The Example Jesus Gave: Part 1

Like to speak to you this morning about the example Jesus gave. The example Jesus gave. So I'm going to make this a part.

To.

Not today, but a two-part a two-part section on this so we could get the full Context of everything Peter tells to us in our text. So please turn with me in this Lord's Day. As we continue our study to 1st Peter chapter 2.

1st Peter chapter 2. We're looking today at verse 21 to 25. Verse 21 through 25 and again, this is a part one of a two-part section and Even in that we're not going to be able to cover we're going to scratch the surface today.

But in doing that I just pray that the Holy Spirit makes this text real to our hearts. And we're not apathetic to hearing these words. So we're looking at the suffering servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This Peter will focus on the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus gave the example for us in suffering. He's the perfect example in submission to the Father. His example he gave to us. And how? To endure patient suffering.

How to endure patient suffering. And it wonderful the Apostles knew who to point to. They all pointed to the Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ. They didn't go to Job or Abraham they even they gave illustrations of the patriarchs.

But they always ended up pointing to Jesus Christ is the ultimate perfect example.

So.

Beginning with verse 21 hear the word of the Living God. For you have been called to 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 he might 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. Let's take a few minutes to pray Our Father in heaven we thank you For this wonderful word this morning.

I would pray Lord speak speak Lord speak Lord for thy servant ears come now and the power the blessing Holy Spirit give us unction. Oh God and anointing to hear from you and straight from your word From your heart this morning set us aflame for you.

Oh God and sanctifies this morning through your precious word. And Lord may not a one of us leave here the same way we came. We ask this in Jesus name for your glory. Amen, and amen. I'd like to give you a Quote, I'm known by giving quotes if you notice that and I tried to give a quote that always points to Christ and There's nothing better than the Word of God, of course.

But I do love the quotes of the Puritans. I love the quotes of Spurgeon JC Ryle RC Sproul Goes on and on especially all the Puritans a great Spurgeon and Modern-day pastors as you well know. Pastor John MacArthur's one of my favorites and as I'm studying I'm using this commentary.

I go to Wycliffe commentary. I go to all these resources and tools. Matthew Henry at times and Spurgeon and I kind of dig and just trying to bundle all the good stuff together and I put Studying it devouring it and go to the scripture, of course and let scripture interpret scripture.

But sometimes I'll come across something so rich and I said, you know. Maybe I should give a paragraph or maybe I should give a page. But today I'm going to give you a page. It's rich I promise you and I promise you and we will not put you to sleep.

So I try my best not to do that. Let me begin by giving this wonderful quote From pastor John MacArthur that would give us the right direction and the right view this morning of today's message I'll quote him now.

This is MacArthur. The images of Jesus are many and if you were to survey the various peoples in our society about images That they have in their minds concerning Jesus Christ. There might be a number of them.

Some people would see him as a baby in a manger and their image Would of Christ would be the Christmas image. Some people would see him as a little child perhaps living in a carpenter's shop and One occasion compounding the religious leaders of Jerusalem.

Some people would see him as a compassionate powerful healer. Who could heal the sick and raise the dead? He goes on to say. Some people would see him as a courageous bold and fiery preacher. Who got great crowds together and spoke to them the Word of God?

Some would see him as a vital model a manhood the model man the consummate human being and all those images of Christ would to one degree or another be true and We can all learn from his life as we look at the The perfections of his person and his goodness and his kindness his sympathy and his concern his care his tenderness his forgiveness his wisdom his understanding his trust in God and.

And as we look at all the those characteristics of Christ. They are images that are instructive for us. Instructive it's very perceptive of him to mention it like that and we can learn from them. Then he makes a transition here and he says but there is an image of Christ that surpasses all of those in the sense is Is and is the the truest perception of Christ and one that is most necessary.

Paul summed it up when he said this I Am determined to know nothing among you except Christ and In him crucified.

Amen.

