Personal Salutations
1 Peter 5:13-14
13. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
14. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Greetings and Kissing
Greet one another with a kiss of love. The significance of the kiss is not in the context of romance as in our culture, but affection as friends and family. The greetings have behind it the deep spiritual love and unity among the believers. It is more than what we would do as a handshake. It is not just a casual greeting of politeness. It is a symbol of commitment to another.
As Peter concludes his letter it is a custom to inquire about others and share greetings to one another. I have shared before of my surprise when I had the privilege of visiting and teaching in Russia. At their church services they practiced the holy kiss. Men would kiss men and women would kiss women. There was the real feeling of excitement to see one another. It was apparent that church gatherings were like family reunions. When people have reunions, it is often with that sense of excitement to see one another again and to be with relatives you haven’t seen for a while. There is catching up on news and seeing how much the kids and grandkids have grown. Children run off together to visit or play. People talked as they prepare food.
Jesus Christ was the purpose of these gatherings with the family of God, but when people saw each other, they really enjoyed being there. I saw how much they looked on these gatherings as times to get away from the oppression of their work, challenges of their finances, and worries around them. It was an oasis of celebration in the spirit of Christ. The holy kiss was expressed with true desire to be together again with brothers and sister in the Lord.
Another thing that was unique to me was the custom of greetings. It means something more there than here. I saw one man stand from another community and say his church sends greetings to this congregation. People stood up and nodded, receiving the news in a formal way. When the pastor requested that he returned their greetings it was not something to be taken lightly. Sometimes it was in the form of a letter. When I first said that my church was praying for them, they stood with smiles and nodding and wanted me to return the greetings when I got home.
One man from a European country visited our church one Sunday. He handed me a letter from his church back home. When he told them he was visiting relatives at Stanchfield, they sent a letter of official greeting to be read. That was the first and last time I remember that formal greeting among churches that never met each other.
Peter knew people and wanted them to share in love and greetings. He recognized the help of friends in the ministry. His expression of peace is not just a greeting, but a prayer that they would experience the absence of conflict and unity of the spirit in Christ who brings us peace with God and with one another.
It is encouraging to be thought of and remembered. As I read stories from Dr. Pat’s letters of the churches being persecuted in Palestine and in Egypt, she shares how the folks told her her letters, gifts and prayers meant so much to encourage their faith. It provided emotional strength knowing they were not forgotten. In one of her newsletters, she met again with the widow of the manager of the Bible Bookstore in Gaza who was martyred. She showed the picture of the single mother with her children. She traveled to give her some money and let her know the story is still being told to churches in the U.S. How delighted she was.
So, Peter’s phrase, "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings. and Mark too", is an encouragement to them that they are being remembered.
Some think Peter was referring to his wife. Some think he is talking in coded language of the church in Rome, since in the book of Revelation Rome was referred to as the modern Babylon. Some take it literally that there was someone in Babylon greeting them. Whatever, it was important to know others were thinking of them.
The purpose of the church is to glorify God and to do His work. The blessings come when we share our hearts with one another in the ups and downs of life. It is a mistake when we think it is a spectator’s event when we gather. We are to participate in the power, truth, love and Spirit of our Lord. To that end Peter concludes His first letter.
Why not pray for someone today who is in the church? Send them an email, card of greeting, or a note of concern. Give someone a hug. Pray for them. Some need it badly!
