21. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

23. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.              

Jesus serves as an example to us. The Christian classic by Charles Sheldon, "In his Steps", is a fictional story of a pastor challenging his people in their personal and private lives to be as consistent as possible with living and acting in ways that Jesus would if He were in their shoes. The question each person was to ask was, "What would Jesus do?" What would He do if He were a newspaper editor? What would He do if He were a salesman? What would He do if He was parent? This book gives a variety of scenarios of people who took that question seriously and how it affected their lives.   

If we suffer for doing right or for being God's representative in an unrighteous world, then this is our call. Live as Christ would regardless of the consequences. If the consequences require us to face abuses, then that is God's will for us.    

Jesus suffered and died that we might have eternal life. Likewise, we are called upon to share this message and may have to suffer and die that others may obtain eternal life not by our death, but as a witness to the truth. Following Jesus may lead to rejection or persecution.  

Verse 22 tells us that Jesus was sinless in His action and in His words. There is no human who can claim this. Verses such as these point to the divine nature of Christ. There is no reason He should have died for He was pure, but just as whiteness compared to darkness also points out how dirty something is, so purity exposes sin to others around us. No wonder we are resented. 

v23 "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." There are times when God moves in our hearts to fight injustice and times to not fight but yield our rights over to God believing He is in charge. Many times those choices are out of our hands.           

The suffering of Jesus was for the sake of the sin of man. He suffered to bring people back to God. The message of atonement is Jesus died for me and paid the penalty for my sin.

Application:   When we are mistreated or if someone in church hurts our feelings, do we want to be sure others know we have been wronged?   Pray for strength as a Spirit-filled Christian to submit and let God fight his battles.  

Prayer:   O Lord, teach me how to fight my battles entrusting myself to the one who judges rightly.