1 Peter 2 Lesson

SUFFERING IS A PART OF LIFE

There is nothing in the Bible that says that life on Earth is going to be easy! 

Suffering is a part of life, especially for Christians. 

If anybody became a Christian because they thought that would make their lives easy, they are in for a surprise! 

In this life, all of us, including Jesus and His Apostles will have to endure some form of suffering.   

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his second letter to Timothy:

• “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Timothy 3:12. 

To be persecuted means:

• “To subject to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race or political or religious beliefs.” (Source: Google Dictionary)

THE SUFFERING OF JESUS

Those who follow Jesus are going to suffer. 

As Christians, we will, at times, be on the receiving end of hostility and ill-treatment.  Think about how Jesus was treated! 

His life was anything but easy, even before the crucifixion. 

While on earth, Jesus experienced:

1. Rejection,
2. Loneliness,
3. Sadness,
4. And fear.

What separates Jesus, is the way that He handled adversity.

Jesus persevered through every challenge that came His way and remained steadfast in His commitment to follow His Father’s commands. 

• “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.” – 1 Peter 2:21.

HOW JESUS HANDLED SUFFERING

Peter did a fantastic job of describing how Jesus handled suffering. 

As always, Jesus is the perfect example for us to follow:

• “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.

When we suffer, we need to consider how Jesus responded to suffering and try to emulate His behaviors:

1. When people reviled Jesus (to criticize in an abusive or hostile way), He did not revile in return,
2. While suffering, Jesus uttered no threats,
3. Jesus entrusted Himself to God.

When we are attacked with words, Jesus does not want us to retaliate. 

Consider these words spoken by Jesus during His Sermon on the Mount:

• “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evilperson; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” – Mathew 5:38-39.  

This will seem odd to most people.  

It will not be the response that they are expecting, and that is the point!

Christians are not supposed to do what everyone else is doing. 

We serve God, and our actions must be different than those who serve the world.

As Christians, our time on earth is to be spent doing two things:

1. Glorifying God,
2. Serving others. 

By following Jesus’ example in suffering, we allow ourselves to be the light of the world, and the salt of the Earth that He created to be! (Mathew 5:13-16)

CONCLUSION

All of us are going to suffer. 

Suffering is a part of life, especially for Christians.

When we suffer, God wants us to respond differently than the rest of the world.

He wants us to follow the perfect example of Jesus!

1. When people reviled Jesus, He did not revile in return,
2. While suffering, Jesus uttered no threats,
3. Jesus entrusted Himself to God.

Peter emphasized this point in his first epistle:

• “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.”–1 Peter 2:19.

When those who have power or authority over us treat us badly, the world is expecting us to retaliate. 

But that is not what Jesus did, and that is not what the Bible teaches.

Christ’s disciples are to follow His perfect example and try their best to emulate His behaviors.

This may seem strange or different from the ways of the world, and that is ok. 

We serve the almighty God, and we have a higher calling!

We will end today’s lesson by revisiting the following verse:

• “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; 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.  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:21-25.