And MacArthur says this the proper vision of Christ is the crucified. The crucified one the truest and purest Perceptive of the person and the work of Christ is found in viewing him as the suffering Jesus the suffering Jesus that surpasses all others and.

So that we look unto Jesus who is the author and the finish of our faith? We must look at him and his suffering and his sufferings. That's the key and it closes it out with this. Right here. I gave you a page full.

The focal point of every Christian must be on the suffering Christ the suffering Christ the crucified Christ is our vision in quote. Be thou my vision. Be thou my vision. Jesus Christ and him crucified is our vision.

A.

Man, what a wonderful one of our wonderful.

Quote to give us the right direction in this message now. Such a wonderful quote and helps us set the right pace the right view the right direction for us. Because that's the purpose he is the purpose that believers have been called to and Where do we see Jesus and his sufferings the most?

Most revealed we see it him at the cross. Where do we see him the clearest at the cross? Where do we see his deity manifested at the cross? Where do we see his humanity the most at the cross? We must go go before the cross and come before the cross and humble ourselves there would go to the cross it is the crucified Lord and Savior and That the Apostle Peter.

This is what he has in mind in this wonderful text in verses 21 through 25 now. There was a time in This introduction. I like to bring this out. There was a time under the ministry of Jesus that Peter walked with the Lord as you know for three years and under his great ministry and Then he did not that Peter himself did not perceive and clearly realize The great importance of the suffering of Jesus.

He did not really grasp the importance of it. He understood his person. But he did not understand his mission and his work and his sufferings and this was Christ's purpose. This is why Jesus came into the world with us was to seek and to save the lost.

He came not for the healthy. He said they don't need a physician. He came for the sick. He came to seek and save the lost. He came to be a Savior and.

Lord.

Now.

That revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ was Directly given after the revelation of the person of the king and his church as you well know in that wonderful Chapter in Matthew chapter 16,. You don't have to turn there brother.

Keith has preached on this a few times and I've referred to it and I believe I've ministered on it a few times. But it is the it is the pivotal point of the ministry of Jesus. It's the heart because he reveals.

And he asked the questions. Who who do you say that I am first? He of course he begins. Who does others say that I am. Then he brings him right into the conversation. Who do you say that I am. And of course.

What has been said there that Peter by the revelation of the father says. Thou art the Christ the son of the Living God. He got that right. Why did he get it, right? Because the father revealed it to him who Jesus is who he was and.

But in verse 21 through 23 notice what he said what the Word of God says. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and Suffer amen many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes the religious people and.

Be killed.

And be raised up. The third day Peter took him aside. Now notice what Peter does? Yeah, it's amazing. One minute. This man is just completely in the Spirit of God. The father reveals him who? Jesus really is.

He knew it thou art the Christ the son of the Living God. He knew his person and then Jesus started to talk about that. He must go to Jerusalem and suffer and die. Peter didn't like that. Peter didn't like it.

Notice what he said. Peter took Jesus aside. Began to rebuke him. Could you imagine? Rebuke the Lord Jesus Christ Saying God forbid it Lord. This is what he said. God forbid it Lord. This shall never happen to you.

But he.

Jesus turned said to Peter Get behind me Satan For you are a stumbling block to me And you are not setting your mind on God's interest But man's That's powerful.

Peter.

Was being used at that moment in an amazing at this moment here. He's being used as a mouthpiece for the devil for Satan a few minutes prior to that. He's being used as a mouthpiece For the heavenly fought from the Heavenly Father one minute in the spirit another minute in the flesh.

But you know, it's interesting keep in mind who's writing first and second. Peter. Peter the Apostle Peter. And Here he is talking about the sufferings of Jesus. And that amazing in a glorious how the Holy Spirit just Made him see caused him to see the importance of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

The person and the work of Christ that the death and sufferings of Jesus was part of God's sovereign.

Plan.

And that's what it's all about. We got to know who Jesus is, but we got understood under understand clearly what he came to do. Jesus had come With the purpose to fulfill and obey the command from the father.

