1 Peter 2:18-25

18: Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
19: For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
20: For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

21: For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22: WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23: and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24: and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25: For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

***   

As Peter called on servants to be submissive to their masters, we see that one’s faith is truly put to the test and approved, when we are respectfully submissive to those in authority over us who are not “good and gentle,” but are unreasonable. We find favor with God when, because of our faith in Him, we stay true to our conscience; we endure when we are suffering unjustly. Its one thing if we do wrong and suffer the consequences, but when we do what is right and suffer for it—patiently enduring without sinning—we find God’s favor. This is no different from Christ enduring through His sufferings, and we are called to follow His path.

Peter quoted Isaiah 53:9 to say that Christ committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth. Even when He was reviled—verbally abused—He didn’t return the abuse, and He did not threaten His abusers. He entrusted Himself, continually, throughout His suffering, to Him who judges righteously—God the Father. Knowing that God sees all things and judges righteously is both a comfort and motivation to stay faithful to Him in our hearts, words, and actions when going through tough times. In the end, God will make everything right.

Jesus suffered to bear our sins in His body on the cross so we could die to sin and live to righteousness. Peter referenced Isaiah 53:4-6 when he said He carried our sicknesses and sorrows, and by His wounds we are healed. Jesus' wounds bring about our healing—spirit, soul, and body. Jesus was healed from His wounds/our sin when He was resurrected. He ascended into Heaven, and so are we with Him. Peter said they were continually straying like sheep, but now had returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls.

When we stay true and faithful to the Lord, even during difficult times, maintaining the righteousness He bought for us with His own blood, we stay in a place of favor, a place of healing and life, where we are free from sin and all the death that it brings. By His stripes we truly are healed.


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