The Suffering Servant (1 Peter 2:18-25)
Up to this point in 1 Peter, we have seen the apostle lay a strong foundation for the identity of believers in Christ.
We are God’s chosen people, with a new name and a new hope, destined to receive an inheritance at Christ’s return. Our lives are to be marked by a longing for the gospel, a commitment to corporate worship, and a love for our neighbors. We’ve also explored the purpose and plan for our honorable living as exiles in this world, called to reflect God’s holiness even in a hostile environment.
Now, in the heart of chapter 2, Peter takes a step forward. He links our suffering as servants to the suffering of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This connection not only calls us to endure suffering, but to do so with a Christ-centered perspective that fuels our perseverance in suffering
In this section, Peter offers us a reminder that we are not suffering arbitrarily, but in line with the suffering servant, Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection have given meaning to our suffering. Through His example, we learn not only how to endure but also why our suffering has purpose.
The Submitting Servants: Submission in Suffering (v. 18-21)
Peter begins by addressing servants, or slaves, in the Roman world. It’s important to understand that Roman slavery was different from modern-day slavery, particularly in its racial dynamics.
Roman slavery was more about social and economic position rather than racial identity. Slaves could come from diverse backgrounds, and they were often integrated into society in multiple capacities, ranging from household servants to skilled workers. It wasn’t a system based solely on race but rather on the order of society.
Many slaves in this context were treated as less than human, but others were treated more like employees or even valued members of the household. Peter’s exhortation to slaves in this context becomes an instructive word for us all, whether we are in positions of subjugation or authority.
While we may not experience slavery as they did in ancient Rome, many of us find ourselves in work relationships that mirror these dynamics.
However, the application of this passage can often fall short in modern-day contexts, especially when we consider our roles as employees and employers. For instance, if we are mistreated at work today, we can usually find another job or move on. However, Peter’s message here is deeper than job satisfaction or listening to what your employer says. When we suffer in our submissive lifestyle, we are called to endure not as victims of injustice, but as people who look to Christ.
– The Call to Submit with Respect (v. 18)
Peter starts with an imperative to submit, even to harsh masters: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” (v. 18).
This submission is not to be based on the goodness of the master but on the respect due to the authority they represent. Submission, Peter argues, is ultimately a submission to God’s will, recognizing that God is the one who ordains human authorities.
Peter’s command to submit is challenging, especially when faced with injustice, but he calls believers to endure suffering with respect, because it is God’s will.
This does not mean that we passively accept abuse or oppression; rather, it means that we endure suffering in a way that honors God’s sovereignty.
– Enduring Suffering for Christ’s Sake (v. 19-20)
Peter then addresses the purpose behind this kind of submission. He writes, “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” (v. 19-20).
Peter’s focus on suffering makes a direct connection to God’s providence. The word gracious here indicates that such suffering, when endured for doing good, is under God’s favor.
It is not suffering as punishment for wrongdoing, but suffering that is a result of doing good in a broken world. Suffering in this way is a means of grace, a way in which God strengthens and refines His people.
Peter challenges the idea that suffering for “doing good” is pointless. It’s easy to suffer for wrongdoings, because that’s expected and just. But suffering for righteousness, for doing the right thing, is a different matter. It’s not a result of our own foolishness or sin, but of living faithfully in a world that often does not understand or appreciate the ways of God.
In this, Peter teaches us that God uses our suffering to refine us and to display His glory. This kind of suffering is a grace-filled opportunity to grow in the image of Christ, who also suffered for doing good.
– Looking to Jesus as Our Example (v. 21)
At this juncture, Peter directs the exiles to the ultimate example of suffering: Jesus Christ. He writes, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (v. 21).
Here, Peter tells us that suffering is not random or pointless; it has purpose. Our suffering is a way of identifying with Christ’s suffering. Christ’s suffering is not just an example for us to follow but the means by which we are saved. He suffered for us, and now we are called to follow in His steps, enduring suffering with the same mindset He had.
Peter’s exhortation here is a call to trust God in suffering, not to escape it. Suffering is not our fate, as Edmund Clowney points out, but our calling. Our calling is to suffer for the sake of the gospel, just as Christ did. Our suffering is not meaningless, but is part of God’s redemptive plan. Christ’s suffering didn’t lead to defeat but to victory, and our suffering, united to His, will also lead to victory in Him.
The Suffering Servant: Jesus, Our Sinless Substitute (v. 22-25)
Peter then turns to unpack the nature of Christ’s suffering in more depth. Christ is the sinless sufferer (v. 22-23), the substitute in suffering (v. 24), and the shepherd of our souls (v. 25).
– The Sinless Sufferer (v. 22-23)
Peter begins by affirming that Christ’s suffering was without sin: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (v. 22). Christ’s suffering was not a consequence of His own sin; it was the righteous suffering of the sinless Son of God. He endured the most unjust suffering imaginable, not because He deserved it, but because He willingly took it on for our sake.
In verse 23, Peter points out that even in the face of abuse and injustice, Christ did not retaliate: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Christ’s submission in suffering was not a passive surrender to abuse but a trust in the Father’s righteous judgment. He knew that the Father would vindicate Him in the end, and so He entrusted Himself to God, the one who judges justly. This is the heart of the gospel: the sinless Savior took on our sin and endured suffering so that we might live.
– The Substitute in Suffering (v. 24)
In verse 24, Peter highlights that Christ’s suffering was not only sinless but substitutionary: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Christ took our place on the cross, bearing the weight of our sins so that we could be healed and reconciled to God. His suffering was not for His wrongdoing, but for ours. This is the ultimate expression of love—Christ suffered in our place, paying the penalty for our sin so that we could be set free.
While our suffering is not atoning in the same way as Christ’s, it is meaningful because it is shared with Him. We suffer in union with Christ, and in doing so, we find our lives shaped and defined by His work. Christ’s wounds brought us healing, and as we suffer for His sake, we are united with Him in a way that deepens our faith and shapes our character.
– The Shepherd of Our Souls (v. 25)
Finally, Peter reminds the exiles that Christ is not only their example but their shepherd: “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (v. 25).
Christ is the one who leads us through suffering, guiding us with His wisdom, comfort, and grace. We are not alone in our suffering—Christ walks with us as our Shepherd, leading us to eternal life. He has suffered for us, and He continues to shepherd us, providing care, protection, and guidance as we endure the trials of this world.
Conclusion: Following the Suffering Servant
The apostle Peter draws our attention to the suffering of Christ to help us understand the purpose and meaning of our suffering.
Christ is not only our example in suffering, but our Savior and our motivation for enduring hardship. His sinless suffering, His substitutionary death, and His role as the Shepherd of our souls give us hope as we navigate the trials of this life.
We are called to follow in His steps, not by escaping suffering, but by trusting God’s good and sovereign plan. Our suffering is not meaningless; it is an opportunity to identify with Christ and to grow in our union with Him.
Though we suffer, we are not alone—Christ, our Shepherd, walks with us, and one day we will share in His glory. In the midst of suffering, we cling to Him, knowing that He is sufficient and that He is leading us home.