He said this command I have from the father and that was to die on Calvary's tree has to substitute For our sins and this is where Peter takes us That command from the father in heaven of a dying as a of him dying as a lamb of God.

God's Lamb as the atonement for sin the substitutionary death and sacrifice and Those that would oppose and thwart Jesus's mission was doing Satan's work. Even if the Apostle Peter got in the way what he said he started rebuke of the Lord for this.

And Jesus came back Way even a more of a powerful rebuke. Now the Apostle Peter here fully and completely understands now by the Spirit of God That it was the sufferings of Jesus. It was to be the focal point of Everything I tell you this this text here is so Glorious.

I said there's no way I can I could touch on all this and in one message is no way. And we can make a whole series of it, but I'm gonna try to sum it up in two anyway. But as God wills, but as the writer of Hebrews tells us this reminds me so much of what Peter says here.

But what the writer of Hebrews says in 12 2 3 Fixing our eyes on Jesus looking unto Jesus fixing our eyes on Jesus the author that word author means He's the leader. He's the leader. He's the author.

He's the perfecter of our faith the finisher of our faith. Who for the joy set before him he endured the cross. No notice what he said he endured the cross. What is Peter talking about? Patiently enduring suffering.

Being in submission to God. So the writer of Hebrews he endured the cross. Jesus set the example he's the example of faith. He's the example of patience. He's our example of suffering and He's now He despised the shame as he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And what does he say for consider him? I love this for consider him who has endured. You want to endure look to Jesus? Why does the writer of Hebrews say this listen, but consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself.

So.

That you will not grow weary and lose heart. The encouragement and the exhortation is that we may not grow weary. Grow weary and be faint and want to give up. God wants to see us through. So this is an exhortation to help us to see how we can endure now, though.

It is hard for us to relate To the sufferings of the body of Christ in that time period. We should we should take all this in as much as possible. Whatever little sufferings we do have compared and of course to the Lord Jesus Christ.

He was the one that suffered Ultimately infinitely the wrath of God no one ever will even touch that. But our Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example, isn't he? He's the perfect. He's perfect in every way if you want to look at perfection studying the life and the work of Jesus Christ Matthew Mark Luke and John All the way through he's the perfect sufferer the perfect servant the perfect shepherd.

He's the perfect substitute. He's in perfect submission to the Father. Everything about Jesus is perfect. Praise God. And Peter encouraged that think about this. What's he doing? He's encouraging these suffering Christians these suffering servants these suffering slaves at that time period.

This is who you look to you look to Jesus. You look to Jesus. Jesus is the one that will see you through it. So Peter encouraged these suffering slaves by presenting This perfect picture of Jesus Christ before him.

So let us behold the Lamb of God as we look into this text this morning and all that Jesus did on earth as Recorded in the gospel and the four witnesses it you don't think of that for a moment. There's no other book and out of 66 books of the entire Bible that four books are totally given on the life and ministry of Anyone else but Jesus Christ think of that.

You know, there's something to be wrong as if there was like four books on the life of Abraham. No Abraham is seen in Genesis. He's a great patriarch. He's the father of our faith, but Who's the greatest?

There's none greater, but Jesus then Jesus Christ. So all that Jesus is and all of his glories and his perfections.

Actually.

Jesus said it was Abraham that spoke about him. It was Moses that spoke about him. It was all the prophets that spoke about him all of them Foretold him so it's all focused on Jesus and Jesus alone and it all goes to the cross doesn't it?

It's the cross if we really want to know who God is we must come to know Christ and his sufferings at the cross the cross. And that's that's my desire. Well, first of all, here's my outline. We will look first within our text.

We will consider Jesus as our. Is our perfect example to follow. He is our perfect example to follow isn't he in verse 21 to 23? That's where we're going to spend the great deal of our time. And then secondly, we will consider Jesus as our perfect substitute in his death and Verse 24.

And third we will consider Jesus as our watchful shepherd and guardian he's our overseer and he's the one that will oversee our souls and Lead us right into heaven. So and then we will look at a. I just have one good application.

