Resource Detail

“WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS”

1 Peter 5:1–4

Key Verse: 5:4

“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

Peter has been encouraging us to apply our faith in Jesus to how we live. In various life areas, he’s been relating what he teaches back to Jesus. Whether it’s holding onto the living hope, pursuing a holy life, loving one another, having a clear identity, submitting to authorities, living with a spouse, doing good in the midst of evil, sharing our faith, resisting sinful influences, or enduring fiery trials: faith in Jesus is the secret. Now Peter addresses “the elders among you,” not necessarily the elderly but the leaders.¹ Again he’s Christ-centered. We’re all different, in ministry at different places and in different ways. But as leaders old or young, let’s consider what Peter’s exhortation to “shepherd” people means, and how and why God wants us to focus on this. May God grant us new faith in Jesus to accept this direction.

Look at verse 1. “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed.” Peter starts with the word “exhort.” He means, “I urge you,” or even, “I beg you.” Then he says, “as a fellow elder.” He’s not thinking of them as inferiors or opponents, but as his brothers. He adds that he’s a fellow “witness,” or “martyr.” Facing persecution, Peter is ready to die for Christ, as they are. He hopes to “partake” in the glory that’s going to be revealed, as they do. But this is not just a humble appeal. By mentioning the sufferings of Christ and the glory to be revealed, Peter makes this appeal as solemn and serious as he can.

Then he puts it, bluntly: “...shepherd the flock of God that is among you…” (2a). Peter himself received this directive personally from the Risen Jesus (John 21:15–17). Now, by placing it at the end of his letter, he’s putting it front and center, making it most important. He’s telling them, and us today, to shepherd our people as our first priority. As leaders in our chapters there are so many things to do. We have to read the Bible, prepare lessons and messages, plan and attend meetings, manage Sunday services, and make reports. Some of us serve in tech support or music ministry or on various committees with important tasks. On top of that, most of us have personal responsibilities to our employers, our spouse and children, and in managing our homes. As citizens we have to file taxes and pay our traffic tickets. Sometimes we’d just like to take a break. But Peter pleads with us to keep shepherding the flock of God in a world hostile to the gospel. In UBF we’ve heard it a million times, so much so that we might just tune it out. With painful past failures or experiences, to “shepherd” might trigger some of us. Honestly, some might not want to hear it any more. But it’s unavoidable; it’s the essential duty of all Christian leaders, young or old, in every time and place.

In verse 2 this word, “shepherd,” is not a title, but a verb. It’s not a position or a concept; it’s action. So what does a shepherd of people do? First of all, since the flock of God is “among you,” to shepherd simply means to be with our people. We may be shy and prefer to be alone. But we shouldn’t hide. To shepherd our people, we’ve got to be present with them, maybe even live with them.

Who is my flock that God assigned to me? A working parent comes home to a spouse, and little ones or teenagers. They are our personal flock. But when Peter says “the flock of God that is among you,” he means more; he’s talking about those who gather together with us in the name of Jesus, in a small house church or a larger congregation. “The flock of God” also can mean all the people in our mission field. Whether they are not yet Christians, brand new believers, struggling Christians, or faithful coworkers, to shepherd people, we first need to see them as “the flock of God” among us. God sends them, and we have to accept them as his flock, as they are, like it or not. Some people want to shepherd only high-caliber students, not the struggling ones, and not coworkers. But as chapter leaders, God charges us to shepherd everyone among us. We need to open our eyes to see “the flock of God” on campus, all those like sheep without a shepherd––the undergrads, the grad students, the faculty, even the support staff. Without Jesus, they’re perishing, without any living hope. Why does a shepherd need to be “among” the flock of God? Is it for our human ambition? No, it’s because of the compassion of Jesus our Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). To be among them requires humility and self-sacrifice.

But what does it really mean to shepherd people? Jesus said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones…What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?…So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matt.18:10–14). Leave everything to go after one? Honestly we may think, “That person doesn't fit into my strategy. His problems are not my problems.” That’s trying to do God’s work like a business, not as a shepherd. Even one person that God brings to us is “the flock of God.” Why? Because each person is God’s creation, made in his image. As the flock of God, God cares for each one. In shepherding, our Lord Jesus is saying one person is most important. God wants each one to have a good shepherd. Why? It’s because when a totally lost person meets a good shepherd, that person changes.

