The Example of Christ’s Suffering

Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 2:18-25.

St. Peter continues his table of duties by speaking to servants in relation to their masters. Christian servants are called to be subject to their masters, even when their masters are not Christian or treat them unjustly. Such endurance of unjust suffering is a picture of God’s grace in Christ, for He has called us to it. Christ is the example that we seek to copy in our suffering; His are the steps in which we seek to walk. Yet Christ is not only our example in suffering; His suffering is also for our salvation. St. Peter preaches from Isaiah as he reflects on Christ’s patient endurance of evil in our place. In Christ, we have died to sin and been made alive to righteousness. When we endure injustice from those who have authority over us, Christ stands as our true Shepherd and Overseer in whom we have justification.

“The Imperishable Inheritance” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. The life of the Christian Church right now is life in exile. We endure attacks from various trials and from false teachers. Such suffering makes us long for the eternal home that will be ours at the resurrection of the dead. In Jesus, we have this promise of eternal life that can never be snatched away. These three epistles strengthen us to hold fast to Christ in the midst of suffering and to give witness to the hope that is ours in Him.