(“When We Have Been Insulted”)

I Peter 2:13-25 (NASU)

21"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously." (I Peter 2:21-23)

"Then He (Jesus) opened their (His disciples) minds to understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45)

(A) SOMETIMES IT’S MORE ACCURATE TO TALK

ABOUT JESUS INSTEAD OF “GOD”

(1) Sometimes people talk about “God” when they should be talking about Jesus Christ. Let that sink in for just a moment – “Sometimes you and I talk about ‘God’ when we should be talking about Jesus Christ!”

I realize the title “Son of God” indicates Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity (c.f. Mark 1:1) – that the Bible says He is “God with us” in human flesh (c.f. Matthew 1:20-23) – and that when Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”, He was claiming to be God (c.f. John 10:30-33). So, given the fact there is only “one” God (c.f. Deuteronomy 6:4), ordinarily anything we say about God will also be true of Jesus, and vice versa (c.f. John 14:9; Hebrews 1:3).

(2) I say “ordinarily”, because even though each Person in the Trinity is fully and equally God (c.f. Matthew 28:19), each Person also has certain unique roles and/or works that belong to Him more than the other two. For example, the inspiration of Scripture is a work we usually attribute to the Holy Spirit (c.f. II Peter 1:20-21), even though the Book of Second Timothy says “All Scripture is inspired by God” (c.f. II Timothy 3:16).

The fact each Person of the Trinity has certain works that are attributed to Him is an important concept to keep in mind when we talk about Jesus, because in His sovereignty God the Father has made God the Son the focal point of almost everything pertaining to our salvation, PLUS our day-to-day ability to live the Christian life.

(3) Regarding our salvation, the Scripture says: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (c.f. I John 5:11-12) … and again: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (i.e. Jesus) shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (i.e. through believing in Jesus)” (c.f. John 3:16-17) … and once more: “there is salvation in no one else (i.e. no one other than Jesus); for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (c.f. Acts 4:12).

These verses, which are representative of many others, tell us no one can be saved by simply believing in God. We are only saved by believing in the One God the Father appointed to be our Savior – namely, Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ.

Lots of people believe in “God” – Muslims, Jews and Hindus all believe in God (albeit under different names) – every cult believes in “God” -- American Indians, African tribesmen, and members of the Masonic Lodge all believe in a “higher power”. The fact is, most people believe in some kind of “God”. However, many of these same individuals will never see the gates of heaven because the true God says we are saved by repenting of our sins and placing our faith/trust in Jesus Christ.

“Believing in God” doesn’t save anyone! Therefore, when we are sharing the Gospel with people it does no good to only talk about “God” … at some point we must talk about God the Son, Jesus Christ … otherwise, there will be no difference between our message and that of any other false religion.

(4) One thing I want you to see this morning is that everything we just said about becoming a Christian is equally true when it comes to living the Christian life (c.f. Galatians 3:3) – namely, that God the Father has made Jesus Christ the focal point of everything we need to walk in manner worthy of our calling (c.f. Colossians 1:10). That’s why we read passages likes these … “my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (c.f. Philippians 4:19) … and again, Jesus Himself speaking: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (c.f. John 15:5) … even this morning’s Scripture lesson says: “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (c.f. I Peter 2:21).

(4) The thread holding this present series of otherwise eclectic messages together, is that Jesus Christ is the One we Christians must constantly turn to for help in times of need. One of our theme verses says: “let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (c.f. Hebrews 4:16) … and the larger context shows the author was referring to Jesus Christ, whom he says was “tempted in all things as we are” (c.f. Hebrews 4:14-15), and is therefore “able to come to (our) aid (when we) are tempted” (c.f. Hebrews 2:18).

Much of the help our Lord gives us comes through reading and studying His infallible written word, and then putting what we’ve learned into practice in our lives (c.f. James 1:22) … and today is no exception. However, when it comes to the matter of dealing with insults our Savior has also given us a pattern to follow, much like a little child might trace the words of a letter written by their parent.⁴ Hence, our text says: “you have been called for 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” (c.f. I Peter 2:21-23).

(B) GRACE TO HELP WHEN WE ARE INSULTED

UNJUSTLY FOR CHRIST’S SAKE

(1) I would be surprised if there’s anyone here who has never been insulted and/or felt insulted … I would also be surprised if any of you enjoyed the experience. Insults are offensive, abusive and often embarrassing … their intent is to hurt, tear down and/or destroy … insults attack our dignity, shatter our confidence, belittle the value of our work, and/or call our worth as human beings into question. Some people think “insult comics” funny … and some insults are couched in humor … but few people feel like laughing once they realize they have been insulted.

