Jeremy L. Berg

My son Peter has long been fascinated by the persecution of the first Christians and, in particular, the gruesome martyr’s deaths of the Apostle Paul and Simon Peter, his namesake who he has a special affinity with. This kid actually wanted to watch the 3.5 hour 1980 TV mini-series “Peter & Paul” starring Anthony Hopkins as Paul. Much of it went over his head, but he easily picked up on the fact that these early Christians had great faith and courage that made them bold in the face of suffering and possible death.

The film ends with Paul being beheaded, and Peter being crucified upside down because according to tradition Peter told his executioner he was “not worthy to die in the same manner as my Lord.” I know, a little beyond Veggie Tales these days!

As the camera zooms out and the credits roll, you see a little shepherd boy about my Peter’s age standing near the cross with his flock of sheep, staring up in wonder at this crucified man.

Just then my Peter says, “Wow, that was a sad ending!” Yes, from one vantage point it certainly is. Yet, the scenes immediately preceding Peter’s death showed him boldly teaching crowds and raising up the next generation of disciples who will carry the Christian faith forward and spread the good news like a virus across the known world.

Peter was given the pastoral commission by Jesus to “feed my sheep” and he is considered the primary shepherd/bishop of the Church in some traditions. I now see that the little boy standing with the sheep as the camera zooms out on Peter’s crucified body was the filmmaker’s subtle way of saying, “This movement doesn’t end with this man’s death; it will spread like a good-virus from one generation to the next by those who follow in his footsteps.”

As the Coronavirus spreads across the globe and with it the contagion of fear, I want to take up the shepherd’s pen and follow in a long line of letter writing pastors who sought to guide and encourage their sheep in times of trial and testing. Each generation typically faces their own moment that history will remember — whether it be the Great Wars, Spanish Flu, Vietnam and the Civil Rights, 9/11 or this COVID-19 outbreak. We are standing on the shoulders of both giants and ordinary folks like you and me who need to rise to the occasion, find our courage, guide our children through the uncertainty, and band together as people of faith in the Resurrected Christ.

In the coming days, when we may not be able to gather together in person, I want to write pastoral letters to my church (and any who want to read), to keep us anchored in the Scriptures, and to draw courage from our ancestors who have faced far worse. Some of these letters will be my own thoughts and admonition, and others will be expositions of Scripture. I hope they serve to strengthen the people of God to be strong and courageous in the Lord and in our common hope!