December 16th, 2024
by Dr. Josh Franklin
by Dr. Josh Franklin
1 Peter 2:21–25 (NKJV)
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 inspired Charles Sheldon in 1896 to write what would become the classic, “In His Steps”. The story begins with a man who is down on his luck. He’s struggling—without a job, without resources. He goes to various people in the community for help, but no one offers him any assistance. Even the pastor, though kind, doesn’t offer the help he truly needs. One Sunday morning, after the sermon, this man steps forward and speaks to the congregation. He asks a bold question: “What does it really mean to follow Jesus?”
He was being honest, challenging the congregation to reflect on their faith. Tragically, within the week, the man deteriorates and dies. His question, however, deeply moves the pastor. It leads him to challenge his congregation with a year-long commitment: “Whenever you face a decision, whenever something comes up, ask yourself this question: What would Jesus do if He were right here?”
The rest of “In His Steps” follows the transformation of a church—and eventually a society—as people begin to live by this question, striving to follow the example of Jesus. Many years later, this idea inspired the popular “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets, which became a reminder to live according to Christ’s example.
We’re called Christians. We are the only Bible some people will ever read. The way we interact with others when they find out we are Christians is a testimony to who Jesus is. This is the point Peter emphasizes in this passage: Jesus is our example for how to live in the midst of a world hostile to the Christian life.
Remember, Peter was writing to believers in Roman colonies in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) during a time of growing persecution. As followers of Christ ventured out into these regions, Peter reminded them that their primary citizenship was in heaven. They were Christians first, Romans second. So how were they to interact with a culture that misunderstood them—or worse, intentionally misrepresented their convictions and way of life? Peter provides both the principle and the example, pointing to Jesus.
We can follow Jesus’ example in three ways:
1. Don’t Be Surprised When You Suffer.
Verse 21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” It says, “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Then, in verse 24, it says, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
It was God’s plan for Him to suffer for us. He was mistreated for us. He was misunderstood for us. He lived with rejection and suffering, and He told His followers, “If they hated Me, they’re going to hate you” (see John 15:18-20).
John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Jesus Himself experienced rejection. And He made it clear that a servant is not above his master—if He was rejected, criticized, and persecuted, then as His followers, we should expect the same.
Here’s the principle: Don’t be surprised when you suffer for Christ. Expect it. Anticipate it. Don’t think suffering is a sign that God disapproves of you. In fact, it’s often the opposite. Suffering comes because of your Christian convictions. In your workplace, in your home, or in society at large, persecution may intensify. Peter says this is par for the course. It happened to Jesus, our Savior and Master, and it will happen to us as well.
This passage echoes Isaiah 53, which prophesied about Jesus.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (NKJV)
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Peter is quoting from this passage when he says that Jesus carried our sorrows, our griefs, our sins. He suffered for us. And just as He suffered, we too will face suffering.
When Jesus came, He was rejected by people. He wasn’t widely accepted by those in power. And Peter makes it clear that Jesus is our example in this as well. If they rejected our Master, they’ll reject us too.
Consider John 12:42–43, which describes people who believed in Jesus but wouldn’t openly confess Him: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
These people believed in Jesus—especially after He raised Lazarus from the dead—but they feared the consequences of confessing Him. The Pharisees had made it clear that anyone who believed Jesus was the Messiah would be cast out of the synagogue. And because they loved human praise more than God’s, they stayed silent.
Jesus addressed this issue directly with the religious leaders. In John 5:41, He said, “I do not receive honor from men.” The Living Bible puts it this way: “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to Me.” Can you imagine getting to that place in your own faith?
In John 5:44, Jesus continues: “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” The Phillips paraphrases this verse, “How on earth can you believe while you are forever looking for each other’s approval and not for the glory that comes from the one God?”
Jesus makes it clear: if you’re more concerned with the approval of people than the approval of God, you won’t truly believe or follow Him.
The world won’t reject you if you say, do, and believe what it does. But if you live differently—if you follow Jesus—there will be resistance. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If we go against the direction of this world, we will meet resistance.
Jesus suffered when He walked on this earth, and we, as His followers, will suffer too. Prepare yourself. Don’t be surprised when it comes. Instead, let Jesus be your Guide in the midst of your suffering—whether it’s in your home, your workplace, or society at large.
