Peter reminds us in this passage of the fact that Christ is the One who has suffered for our sins and evil doings.  In other passages we see that Christ died for the unjust, the criminal, the murderer, etc.  All the while, Christ was and is perfect and without any sin.  He was the Just and yet gave Himself for all of mankind.  He did this as an example.  So, the question that Peter answers is, “How did Christ Suffer?”

First, Christ lived in purity and holiness, 22.  This is where it starts.  If you and I are going to suffer like Christ, we have to be living in purity and holiness.  Again, if we are being punished for wrong doing there is no honor in that.  May we live wholly for the Lord in honesty, purity, and holiness.

Secondly, Christ trusted the Father, 23.  When you and I are faced with conflicts on this earth that are out of our control, we get angry at God and blame the Father.  We question God’s love for us and get in all kinds of bad places.  Christ, understood the ill of the Father and trusted Him with all His being.  May you and I trust the Father this way and learn to glorify the Lord no matter what.

Thirdly, Christ lived unto righteousness, 24.  You and I tend to live for ourselves and the moment.  Christ understood that it was all about the Father’s plan.  He humbled Himself, was born in a stable, lived with no pomp and circumstance, and died for sinners.  Again, we can learn to be eternally instead of internally focused.

The way Christ choose to live gave Him the power to suffer for the Father in Truth and give us an example to follow.  This is why Christ is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.  He is and always will be God the Son!  As the shepherd, He is the presiding officer, manager, he to whom others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow.  We can trust and follow Him, Lam. 3:22-25; Ps. 119:89-91; II Tim. 2:11-13.  As the Bishop Christ is the overseer, one who is in charge with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent, II Pet. 3:8-10; Ps. 138:7; Col. 1:15-18.  May we trust the leadership and care of our Lord.