Christ Also Suffered

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…
1 Peter 3:18

Peter’s original audience were believers facing severe persecution (1 Peter 2:11-12, 18-25; 3:8-18; 4:12-19). Peter gave them instructions about how they should suffer as Christians. His instruction was based on the Good News of Jesus Christ. The suffering of Jesus Christ for them served as their example of how to face suffering as a Christian (1 Peter 2:21).

Peter’s instruction to these believers is not, “Just do the right thing.” It is also not, “Be kind for kindness’ sake.” Instead, he takes them right to the heart of the Christian message and calls them to suffer with Christ and His Gospel as their continual meditation and example.

As I meditate on this for my sermon tomorrow I am rejoicing in the blessing of the word “also.” Not only do we suffer, but Christ also suffered. His suffering paid the penalty for our sins that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s suffering also serves as our example for suffering (1 Peter 2:21). The suffering of the Lord Jesus is our guide for facing suffering and the foundation of our confidence as we suffer.

Christ is not a disconnected Lord who commands His people to do what He was not willing to do. Instead, He commands us to suffer as He suffered. If you compare Christ’s example of suffering in 1 Peter 2:21-25 to the commands for suffering saints in 1 Peter 3:8-17, you can see that Christ commands what He was already willing to do. He committed no sin in His suffering, He had no deceit, and He did not respond to His persecutors in kind (1 Peter 2:22-23). As we suffer Christ commands us to have unity, compassion, brotherly love, and a humble mind. He calls us to be a blessing, not repaying evil for evil or mockery for mockery. He calls us to turn away from evil and do good in our words and actions. We are to face suffering without fear. We are to honor Christ as the Lord in our hearts, trusting His Lordship over all our suffering. We must be ready to gently and respectfully give the reason for the hope in us. We must always suffer with a good conscience so that any charge against us is baseless slander (1 Peter 3:8-17). Christ suffered righteously, and He calls His people to suffer in the same way. Suffering is never an excuse for sin; it is an opportunity to confidently follow the Lord Jesus Christ’s example.

For a suffering Christian, there is comfort in knowing that we are never alone in our suffering. Christ also suffered. He suffered unspeakable physical and spiritual agony at the cross. He knows what it is to face mental distress. He has been abandoned. He was ridiculed. He was despised and rejected. He has lost loved ones. He was persecuted. Christ also suffered. He did so righteously. By His grace, He calls us to do the same.