When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
Peter is writing to a people who’ve been persecuted. Immediately before this passage he’s talking to slaves, telling them to abide their masters, both their fair and just masters and the unjust. Now, I’m not condoning slavery or bad masters, but I am struck by this comparison to Jesus.
Peter writes that when Jesus was abused, he did not return the abuse, and when he suffered he did not threaten. He even writes that he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. But before that ultimate judgment, he did stand before the earthly judges, who passed a judgment of cruel, public execution. And yet, Jesus did not act.
Through all of that, the abuse, suffering, false judgment and execution, he kept his entrusted himself entirely to the one who judges justly.
How are we to understand this, in the light of modern-day slavery, corruption, aggression, war and murder? Are we to just suffer, keeping our eyes on God? What about the notion that we are to help?
These references about Jesus are about his personal life, his personal suffering, his personal abuse, and ultimately, his personal death. About these things and about his personal life, he had absolutely trust in God, the most just judge. Jesus did not alter these actions, or seek retribution, or return fire with fire. He kept his eyes focused on God.
When he saw suffering in others, abuse in others, he acted. He healed, he protected, he loved. He carried their burdens. But he did not use his fully-divine nature to change the course of his God-made-man life.
This morning, I’m thinking about how to carry my burdens with without complaint, while at the same time keeping my eye on the just judge, and striving to alleviate the suffering of others.
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