“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,
WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 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;” (1 Peter 2:21–23,
NASB95)
We have many examples today of people crying foul when
things don’t go their way. These loud and frequently profane and violent
reactions are the focus of media attention probably even feeding these “justified
responses.” Rather, than working appropriately within the structures and even
using the appropriate voice given to raise concern and address grievances
entertainers, media outlets, politicians, educators, and others are stepping
outside of what was once an acceptable way of dealing with differences to
revile those with whom they are opposed.
All of this stands in contrast to the quiet, yet reserved
persistence of the example cited in yesterday’s post and more specifically the
example of her Lord who we read about in today’s passage. Consider the example
of Christ. This is exactly what Peter tells us to do. We are to actively
consider the example of Christ when we are mistreated or endure unjust attack.
Peter tells us that we have been called for a purpose, and that purpose is to follow
in the steps of our Lord.
Jesus never sinned. He did absolutely nothing wrong. He
never lied or deceived anyone in any way. He is the perfect embodiment of
righteousness, grace and truth. But, He was accused of great wrong. It’s not
that He did wrong, but that He did not do or say things the way they wanted
them said and done. By speaking truth, He opposed their lies, and for that they
wanted Him put to death. Eventually they pushed this to the point that He was
brought before the leadership of the day for that very purpose. He was arrested
and held before any having any hearing where they mocked Him, blindfolded Him,
and repeatedly beat Him (Luke 22:63-65), saying many evil things about Him. He
was taken before the council of the Jewish leadership where they charged Him
(Luke 22:66-71). From there they drug Him before the government. First, there
was Pilate who said, “I find no guilt in this man.” But, being intimidated by
their fierceness Pilate shuffled Him off to Herod saying that He fell under
Herod’s jurisdiction.
Concerning Herod we read, “And he [Herod] questioned Him at
some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes
were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers,
after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous
robe and sent Him back to Pilate.” (Luke 23:9–11, NASB95) Interestingly, over
this situation we find in verse 12 that these leaders who were once opposed to
each other became friends over Him. Returning to Pilate, and after Pilate
reaffirming that He found no guilt in Him, Pilate succumbed to the pressure.
“But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this
man, and release for us Barabbas!” (He was one who had been thrown into prison
for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to
release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying,
“Crucify, crucify Him!” And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has
this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish
Him and release Him.” But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He
be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence
that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who
had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus
to their will.” (Luke 23:18–25, NASB95)
Matthew adds, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing
nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his
hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to
that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our
children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged,
he handed Him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took
Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They
stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown
of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they
knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They
spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they
had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back
on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.” (Matthew 27:24–31, NASB95)
Peter quoted from Isaiah 53 where we read, “His grave was
assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He
had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9,
NASB95)
“WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”
It is in Jesus’s steps that we are called to walk. The verses that follow the
trial record for us that our Lord then carried His own cross (with some help)
to the place where He was then crucified. And, Peter, who was there, tells us
exactly how He responded, “while being reviled, He did not revile in return;
while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who
judges righteously;” Not only did He not revile or heap abuse on them in
return. Instead, we read, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they
are doing.” (Luke 23:34a, NASB95)
In these last two posts, we looked at a series of two
different trials. One of them we know the outcome, and the other we are still
waiting to see. The example for the one being played out in the courts today is
given to us by our Lord who walked through the courts 2000 years ago for the
express purpose of laying down His life for us so that we might have the
forgiveness of sins and be given new life. Being given that new life, we are
now called to walk in His steps, responding to the trials we encounter in the
way He established so that God would be glorified in us and in Him.
We may live in difficult days, but our Lord knows these
difficulties. He has gone before us in them, and today He holds us firmly. Our
God is a just judge, and He will do right. We are called to trust God the
Father, just as the Son did when He took on the form of man for us.
One of the reported reasons that our current
President received so many votes was because of the looming threat to the
Supreme Court of this country. We have a vast number of voices today that would
like to scream down a good judge. Let us pray together that we would have
justices who are not swayed by threat, but who do right before God and man. Let
us also commit ourselves to walk right in the steps of Jesus despite the voices
and forces that will be raised in opposition, praying for one another amid the
trials
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