But I believe there'll be a lot of applications for us as we look into these.

Points.

Let's look at the first.

Jesus.

Our perfect example to follow is it he. Our perfect example to follow if you want to really follow someone follow Jesus. But follow anybody else and lead us right into hell. Honestly, there was a man by the name of Jim Jones.

Was that back in the 60s? I think miss Lillian. Hundreds of people followed this man. He was a supposedly a charismatic preacher and He he moved people and he was such a false false teacher. And you know, what happened in Guyana?

I think it was Guyana maybe mispronouncing that Ended up that all these hundreds of people and there's so sad. All these women all these chip may know women and children. There was some men in the month.

I missed him among them and He all got him to take Poison and kill them all it was literally hundreds of bodies found. All because of this man that they were looking to. This man that they were found.

Well, you know something.

Jesus.

He's the true prophet. He's the true Witness from God. He's a man to take us to hell. We follow Jesus. He's the God man. Oh, he's man, but he's the capital in he's not the lowercase in. He is the God man.

Well verse 21 and 23 through 23 knows what he says. I'm gonna read it again for you have been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for you Notices leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps.

We follow Jesus now. What is the purpose Peters referring to here?

To suffer.

That's the call is to suffering. Have you ever thought that there's a vocation to suffer for Jesus? Well, this is what he's referring to. And you don't hear this much in our day today. Everybody wants to hear about your best life now.

But you know something that'll take you to hell. Matter of fact, that's what pastor John MacArthur said. He said if you've been having your best best life now, you're going to end up in hell. But really the opposite is true of the Christian.

You follow Christ. And we're going to look at what scripture says about persecution. But notice verse 20. Peter says it like this. And we looked at this last Lord's Day. For what credit is there when you sin?

And are harshly treated. You endure with patience. That's a good question.

But.

But if when you do what is right now, this is not a question this is a comment. This is the truth statement, but when you do what is right and suffer for it You patiently endure it. This finds favor. What's favor grace this finds grace with God this finds favor with God.

Suffering for what is right is what he's talking about suffering for what is right? Now this is amazing. Because you got to think about what these Christians were suffering for there was suffering for the cause and the name of Jesus.

But look at Jesus. He was the only Just man that really lived he was really the only sinless man that lived and He had every right To come back and Say no. But he didn't do that. We're gonna look more into that in a minute.

Patiently enduring it. So these people that's under great persecution at that period of time. What an encouragement that this would be for them to hear this and read this from the Apostle Peter the calling is Called to suffer for his name's sake.

Listen to this wonderful verse from Acts chapter 14. Verse two verses. I'm sorry verse 21 and 22. Don't you love the book of Acts tells us shows us how the church lived and moved the early church and here we see that Luke writes to us and notices after they had preached the gospel to that city and Had made many disciples.

Now that's that's the correct order, isn't it? They preached the gospel and they made disciples. Isn't that what Jesus said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and then make disciples that's what they're doing and Jesus they've obeying the words of Christ the Great Commission and they returned to Lystra and Iconium and to Antioch that's kind of like the headquarters and Notice what they did.

Strengthening the souls. I Underscored that in my Bible. This is what they did. They strengthening the souls of the disciples and Then encouraging them and what did they encourage them to do? To continue in the faith to endure.

Because it was persecution. There was backlash. There was there was verbal abuse. Not only verbal. He's just physical abuse. Strengthening the souls of the disciples encouraging them to continue in the faith.

And what did they say saying? Through many tribulations not some many tribulations many. We must enter the kingdom of God. You know Jesus said they're basically reiterating and repeating echoing what Jesus said John 15 18 if the world hates you know that it has hated me before it hated you in verse 20 of John 15.

Remember, this is the words of Jesus himself remember the word that I said to you a Slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me. They will also persecute you if they kept my word. They will keep yours also.

You know, it starts Charles Spurgeon. It reminds me of what Spurgeon said about this. Spurgeon says they gave our Lord and Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses? And that the truth.

