Christ Also Suffered 1 Peter 2:21

As servants of Jesus Christ, Peter knew there were going to be “masters” who would manage them “wrongfully”, and he asked the “scattered” Christians “what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently?” He also told them, “if” they “do well, and suffer for it”, and “take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” In chapter two and verse twenty-one of his letter, Peter shared how Jesus left “an example” for us to follow as he wrote “Christ also suffered for us” where we read:

For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

The verse begins, “For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us,...” Peter began with the word, “For” which means “even, indeed, no doubt, seeing, therefore and verily” “even hereunto” or “to this same intent” “were you called” which means “called aloud and uttered in a loud voice, invited by name”: “because” or “as though, for and in that, ” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God” “also suffered” or “to be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a sensible experience and to undergo” “for us” which refers to “both Peter and the scattered Christians”. Because Jesus Christ “suffered” for us, we were also “called and invited by name” to suffer as well.

The verse goes on to say, “...leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:” Peter continued with the word “leaving us” or “bequeathing with the idea of leaving behind” “an example” which means “an underwriting and copy for imitation”, “that you should follow” or “tread in one's footsteps or imitate his example” “his steps” which refers to “footprints, tracks and imitating the example of any one”. Jesus left us His example so we might more fully understand what it means to follow Him.

When we meditate upon these words of Peter, we should be drawn to reflect upon the “suffering” Jesus did for us. He was beaten, spit upon, crowned with a crown of thorns and hung upon a cross as well as being publicly humiliated and put to shame, and He left this example for us to follow. We are to “follow his steps”, and as we do, we will be treated harshly for it. May the Lord bring to our hearts and minds the extent to which He identifies with us when we are “wrongfully” handled, and may we become more and more like Him as we answer His call.

Next time Peter shares about how Christ had no “sin” nor “guile”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.