The Greatest Example
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1 Peter 2:21-25 says, "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. [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] 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. [24] 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. [25] For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
Christ left us a great example of how to live. He lived without sin. He did not lie or even try to deceive people, but rather lived truthfully. He was reviled (reproached and slandered), yet He did not repay that same evil upon others. Through all of the evil, pain, and unjust punishment He received, He simply trusted Himself to God who judges justly. All of the unjust pain that Christ felt, all of the unjust humiliation and reproaches were suffered in the process of Christ bearing the burden of our sins. It is through His pain, suffering, humiliation that we are healed from our sins. We were lost, dying, straying sheep and He, as the shepherd laid down His life so we can have salvation. What greater example could there ever be?