2. Respond the Way Jesus Would Respond.
The second way that we can follow the example of Jesus is by exemplifying His silence. Look again at 1 Peter 2:22-23: “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Even though Jesus had every justification to respond to those who mistreated Him, He didn’t retaliate. Remember the accusations thrown His way? In John 8:41, the religious leaders said, “We were not born of fornication,” implying that Jesus’ birth came from fornication. The subtext was clear: “We know who our father is—but we don’t know who yours is.” The gossip around town was that Joseph wasn’t His real father. They accused Jesus of being an illegitimate son of immorality.
Now, let’s make this applicable. You’re mistreated at work. You’re mistreated in your home. Someone is accusing you wrongfully. What is Peter trying to say? See Jesus’ silence as your example. Remember how He responded. He entrusted Himself to God, the same God to whom you’ve entrusted your eternal soul. Isn’t that incredible? The God who secures your eternity is the same God who can handle your everyday life.
We often say Jesus is our Lord, and yet we feel the need to defend ourselves constantly. Jesus, while on the cross, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46). He entrusted Himself to God, even when falsely accused. He recognized that God is the ultimate Judge. We claim to trust God for our salvation, for our eternal destiny, but when it comes to the day-to-day mistreatment we face, what do we do? We retaliate. We stand up for our rights. We’re quick to fight back.
Peter is urging us to look to the example of Jesus. When He was mistreated, He did not mistreat in return. Think about the scene on the cross when one of the thieves hurled insults at Him. Did Jesus yell back? No. He was silent. In that moment, He entrusted Himself to God. And we, too, can entrust ourselves to God.
In 1995, a man named Randy Reed was working on a water tower 110 feet in the air. While trying to reach a difficult spot to tighten something, he unbuckled his safety harness and stretched out just a bit too far. Suddenly, something shifted, and he fell—110 feet! He landed face-first in a pile of dirt. When paramedics arrived, they found him conscious. Amazingly, the only thing he complained about was a sore back.
After falling 110 feet, Doctors discovered that Randy Reed suffered only a bruised lung. That’s all. And as the paramedics carried him to the stretcher, he even kept his sense of humor. He said, “Don’t drop me. Don’t drop me!”[1]
Isn’t it fascinating that someone can survive a 110-foot fall and then worry about being dropped two feet? And yet, isn’t that exactly what we do? We’ve been delivered from the greatest fall of all—our sin and eternal separation from God. We’ve been rescued by the gospel, and we cling to the cross for eternal salvation. But when the everyday trials come, we feel that we need to take care of ourselves.
We’ve been eternally rescued, and yet we struggle to trust God with the little things. You and I can live with incredible confidence—even when we face death itself—because we know we’ve entrusted our lives to God for eternity. Peter’s message is clear: Jesus is our example. He entrusted Himself to God, and you and I can do the same.
3. Submit Yourself to the Will of God.
Matthew 26:39 describes the dark night before the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” This great act of submission to the plan of God was the only way humanity could be saved from eternal damnation. It was the only way. And Jesus, though fully aware of the cost, submitted Himself to the will of the Father.
It’s important to remember that submission is not agreement. Jesus didn’t say, “This is a great plan, and I’m glad to do it.” No, He prayed, “If there’s any other way, let this cup pass from Me.” Yet, He willingly submitted, saying, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done.” In the same way that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, you and I are called to submit as well.
The question “What would Jesus do?” naturally comes to our minds. It challenges us to think about how Jesus’ life serves as a model for our own. But here’s the real point: we cannot ask “What would Jesus do?” until we first accept what Jesus did.
John Piper said about this passage, “This is not a rule to follow so much as it is a miracle to experience, a grace to receive.” And that’s the heart of it. How can we live like Jesus if we haven’t experienced the new birth? How can we follow His example if we haven’t received what He accomplished on the cross?
Jesus died for us. He paid the penalty for our sins. Through faith in Him and repentance we are made new. 1 Peter 2:25 concludes, “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” That’s the essence of repentance: turning back to God, turning away from sin. Once we’ve done that, we are “dead to sin and alive to righteousness” (see 1 Peter 2:24).
From that foundation, we can live the life Jesus wants us to live—His life lived through us. He can be our example only because we have first received what He did on the cross. No amount of living like Jesus will replace the need to receive what Jesus accomplished for us. Salvation comes first. Through faith in Him, we are empowered to follow His example.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being my perfect Example, showing me how to live with grace, humility, and faithfulness even in the face of suffering. Help me to trust You completely, committing my life into Your hands and responding to trials as You did—with love, patience, and forgiveness. Empower me through Your Spirit to follow in Your steps, living not for my own will but for the glory of the Father. In Your Name, amen.”
