A Witness of the Sufferings of Christ

Joseph Smith made this summary statement about our religion: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” Those “apostles and prophets” that he referred to were from dispensations past, especially those who were with the Savior in His earthly ministry. Chief among those was Peter, and we see indeed in his 1^st epistle to the Saints that he bore witness of the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He described himself in these words, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1). Peter was there that night that Christ suffered in Gethsemane, and in this epistle he was clearly determined to bear witness of those sufferings that brought us grace. He wrote, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” He saw with his own eyes the blood that covered the Savior when He bled from every pore, and so Peter could speak with authority on the “precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish” that redeemed us (1 Peter 1:10-11, 18-19).

                Throughout this first epistle Peter continued to bear witness of the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He wrote, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24). Peter saw that “tree” (the cross) along with the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus Christ for us. Peter saw Him be reviled and revile not again when he himself wanted to take up the sword in defense. Peter saw Him die on the cross for our sins and knew indeed that those stripes the Savior received at the hands of the Roman soldiers were for all of us. He also testified, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). He knew that we each of us who strive to follow the Savior must take a small part in that suffering: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin…. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:1, 13). He suffered so that sin could cease, and we who follow Him partake in some small part in His suffering so that His glory can be upon us. Peter also testified of the resurrection of the Savior to which he was also a first-hand witness: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). He had obtained that “lively hope” when in mortality he saw the resurrected Lord minister unto him. He added, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21). He watched the Savior die on the cross and then found Him three days later alive again, and the chief apostle was committed to bearing witness of the reality of the resurrection. Peter also watched Him ascend into heaven: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:21-22). Peter was a powerful eye-witness of the sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Savior and we are blessed to have his testimony of Jesus Christ still today.