Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
21 “This suffering is all part of what GOD has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of GOD, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by His wounds! 25 Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” ~ 1 Peter 2:21-25
We may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sin; some happens because of our foolishness; and some is the result of living in a fallen world. Peter is writing about suffering that comes as a result of doing good. Christ never sinned and yet He suffered so that we could be set free. When we follow Christ’s example and live for others, we, too, may suffer. Our goal should be to face suffering as He did – with patience, calmness, and confidence that GOD is in control of the future.
Peter had learned about suffering from Jesus. He knew that Jesus’ suffering was part of GOD’s plan. – 21 “From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples plainly that He had to go to Jerusalem, and He told them what would happen to Him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and He would be raised on the third day. 22 But Peter took Him aside and corrected Him. ‘Heaven forbid, Lord,’ he said. ‘This will never happen to you!’ 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, ‘Get away from Me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to Me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from GOD’s.’” – Matthew 16:21-23 – Peter, Jesus’ friend and devoted follower who had just eloquently proclaimed Jesus’ true identity, sought to protect Him from the suffering He prophesied. But if Jesus had not suffered and died, Peter would have died in his sins. Great temptations can come from those who love us and seek to protect us. Be cautious of advice from a friend who says, ‘Surely GOD does not want you to face this.’ Often our most difficult temptations come from those who are only trying to protect us from discomfort. Here, Peter had just recognized Jesus as Messiah. However, he forsook GOD’s perspective and evaluated the situation from a human one. Satan is always trying to get us to leave GOD out of the picture. Jesus rebuked Peter for this attitude. (See also Luke 24:25-27, 44-47)
Peter also knew that Jesus’ suffering and death was intended to save us. – “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give My life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28 – A “ransom” was the price paid to release a slave from bondage. Jesus often told His disciples that He must die, but here He told them why – to redeem all people from the bondage of sin and death. The disciples thought that as long as Jesus was alive, He could save them. But Jesus revealed that only His death would save them and the world. 27 “And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to GOD for it. He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is My blood, which seals the covenant between GOD and HIS people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.’” – Matthew 26:27-28 – How does Jesus’ blood relate to the new covenant? People under the old covenant (those who lived before Jesus) could approach GOD only through a priest and an animal sacrifice. Now all people can come directly to GOD through faith because Jesus’ death has made us acceptable in GOD’s eyes. Rather than an unblemished lamb slain on the alter, the perfect Lamb of GOD was slain on the cross, a sinless sacrifice, so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all. All those who believe in Christ receive that forgiveness.
And finally, Peter knew that all who follow Jesus must be prepared to suffer. – 34 “Then He called His disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. ‘If any of you wants to be My follower,’ He told them, ‘you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me. 35 ‘If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.’” – Mark 6:34-35 – Jesus used the image of carrying a cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required of His followers. He is not against pleasure, nor was He saying that we should seek pain needlessly. Jesus was talking about the heroic effort needed to follow Him moment by moment, to do His will even when the work is difficult, and the future looks bleak. Peter learned these truths about “substitutionary atonement” from Jesus and passed them on to us. – Christ died for our sins, in our place, so we would not have to suffer the punishment we deserve.
Father, we understand that suffering is all part of what YOU have called us to. Christ, who suffered for us, is our example. We must follow in His steps. He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, and when He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of GOD, who always judges fairly. He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. Thank You, Jesus we have been healed by His wounds! Once we were wandering like lost sheep. But now, Praise GOD, we have turned to our Shepherd, the Guardian of our souls.
Photo: Zion National Park (Utah)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