[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1 Peter, The Teacher’s Outline & Study Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1994), 109.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 inspired Charles Sheldon in 1896 to write what would become the classic, “In His Steps”. The story begins with a man who is down on his luck. He’s struggling—without a job, without resources. He goes to various people in the community for help, but no one offers him any assistance. Even the pastor, though kind, doesn’t offer the help he truly needs. One Sunday morning, after the sermon, this man steps forward and speaks to the congregation. He asks a bold question: “What does it really mean to follow Jesus?”
He was being honest, challenging the congregation to reflect on their faith. Tragically, within the week, the man deteriorates and dies. His question, however, deeply moves the pastor. It leads him to challenge his congregation with a year-long commitment: “Whenever you face a decision, whenever something comes up, ask yourself this question: What would Jesus do if He were right here?”
The rest of “In His Steps” follows the transformation of a church—and eventually a society—as people begin to live by this question, striving to follow the example of Jesus. Many years later, this idea inspired the popular “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets, which became a reminder to live according to Christ’s example.
We’re called Christians. We are the only Bible some people will ever read. The way we interact with others when they find out we are Christians is a testimony to who Jesus is. This is the point Peter emphasizes in this passage: Jesus is our example for how to live in the midst of a world hostile to the Christian life.
Remember, Peter was writing to believers in Roman colonies in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) during a time of growing persecution. As followers of Christ ventured out into these regions, Peter reminded them that their primary citizenship was in heaven. They were Christians first, Romans second. So how were they to interact with a culture that misunderstood them—or worse, intentionally misrepresented their convictions and way of life? Peter provides both the principle and the example, pointing to Jesus.
We can follow Jesus’ example in three ways:
1. Don’t Be Surprised When You Suffer.
Verse 21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” It says, “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” Then, in verse 24, it says, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
It was God’s plan for Him to suffer for us. He was mistreated for us. He was misunderstood for us. He lived with rejection and suffering, and He told His followers, “If they hated Me, they’re going to hate you” (see John 15:18-20).
John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Jesus Himself experienced rejection. And He made it clear that a servant is not above his master—if He was rejected, criticized, and persecuted, then as His followers, we should expect the same.
Here’s the principle: Don’t be surprised when you suffer for Christ. Expect it. Anticipate it. Don’t think suffering is a sign that God disapproves of you. In fact, it’s often the opposite. Suffering comes because of your Christian convictions. In your workplace, in your home, or in society at large, persecution may intensify. Peter says this is par for the course. It happened to Jesus, our Savior and Master, and it will happen to us as well.
This passage echoes Isaiah 53, which prophesied about Jesus.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (NKJV)
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Peter is quoting from this passage when he says that Jesus carried our sorrows, our griefs, our sins. He suffered for us. And just as He suffered, we too will face suffering.
When Jesus came, He was rejected by people. He wasn’t widely accepted by those in power. And Peter makes it clear that Jesus is our example in this as well. If they rejected our Master, they’ll reject us too.
Consider John 12:42–43, which describes people who believed in Jesus but wouldn’t openly confess Him: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
These people believed in Jesus—especially after He raised Lazarus from the dead—but they feared the consequences of confessing Him. The Pharisees had made it clear that anyone who believed Jesus was the Messiah would be cast out of the synagogue. And because they loved human praise more than God’s, they stayed silent.
Jesus addressed this issue directly with the religious leaders. In John 5:41, He said, “I do not receive honor from men.” The Living Bible puts it this way: “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to Me.” Can you imagine getting to that place in your own faith?
In John 5:44, Jesus continues: “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” The Phillips paraphrases this verse, “How on earth can you believe while you are forever looking for each other’s approval and not for the glory that comes from the one God?”
Jesus makes it clear: if you’re more concerned with the approval of people than the approval of God, you won’t truly believe or follow Him.
The world won’t reject you if you say, do, and believe what it does. But if you live differently—if you follow Jesus—there will be resistance. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” If we go against the direction of this world, we will meet resistance.
Jesus suffered when He walked on this earth, and we, as His followers, will suffer too. Prepare yourself. Don’t be surprised when it comes. Instead, let Jesus be your Guide in the midst of your suffering—whether it’s in your home, your workplace, or society at large.