(2) There are various reasons why someone might choose to insult another person (although there’s no justifiable reason doing so). Maybe the “other person” is overweight, or old … maybe they’re a member of a minority group … maybe they’re poor, or uneducated … maybe they’re shy, or awkward … maybe they belong to the “other” political party … maybe there’s just something about them that’s “different”. Regardless of the reason, they are seen as a target for rude remarks, offensive words, and sometimes even violent behavior.

(3) Whenever Scripture addresses the problem of Christians being insulted it often addresses two points.

(a) First, we should be innocent of the accusations people hurled at us. For example, Jesus told His disciples: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you” (c.f. Matthew 5:11). This was Job’s position, when he rebuked his friends for suggesting the problems that had befallen him were because of unconfessed in his life, saying: “How long will you torment me and crush me with words? These ten times you have insulted me” (c.f. Job 19:2-3).

The Apostle Peter made a similar point in today’s Scripture lesson when he said: “what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God” (c.f. I Peter 2:20).

Of course Jesus is our supreme “example” in this regard, since today’s text says He was “reviled” (which is how the NASU translated the Greek word for “insulted”),¹ even though He had “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (c.f. I Peter 2:21-23).

The point is, we Christians are to live exemplary lives so that any insults directed at us will be baseless. Hence, later on in chapter four Peter says: “If you suffer, it should NOT be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (meaning, the “name” of Christ)” (c.f. I Peter 4:15-16, NIV).

Obviously this is another area where we desperately need Christ’s enabling grace to be successful (c.f. Hebrews 4:16) … coupled with His merciful cleansing and forgive-ness when we are not (c.f. I John 1:9).

(b) We’ve already alluded to the other point Scripture often stresses when addressing the problem of insults – namely, that the reason we are being insulted is because we are followers of Jesus Christ. A moment ago I quoted our Lord’s words to His disciples in Matthew 5:11 – however, I didn’t quote the whole verse. The whole verse says: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (c.f. Matthew 5:11). A parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke says: “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man” (c.f. Luke 6:22).

Paul made the same point in Second Corinthians chapter twelve, when he said: “I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, (and) with difficulties, for Christ’s sake” (c.f. II Corinthians 12:10).

The Apostle Peter emphasized this point later in chapter four, saying: “If you are reviled (i.e. “insulted”) for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (c.f. I Peter 4:14) … and, in another verse we read a few moments ago, he added: “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (i.e. the name of Christ)” (c.f. I Peter 4:16, NIV).

The point is, as Christians the only reason anyone should ever hurl an insult at us is because we’ve been faithful to Christ – because we’ve been trying to obey His commands – because we’ve been “follow(ing) in His steps”, as this morning’s text puts it (c.f. I Peter 2:21).

Here again, though, is another area of life that requires Christ’s enabling grace (c.f. Hebrews 4:16), seeing as how none of us are adequate for this in/of ourselves (c.f. II Corinthians 3:5-6).

(4) If we are being faithful to our Savior, and/or striving (by His grace) to live a Christ-like life, insults WILL come our way just as surely as they came His. Jesus told His disciples: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (c.f. John 15:20b) … while Paul warned Timothy that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (c.f. II Timothy 3:12). Insults for doing what’s right and/or for Christ’s sake are a form of persecution. The question is, how are we to respond? What help does our Savior give us for dealing with the insults that will ultimately come our way?

(a) In today’s text we have more than just teaching – we actually have our Savior’s own example. Hence, verse twenty-one says He has “(left) you an example for you to follow in His steps” (c.f. I Peter 2:21). Furthermore, that example comes from a specific moment in Jesus’ life.

Our Lord suffered many insults during the course of His life … at one point, members of His own family said, “He has lost His senses” (c.f. Mark 3:21) … others derided Him by accusing Him of being “a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (c.f. Matthew 11:19) … and still others said: “He has a demon and is insane” (c.f. John 10:20).

One of the most memorable insults I ever received was when a person in a former church accused me of thinking I was the fourth person of the trinity. But as painful as that accusation was at the time, it was nothing compared to the insults people hurled at Jesus during His years here on earth … in part, because I’m a sinful man who has been known to think more highly of myself than I ought to think (c.f. Romans 12:3) … but Jesus is the perfect Son of God, “who (never) committed (a single) sin, nor was any deceit (ever) found in His mouth” (c.f. I Peter 2:22).

(b) Our Lord suffered numerous insults during the course of His life on earth, but the specific moment Peter uses to exemplify how you and I should handle the insults that come our way, involves the hours Jesus spent on the cross prior to His death.

In case you’ve forgotten what happened, let me read Matthew’s account to you – and isn’t it appropriate that we’re reading this account on the same morning that we’re preparing to come to the Lord’s Table?! Here’s what Matthew wrote: “At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.”’ The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words” (c.f. Matthew 27:38-44).

