Compared to what Fixates

I have been reading in 1 Peter in my quiet time lately, and was particularly struck by three verses in chapter 1 as I was considering the context that Peter wrote into. The readers were suffering and dispersed because of their faith, so Peter wrote to give them some perspective to encourage them. In vv. 10-12, Peter mentions two groups of beings in order to build that perspective.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry, 11 investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things, 12 to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels desire to look. 

First, the Old Testament prophets. They sought and made careful inquiry to understand more about this Messiah that they had prophesied about. In prayer, and perhaps be reading Scripture and asking the experts of their day, they went out of the way to understand what they could, because this Messiah figure was going to be so central, so important, so crucial to their entire life's work. They somehow realized that they were not serving their generation only, but also the generations to follow them hundreds of years later (the grace meant for you) - Peter's contemporaries of of the First Century Christians. By extension, they were also serving us (the Church). Their life's work was anchored in the central figure and message of the future Church, without any way to even conceive of the Church in their day.

Second, the angels. They desire to look into the affairs of the Gospel. The events centered on the message of the Church, the Good News of Jesus, is something they are intensely curious about. It's important to them, and it captivates their attention.

Two groups of very important beings, the prophets and the angels, are transfixed on Jesus, His Gospel, and all the affairs of the Gospel.

And this is how Peter intended to encourage these suffering readers in their circumstance. They were (and by extension, we are) living out the stuff that captivates prophets and angels! Therefore, any suffering we might have as a result of our faith is put in the perspective of what grabs their attention! This is so key, so pivotal, so intriguing to them that any suffering we might have relative to our faith suddenly has tremendous importance.

Mocked for your faith? The prophets and angels are eager to see how that plays out. Have fewer things than your neighbor because you financially support the work of the Gospel? The prophets and angels can't wait to see how that investment will bear fruit. Uncomfortable being the only one who can bring Truth into a situation? The prophets and angels are on the edge of their seats to see how you might lean into the lives of others.

Sometimes, we try to gain perspective on our suffering by comparing ourselves to the martyrs who suffered greatly and died for their faith. At least my situation isn't that bad. If they can do that big thing, then I can do this little thing. I don't find that kind of perspective to be effective for very long.

Peter takes a different angle. Instead of comparing sufferers to those who paid an even higher price, he focused them on the fantastic thing that captivates prophets and angels. That's how to gain perspective on suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Suffering may well be a necessary component to the storyline that prophets and angels are intensely eager to follow. It's that important.