Why do we hope for a crown of roses from the world? JC Rouse is the most in the bed and the greatest reward that this world would give you is persecution. Laughter and ridicule. He said don't expect anything better.

Peter is basically saying to these suffering Christians here these slaves these Christians these servants. He's bond servants that has been called to salvation. They've been called to suffer. You've been called to salvation.

You called to suffer if you call it to the real salvation. That you have been called to suffer for his name's sake patiently endure this patiently take your cross patiently look to Jesus and Endure it and God will give you the grace to do this and then through the Holy Spirit Peter tells them how they can patiently endure.

Unfair.

Persecution. How many people you say? Oh, this is so unfair. Life is so unfair. They're not even undergoing persecution.

And.

Here are Christians suffering for Christ's name's sake and then Peter gives to them the perfect example. Here he is the Lord Jesus Christ. He's perfect and submission. He he he he's made perfect and suffering since Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps.

I love that. Notice how many times he says you you you. Jesus is the standard for our suffering and his suffering sets the standard for our suffering, right? The greater the suffering in this life the greater the glory.

And look at the glory Jesus is Partaking of today. Look at the great. Look at the great sufferers in the past of the martyrs. Look at the glory. They're enjoying now. Yeah, they suffered greatly. But they're enjoying glory forever.

And great is the reward. That's the path. That's what the scripture speaks of. Go with me very quickly. I'll give you gave you a couple verses from John and for Max go with me to Matthew chapter 5. We're going to go into Matthew here.

Just look at a few verses. Oh. Aren't we familiar with this wonderful text? Matthew 5 11 and 12. Let me just give you to him read this whole sermon. Chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7. They're one of the greatest sermons ever preached.

Jesus said it. Jesus says this blessed. Blessed are you? When not if when. People insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me because of who me because of Jesus.

Because of Jesus verse 12, what does he say to do? Rejoice and Be exceedingly glad. For your reward in heaven is great. For in the same way they persecuted there's that word Persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So the greater the suffering the greater the eternal reward. Listen to Hebrews chapter 5 verse 8 and 9. Although he was a son He learned obedience. Isn't this incredible? Even Jesus himself had to learn obedience.

How did he learn it? From the things which he.

Suffered.

For the things which he suffered. And then the next verse says this for by it. He was made.

Perfect.

Now that doesn't mean that in a sense that we he was in perfect made perfect is basically that word. Perfect means in the sense of completion. He's made complete Perfection in his sufferings complete in his suffering.

That's what it's talking about because he is the perfect spotless Lamb of God, right? So the path the glory is to plan path of suffering. So go with me to another example go with me to Matthew chapter 10.

I'm gonna read a few verses here and I think it's going to help us to see Jesus's instructions on this. Look at 10 verse beginning at verse 21. Jesus's instruction instructing the all the Apostles. The whole chapter is tremendous.

That's a Got pretty much 42 verses here, but I'm gonna read 21 to the end of the chapter. Knows what Jesus says. He instructs his disciples his Apostles. Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child and children will rise up against his parents.

Calls him to be put to death. You will be hated by all the calls of my name. But it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved but whenever they persecute you in one city flee to the next.

For truly I say to you You will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. A Disciple is not above his teacher nor a slave above his master. It is enough of the disciple that he came like his teacher and the slave like his master.

But if they have called the head of the house, who's the head of the house? He's speaking of himself. Jesus himself he is the head. He's the head of the church.

The head of the house.

He says Beelzebub prince of the demons basically how much more? Will they malign the members of the household of his household? Therefore do not fear them. Notice how many times he says do not fear. Therefore do not fear.

Them.

For there is nothing concealed that would not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. God knows everything in other words. And nothing gets by God. Verse 27. What I tell you in darkness speak in the light and what you hear whispered in your ear proclaim upon the housetops.

Do not fear those who kill the body But are unable to kill the soul. Now he tells us who to fear. But rather fear him. Who's able to destroy both soul and body in hell? What a verse? Verse 29. Now it's interesting that Jesus turns to Examples like two sparrows or not two sparrows sold for a cent and yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.

