Keep in mind that Peter was writing to believers
undergoing trials and facing hostility. In verses 21-25, he turned to encourage
all slaves and Christians alike to endure their trials and suffering patiently.
He first told them that the calling of Christians includes suffering. To illustrate
it, he used Christ, the supreme example for why believers should endure
suffering patiently. In the manner He endured His atonement and suffering with
patience, Christ Jesus had set believers an example to follow.
In five short verses, Peter was able to give an
account of the atoning work of Christ succinctly. Quoting from Isaiah 53:9, he
showed that Christ in both His conduct and words totally fulfilled the will of
God. He lived an earthly life of total integrity and no deceit was found on His
lips. Even in His trials, Jesus did not reply while His accusers heaped abuses
upon abuses on Him, and falsely accused Him. He just abandoned Himself totally to
the Father, trusting that He being the just God, would deal with His persecutors.
In verse 24, Peter did not merely quote Isaiah
53:6-7, he summarized the thoughts of those verses. In so doing, he had
affirmed the veracity of the prophetic portrait of Christ. Not only did
Christ’s atonement secured the believers’ redemption but also their physical
healing. Still in the vein of Isaiah 53:6, Peter told the believers that while
like the straying sheep described in Isaiah, they had now returned to Jesus
Christ, the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls.
No
wonder the writer of the book of Hebrews urged us to look to Jesus, as the supreme
example of suffering. This is how Hebrews 12:1-3 describe it: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding
us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has
endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.”
Let’s look to Christ and be encouraged!
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