What was Jesus response to all these insults? How did the One, who could have commanded “more than twelve legions of angels” (c.f. Matthew 26:53) to come to His rescue, and/or strike His insulters with disease or death, respond? Our text says: “and while being reviled (i.e. ‘insulted’), He did not revile (or, ‘insult’) in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (c.f. I Peter 2:23).

(c) When we have been insulted (regardless of the reason), the “example” our Savior left us “to follow” can be summarized in two sentences. First, He did not respond in kind, and neither should we. As the first part of verse twenty-three says: “while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats” (c.f. I Peter 2:23).

Let’s go ahead and get a dirty little secret out in the open, and admit that our own initial sinful tendency, when insulted, is to retaliate … as John Calvin said: “our minds immediately boil over with revengeful feelings”² … and often times those feelings are so strong only Christ can keep us from acting on them.

Furthermore, we should not assume Jesus somehow endured the insults hurled at Him, as He hung on the cross, without a struggle … for if its true (and Scripture says it is!) that He has been “tempted in all things as we are” (c.f. Hebrews 4:16), then as a Man He must have had to deal with feelings of wanting to take revenge on His enemies! If its true (and again, Scripture says it is!) that “He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered” (c.f. Hebrews 2:18), then He must have been tempted to respond in kind and/or hurl insults back at His tormentors.

Indeed, given the fact He was the sinless Son of God – given the intensity and utter injustice of the insults hurled at Him – and, given the fact He could have sent His hateful, malicious enemies into hell with one word from His mouth³ – (given these facts) our Lord’s temptation to retaliate was probably infinitely greater than anything an ordinary man or woman like ourselves are even capable of experiencing!

And yet, despite numerous intense provocations to retaliate,⁵ for our sake He did not “revile in return” (c.f. I Peter 2:23). Instead, in order to set an example for us to pattern our lives after,⁴ He took the insults hurled at Him without responding in kind … in order that we might have an example to follow, He accepted the suffering heaped upon Him without “uttering a single threat” … in fact, according to the Gospel of Luke, He did just the opposite in that He ask God the Father to forgive those who were insulting Him (c.f. Luke 23:34).³

This is far too much for us! We need more than example to follow – more than a pattern to trace⁴ – if we’re going to be able to resist the temptation to respond in kind when people insult us. We need our Savior’s enabling grace to do what we cannot do in our own strength – we need His power flowing through us, if we are going to even approximate what He did.

(d) The other sentence that summarizes the “example” our Savior gave us “to follow” when we’ve been insulted is this – He entrusted Himself to God the Father, and so should we. Hence, the last part of verse twenty-three says He “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges right-eously” (c.f. I Peter 2:23).

This sounds so simple – kind of like the little jingle from years past that says, “Let go and let God.” And yet, it’s not all that easy for finite creatures like ourselves, who are use to thinking we have control over our own lives. Indeed, it’s one of the hardest, scariest things we will ever do – nor is it something we can do in our own strength.

It’s kind of like dangling over Colorado’s Royal Gorge on a pitch black night, with nothing but the rope we’re hanging onto between us and certain death, and being told the only remedy for our predicament is to let go! Oh yeah – like I’m going to do that!

Letting go of that rope makes about as much sense to us as entrusting ourselves to God the Father when we’re being insulted. What good will that do? Will that stop people from insulting me? It certainly didn’t stop Jesus’ enemies from hurling their insults at Him, did it?! Nor do I recall anyone saying, “You know, I’m really impressed by how Jesus has been handling our insults. Maybe we were wrong about Him. Maybe we need to stop this crucifixion before its too late.” As near as I can tell, all entrusting Himself to God the Father got Jesus was more insults! So what’s the point? Why not get a few good insults of my own in?!

Obviously we need more time to fully develop this point – and our time this morning is gone. So let me try and summarize it like this – “entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (c.f. I Peter 2:23) was not a one-time act, or a sometime act, but a continuous way of life for our Savior. It was something He practiced every moment of every day, whether He was being insulted or not.³

Underneath our Lord’s quiet acceptance of the insults hurled at Him was an unshakable confidence in the righteous judgments of God the Father – a confidence that what was happening to Him was not an accident, but part of the Father’s purpose³ (in this case for saving sinners) – and that in due time, the One “who judges righteously” would not only vindicate Him, but reward Him for His obedience.⁶

These are attitudes and actions we need to ask Christ to enable us display in our own lives whether we’re being insulted or not. We also need to take encouragement from the inspired words from the Apostle Paul who reminds us that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (c.f. II Corinthians 4:17, NIV).