Sparrows such small birds and Unrecognized by most people but yet God the Father recognizes them and knows them. What Jesus is basically saying that God? Knows every single thing that takes place nothing becomes nothing is unnoticed.

He knows everything knows what he says in verse 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Try to count the hairs of your head this morning. Some has more than others. But you know something God knows exactly the number he knows everything to the detail.

Verse 31 so do not fear once again. He says so do not fear. Why is he saying this he's talking about people that will be persecuted as Apostles that would be persecuted for unjust reasons and for his name's sake and He says, you know when you take this you rejoice in the midst of this that your reward in heaven set your mind on heavenly things.

And Jesus is basically helping him get the right eternal perspective, isn't he? So do not fear you are more valuable than many sparrows you have great value. Therefore now he gets really really down to some very Important teaching here.

Therefore, therefore that therefore is everything he just said. Everyone who confesses me before man. I will also confess him before my father who is in heaven and had a great thought. Every time we confess Jesus to men.

He's confessing us before the father. But whoever denies me before me and there's a reverse to it. Every time we deny him. I will also deny him before my father who's in heaven. This is powerful teaching.

Listen to this verse 34. Do not think I am I That I came to bring peace on earth. I Did not come to bring peace but a sword for I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and a Man's enemies will be the members of his household.

That is so true verse 37 he who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and He who loves son and daughter more than me is not worthy of me. It's a strong and this basically says Jesus it must be everything.

He's got to be not only first. He's got to be everything. Absolutely everything verse 38. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me. There's time of the following follow after me is not worthy of me.

He who has found his life will lose it and he has lost his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me and he receives me receives him who sent me. That's the father. He receives a prophet the name of the Prophet shall receive a prophets reward and he receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward and Whoever in the name of the disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink.

Truly I say to you he should not lose his reward. What an encouragement that is to the apostles. That most of them died a horrible death except for the Apostle John. John was the only one that was spared and God spared him for a reason so he can give him.

How everything's going to consummate at the end of time and we have it today in the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, right. It's glorious. Well, what a text that is so Jesus proved that a person could be in the will of God in other words and you could be serving God and doing what's Right and doing what's just be greatly loved by God and still suffer unjustly if you teach that absolutely.

Can I say something right here as a footnote only a false Shallow teaching a false prophet would claim that Christians will not suffer. Don't we hear this today. Nobody wants to suffer. They they want their best life now.

For those who promote such. Can I say this lovingly? Can I say it truthfully? They do not know God. They do not know the scriptures. They do not know Jesus. They do not know the power of God. They do not know what the scriptures say.

They do not know the truth and they do not know the way of the cross. I'll say it lovingly. They're deceived and we live in in that day it's sad in it many are falling away we are seeing apostasy on every hand and God has arraignment and thank God he does and Don't get me wrong.

I don't want to get the Elijah syndrome. Somebody once said that I'm the only one left and but God still has his His was it seven thousand, I believe. Yeah. But I mean Thousands. Yeah that has not bowed the knee to bail.

So when we look in the scripture and gaze upon the sufferings of Christ we see Christ is calling his he came to suffer. So will it be those who follow after Jesus and I'm we're talking about the Jesus of the Bible.

Other people's got a Jesus of their own making and that's saying another gospel another Jesus. Paul talked about that even in this day. We're talking about the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord's humility now.

Now this is what this is referring to and now think of this we're going to be looking at as we continue in Peter. We're going to look at submission submission submission next and first Peter 3. Ladies first, right?

We're gonna look at submission to the wives. Then it's gonna say submission and he's gonna speak to submission to husbands now. But notice what he's talking about submission to God submission to authority submission to masters.

Submission to your bosses. It goes on and on and but he's talking about submission submission submission. Here's a man that was very unsubmissive under the ministry of Jesus and now he's talking he's speaking about submission.