Third Sunday of Easter: Second Reading, 1 Peter 1:17-25               

1 Peter 1:17-25

“What kind of life does Jesus give? Resurrection life. Indestructible life. Eternal life.” So said dear Dr. Mitchell in my seminary days. And he would conclude, “Because it’s the only life He has to give.” I dearly miss my old mentor. But I hear his voice in my head nearly every day. I bet you might have someone like that in your life as well. Blessed are you if you do. 

Our first reading this week highlighted the Pentecost preaching of Peter. Our second reading comes from his hand. And it focuses our attention on the gifts of God in Jesus, His Son. New life; better new living is much of Peter’s theme at the close of the first chapter of 1 Peter.

Our lives are purified by obedience to what we have heard. And the obedience is given in the hearing. We are “believers in God,” Peter says (v. 21). And that is from Him as well. To go back to Dr. Mitchell. What kind of life does Jesus give? My answer? The life we MUST have or we are without hope. That’s what I hear now in Dr. Mitchell’s words 30-plus years after graduation. That’s what he wanted us to get when we were young students. 

I’m still learning the lesson. You?