Being with needy and flawed people is hard. We have to get to know them. We need to be asking good questions and listening carefully and patiently. We need to become genuinely interested in their welfare. As we learn about their brokenness and sins, we shouldn’t try to escape; we need to stay with them and keep pointing them to Jesus. To shepherd people, we need to bear with them in love. And to truly shepherd them, we’ve got to pray for them and for ourselves.

Peter adds the words, “exercising oversight.” It means to keep watching over people, checking in regularly. Shepherds of animals need to carefully check on each one daily. Likewise, to shepherd people we need to pray for them daily, find what word of God can best help them, feed them a healthy spiritual diet, and help them obey it. People need reminding to live in the presence of Jesus, to rely on him daily, to “come to him” for his mercy and forgiveness, for wisdom, direction and guidance. People need reminding to trust in Jesus in the midst of all life’s problems and challenges. We need oversight to protect God’s flock in our charge from evil and from going in the wrong direction. It means not dropping the ball or being negligent, but diligently, faithfully guiding––sometimes gently, sometimes alongside them, and sometimes, strongly. Sometimes it means crying to God in our prayers, and sometimes, even becoming sleep-deprived.

To really shepherd God’s flock is never safe; it’s risky. It leads to being used, abused and accused, as Jesus was. It often means having our hearts broken. But we have no luxury of pulling out. The needs and dangers of God’s flock constantly keep coming. Shepherding means living an unselfish life, focused on Jesus and others. It’s how we share Christ’s sufferings practically each day. The only way to sustain such a life is to stay close to our Lord Jesus.

But how? Peter says, “...not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly…” (2b) Shepherding people tests our character and our motives, things that only God sees. Who volunteers for this? Who’s eager to lose for the sake of shepherding? It’s not enough to just go through the motions; God wants us “willing” and “eager.” The word “eagerly” means “with brisk and cheerful readiness.” “Brisk” and “cheerful”? This is shepherding people with a new heart and a fresh spirit. It’s the way old Abraham served the three guests in the heat of the day. We need circumcision of our hearts to renew our eagerness to serve and shepherd God’s precious flock. Peter has one more honest challenge for us: “...not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock…” (3) “Who, me?” we may say. But people may find us domineering, in our teaching or in our personality. How can we overcome this? Peter says simply, “being examples to the flock.” What example? He said earlier, “…Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps…when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (2:21–23). Learning to be quiet like our Lord Jesus, suffering injustice and abuse with faith in God like he did, is one of the best ways to overcome being domineering.

How can we shepherd people with such a heart and good example? We may need therapy. But what we really need is a revival of our faith in the living hope. What is this faith and hope? Read verse 4. “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” We need this faith and hope in Jesus, faith that he’s watching it all, and faith that he’s coming. Earlier Peter calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (2:25). Here he calls him our “chief Shepherd.” We’re just undershepherds. One day, Jesus will “appear.” When he does, his glory will be revealed. He wants us who follow him to have faith and hope in his glory. What is his glory? It’s his glorious salvation of sinners who turn to him in faith. But part of his glory is that he will judge the living and the dead—everyone who ever lived. Peter said Jesus is “ready” to do it (4:5). He said his judgment begins with the household of God (4:17). Now he’s saying it begins with the elders, leaders of his flock. We not only need the hope that he’s coming, but also the deep awareness that I’m personally accountable to him. If we follow his example to shepherd the flock of God, he promises “the unfading crown of glory.” This unfading crown of glory is our eternal reward. It’s the mind-boggling privilege of sharing his glory. Peter says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (10). To shepherd his people, we need this faith and hope in “the God of all grace.”

Since our staff conference last year, we’ve been praying that through our UBF ministry God may raise spiritual leaders for the world and for future generations. We want this to be our motto and main prayer topic. We’ve been praying God may call and raise a new generation of full-time UBF staff. Some may be right here among us. We’ve been praying God may help us work together to develop a new intern shepherd training program, to raise shepherds of people like our Lord Jesus: shepherds deeply aware of their accountability to Jesus; shepherds who stay with people because of the compassion of Jesus; shepherds who keep pointing people to Jesus; shepherds who suffer quietly like Jesus; shepherds who have a living hope to share in the glory of Jesus. May God light the fire of this vision in our hearts and help us keep praying for it fervently.

As we return home, may God help us hold onto his word: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you.” May we do it before God, holding onto his promise with renewed faith. Let’s read verse 4 again. “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

1. According to verse 5, the elders are older than the younger among you. But this seems to be more than just age.↩︎