Suffering unjustly for one’s faith can produce the biggest question of all: WHY?
Suffering is a part of the Christian life, even when the follower of JESUS seeks to do good. In the midst of questions about unjust suffering in 1 Peter, JESUS provides the answer, as He models the response in His suffering on the cross.
1 Peter 3:18 declares, “For CHRIST also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to GOD, being put to death in His flesh but made alive by the SPIRIT.”
The word “for” connects verse 18 with the previous section, verses 13-17, in which Peter dealt with the persecution of Christians. In the midst of this suffering, Peter challenges us to look to JESUS. “For CHRIST also once suffered for sins…”
· JESUS was beaten.
· JESUS was stripped of His clothing.
· JESUS had a scarlet robe placed on Him in ridicule.
· JESUS had a crown of thorns placed on His head.
· JESUS had a reed placed in His hand, mocking Him as “King.”
· JESUS was verbally mocked.
· JESUS was spit on.
· JESUS had the reed taken out of His hand, and He was struck on the head with it.
· JESUS had nails driven in His hands.
· JESUS was mocked by a robber on the cross.
· JESUS was blasphemed by passerbys
· JESUS was mocked by the scribes and elders.
JESUS suffered “once” for sins. The word is apox, which means “once for all time.” We as Christians suffer because of our faith. JESUS suffered because of our sins. In other words, the reason for JESUS’ death was our sins. He died for us.
We suffer as we live for Him…
He suffered as He died for us – for our sin.
Perhaps you have suffered for your faith. Well, JESUS also suffered. Perhaps you have suffered for well-doing. SO DID JESUS! But He did more. His suffering was vicarious (done or endured by somebody as a substitute for somebody else).
Our suffering has a purpose – to bring us closer to GOD.
JESUS’ suffering had a purpose – to bring us TO GOD.
Kenneth Wuest wrote:
The word “bring” in the Greek text literally means “to lead to.” It was a technical word used of one who gained an audience at court for another. He brought his friend into the good graces of the reigning monarch. Just so, our LORD JESUS, by dying on the cross, and paying for our sins, satisfied the just penalty of the broken law which we incurred by our disobedience, and removed from us that which barred our access to GOD.
“Thus as lost sinners receive Him as their Savior, they are led into the presence of GOD the Father by GOD the Son, dressed in a righteousness, CHRIST JESUS Himself, who brings us into the place of unlimited favor with GOD.”
So, Peter communicates to his readers, look at the miraculous good that JESUS’ suffering produced. Thus, he reminds us of the good that can come out of our suffering for the faith.
While our impact will never be the same as JESUS’, still our acceptance of suffering/persecution as a means of impacting others in a profound way should motive us – all of us – to endure the suffering for our faith for the greater purposes and glory of GOD!
Pastor Mike