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. He is the pattern we need to follow. 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?"
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 in others around us.
Verse 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." There are times when God moves in our hearts to fight injustice and times not to fight but yield our rights over to God believing He is in charge. Many times those choices are out of our hands.
Jesus is more than an example. We cannot live by our own power, but by faith in the one who gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us and through us to bring glory to God.
We are called to work our best, please our employer, but also balance our activity so God gets our priority. There are many people climbing the ladders of success only to find no time for the Lord.
Application: It takes a Spirit-filled Christian to submit and let God fight his or her battles.
Prayer: Oh, that I may entrust myself to Him who judges justly and endure whatever you have called me to bear to the Glory of Your Name Lord Jesus.