2. Respond the Way Jesus Would Respond.
The second way that we can follow the example of Jesus is by exemplifying His silence. Look again at 1 Peter 2:22-23: “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Even though Jesus had every justification to respond to those who mistreated Him, He didn’t retaliate. Remember the accusations thrown His way? In John 8:41, the religious leaders said, “We were not born of fornication,” implying that Jesus’ birth came from fornication. The subtext was clear: “We know who our father is—but we don’t know who yours is.” The gossip around town was that Joseph wasn’t His real father. They accused Jesus of being an illegitimate son of immorality.
Now, let’s make this applicable. You’re mistreated at work. You’re mistreated in your home. Someone is accusing you wrongfully. What is Peter trying to say? See Jesus’ silence as your example. Remember how He responded. He entrusted Himself to God, the same God to whom you’ve entrusted your eternal soul. Isn’t that incredible? The God who secures your eternity is the same God who can handle your everyday life.
We often say Jesus is our Lord, and yet we feel the need to defend ourselves constantly. Jesus, while on the cross, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46). He entrusted Himself to God, even when falsely accused. He recognized that God is the ultimate Judge. We claim to trust God for our salvation, for our eternal destiny, but when it comes to the day-to-day mistreatment we face, what do we do? We retaliate. We stand up for our rights. We’re quick to fight back.
Peter is urging us to look to the example of Jesus. When He was mistreated, He did not mistreat in return. Think about the scene on the cross when one of the thieves hurled insults at Him. Did Jesus yell back? No. He was silent. In that moment, He entrusted Himself to God. And we, too, can entrust ourselves to God.
In 1995, a man named Randy Reed was working on a water tower 110 feet in the air. While trying to reach a difficult spot to tighten something, he unbuckled his safety harness and stretched out just a bit too far. Suddenly, something shifted, and he fell—110 feet! He landed face-first in a pile of dirt. When paramedics arrived, they found him conscious. Amazingly, the only thing he complained about was a sore back.
After falling 110 feet, Doctors discovered that Randy Reed suffered only a bruised lung. That’s all. And as the paramedics carried him to the stretcher, he even kept his sense of humor. He said, “Don’t drop me. Don’t drop me!”[1]
Isn’t it fascinating that someone can survive a 110-foot fall and then worry about being dropped two feet? And yet, isn’t that exactly what we do? We’ve been delivered from the greatest fall of all—our sin and eternal separation from God. We’ve been rescued by the gospel, and we cling to the cross for eternal salvation. But when the everyday trials come, we feel that we need to take care of ourselves.
We’ve been eternally rescued, and yet we struggle to trust God with the little things. You and I can live with incredible confidence—even when we face death itself—because we know we’ve entrusted our lives to God for eternity. Peter’s message is clear: Jesus is our example. He entrusted Himself to God, and you and I can do the same.
3. Submit Yourself to the Will of God.
Matthew 26:39 describes the dark night before the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” This great act of submission to the plan of God was the only way humanity could be saved from eternal damnation. It was the only way. And Jesus, though fully aware of the cost, submitted Himself to the will of the Father.
It’s important to remember that submission is not agreement. Jesus didn’t say, “This is a great plan, and I’m glad to do it.” No, He prayed, “If there’s any other way, let this cup pass from Me.” Yet, He willingly submitted, saying, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done.” In the same way that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, you and I are called to submit as well.
The question “What would Jesus do?” naturally comes to our minds. It challenges us to think about how Jesus’ life serves as a model for our own. But here’s the real point: we cannot ask “What would Jesus do?” until we first accept what Jesus did.
John Piper said about this passage, “This is not a rule to follow so much as it is a miracle to experience, a grace to receive.” And that’s the heart of it. How can we live like Jesus if we haven’t experienced the new birth? How can we follow His example if we haven’t received what He accomplished on the cross?
Jesus died for us. He paid the penalty for our sins. Through faith in Him and repentance we are made new. 1 Peter 2:25 concludes, “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” That’s the essence of repentance: turning back to God, turning away from sin. Once we’ve done that, we are “dead to sin and alive to righteousness” (see 1 Peter 2:24).
From that foundation, we can live the life Jesus wants us to live—His life lived through us. He can be our example only because we have first received what He did on the cross. No amount of living like Jesus will replace the need to receive what Jesus accomplished for us. Salvation comes first. Through faith in Him, we are empowered to follow His example.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for being my perfect Example, showing me how to live with grace, humility, and faithfulness even in the face of suffering. Help me to trust You completely, committing my life into Your hands and responding to trials as You did—with love, patience, and forgiveness. Empower me through Your Spirit to follow in Your steps, living not for my own will but for the glory of the Father. In Your Name, amen.”
[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1 Peter, The Teacher’s Outline & Study Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1994), 109.
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