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2 Peter 1:1a
I want to start with this first part of verse 1 because of the word “bondservant.” Peter is described as a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ. The word “bondservant” comes from the Old Testament and describes one who willingly has become a servant. Usually this describes a servant who, when his time is completed as a servant, chooses to stay in the service of his master. This is done when the master has taken good care of the servant and when given the opportunity to be set free, realizes that his best care is to remain in the service of his good master. This process is recorded in Exodus 21:1-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-18. The point is, that the bondservant is a servant by his own will and testimony to his master; just as Peter chose to be a bondservant to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Secondly, Peter is described as an apostle of Jesus Christ. This title is reserved for Jesus in Hebrews 3:1, and also for His hand-picked disciples – minus Judas, but with his replacement, Matthias (Acts 1:26) whom He sent out to preach the gospel. These men all witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, and the only other person to be included was Paul, as he was commissioned directly by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
This is an example of a bondservant.
This is an example of an apostle.
It’s important when we read the Bible that we understand what we’re reading – that’s the main point of this ministry. The backstory to being a bondservant is fascinating of the dedication that exists between the bondservant and his master. The master has taken very good care of the servant to the point that the servant realizes it and makes a commitment to his master for life, and in the case of Christ Jesus it is literally, for life; not just the rest of our earthly life but for all of eternity – in Christ.
It sounds against our nature to desire to be a servant to someone and then dedicate ourselves to that person for the rest of our lives. But that is what we are doing when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior – we are becoming a bondservant to Christ Jesus, just as did the apostle Peter. Jesus is our Lord and Master, and He takes better care of us than we could ever imagine, if we will put our faith in Him and willingly become His bondservants.
Dear LORD,
Our earthly nature fights against allowing us to profess to be a servant to anyone, but just as Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” so we too should take this example of Jesus to serve one another in love and respect for our Lord and Savior. Please fill us with compassion for our fellow man that we would love one another just as Jesus first loved us and teaches us in John 13:34-35 that we would be disciples and bondservants – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.