Let’s read 1 Peter 2:21-24, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

These verses are pointing out characteristics and actions of the Lord that are to be used as examples of how we should live to honor Him. In His sufferings, the Lord Jesus exemplified the kind of life that we are to follow.

WHO DID NO SIN – Of course Christ is the only one that never sinned, but certainly we should strive to live a sinless life. It is not good enough to strive to ‘sin less than before’. No, we should seek to follow the Lord and imitate His sinless life.

NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH – The Greek word for guile (dolos) is also translated ‘subtilty’ (Matthew 26:4); ‘deceit’ (Mark 7:22); and ‘craft’ (Mark 14:1). There was no deceit, hypocrisy, or insincerity in the Lord Jesus. He was in all respects what he professed to be. Oh, that we might follow this example and all our words be true and spoken in love.

WHEN HE WAS REVILED, REVILED NOT AGAIN – In His life, the Lord Jesus was called “a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” (Matthew 11:19). People said of Him, “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” (Matthew 12:24). While the Lord would properly defend Himself, He did not lower Himself to engage in name calling with those who accused Him.

WHEN HE SUFFERED, HE THREATENED NOT; BUT COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HIM THAT JUDGETH RIGHTEOUSLY – When Christ suffered injustice from others, (in His life, in His trial and in His death) He did not threaten punishment. He did not call down the wrath of heaven upon His oppressors. No, He simply left His case and cause in the hands of His Father. We read Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 11:20, “But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.” It is not our place to punish those who persecute us because of our testimony for Christ. Rather, we are taught in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED – Christ Himself is our sin-bearer. He is the one who “hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2). This is not something we can replicate. It was the Lord’s work alone. However, in view of His merciful labor of love, we should “live unto righteousness.” Although we are ‘dead to sins’, “as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4). We read in Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, in this present world.” May we, as believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, seek to imitate Him and follow His example in all things. (324.6)