babylon. Prior to that Assyria had captured and destroyed the Northern tribes of Israel and divided up the people and intermarried so they were forever destroyed.
Daniel predicted, there were the nations of Persia, Greece, and Rome whose domination brought great persecution. Like in the days of Moses, the people were praying for the coming promised Messiah.
Peter was part of the select group, chosen by God, to be instrumental in revealing Jesus Christ to the world as the Messiah of old who fulfilled the requirements laid down in the Old Testament. There were more prophecies to be fulfilled when He comes again in glory.
Peter was showing the Jewish people, by means of the prophecies written down years before, how God has redeemed people by the works of Jesus Christ. Peter was pointing the readers once again to the tremendous work of God and the marvelous salvation that is ours by His grace.
We are not redeemed with things that pass away and are temporary, but rather with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. Christ indeed is sinless. There was no need for Him to die for any crime or wrong doing. The Old Testament prophecies, laws and practices pointed the Jewish readers to the implication of the sacrificial lamb killed in the temples for their sins so that blood covered their personal wrong doing. The picture was vivid now that God had taken that place in the person of His own son, Jesus Christ.
The love of God is directed to each one of you as well. Love is initiated by God through the death of Jesus for you. He loved you. He redeemed you. He bought you. It was for your sakes that Jesus came from Heaven. Love initiates from God, not from us. That is why we reverence Him. That is why we worship Him. But that love from God is to be responded to by His followers. We receive His love and love Him back. The greatest of all commandments is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.
Application: The story of the Word is that it became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). John and Peter and the other 10 behold the glory of the Son of God. The lives of those who believe and follow have never been the same since. Neither will yours, IF you choose to follow.
Prayer: Lord, I choose to follow You.
