They had never seen Jesus because they lived too far away from Palestine to know Jesus personally. Further, as Peter probably wrote his letter some three decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, some of Peter’s readers may not even have been born when Jesus was on earth. Either way, this puts these readers in a different situation than Peter was, for he had walked with Jesus, listened to his preaching, and seen his miracles for the three years of his earthly ministry. On the other end of the spectrum, they had not seen Jesus because he had not yet returned on the clouds of heaven. Peter’s readers were living in the in-between period.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,