by Timothy W. Burnett
The next three verses reveal how Jesus handled his suffering, �Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judges righteously� (verses 22-23).
Even during Jesus Christ�s time of greatest suffering, he still did not sin. Moreover, there was no guile in his mouth. As the son of man, Jesus Christ had the capacity and free will to sin, but he did not do so. Furthermore, he did not utter any words of guile.
We have all suffered over different things, or by the hands of different people. And we all understand how tempting it is to do something contrary to God�s will during those very trying times. More often than not, we ultimately feel bad for what we did. Jesus Christ had such great discipline that he did not do anything against God�s will during that time. Nor did he speak words that were not right in God�s eyes.
Along with this, when Jesus was reviled, he did not through that revile back at them. To revile meant to reproach, rail at or heap abuse upon somebody. This refers to all the mocking and abusive words and beatings that Jesus experienced prior to and during the time hung on the tree. When he stood before the secret mock trial of the Jewish leaders he was mocked, railed at, spit on and beaten many times. While in Pilot�s custody, the Roman soldiers did the same with greater intensity. It was done so harshly that it fulfilled a prophecy from the Old Testament times that he would not be recognizable. He was reviled�yet he did not throw it back. He did not attempt to hit anybody back, nor did he verbally reply their style of mocking and railing words. And he didn�t even threaten them! Instead, he faithfully committed his whole mind and body to his Father who is the righteous judge of all. Jesus knew not to threaten them because he knew that it was not his responsibility to do so, but that it was and still is God�s responsibility to judge righteously.
It is important to understand the context of the above verses starts in verse one, �Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow by it, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.�
1Peter chapter 2 covers different areas of life which will be addressed in more detail next week.
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