The ultimate example of Christian submission: 1 Peter 2:21-25

When I was growing up Michael Jordan was larger than life. Not only was he dominant on the basketball court, but he was everywhere. He appeared in advertisements, he had just begun to break into the movie scene, and his poster was on the bedroom wall of just about every kid I knew. We copied his moves, we wore his branded shoes and clothes, we wanted to be ‘Like Mike.’

I don’t know if the temperature of the heights of the MJ era could be called idolatry, but it certainly got close. Nevertheless, it is not a bad thing to have heroes in our life that we look up to and try to emulate. Examples are helpful for showing us how to get what we think down to the way we live. And while it might seem like the cliché Sunday School answer to say that we, as Christians, should make Jesus our example, that does not make it any less true. Peter tells us as much in 1 Peter 2. He commends Jesus to us, not just for our salvation, but also as our example. Peter writes in verse 21, ‘you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.’

This commendation to the example of Jesus comes in the greater context of Peter’s command for Christians to submit to ‘every human institution.’ The way that we emulate Christ is to be seen, at least, in the way we submit ‘to every human institution,’ as we see in verse 13. Those institutions include ‘the emperor as supreme or …governors (13b-14a).’ In other words, we are called to submit to those authorities that are over us, even in the secular sphere of life. And our submission to them is to be modeled after Christ’s submission. But let’s not underthink that. Instead let’s consider just how tall an order that is by examining Christ’s submission as Peter lays it out in this passage in four ways.

Christ’s submission was unfair

Christ’s submission was no ordinary submission. His submission could not have been more upside-down from what he deserved. Colossians 1 tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God (15), by whom all things were created (16), who existed before all of creation (17a), and who continues to hold creation together (17b). The God who created and sustains the universe by his power has no business submitting and placing himself under his creation, yet that is exactly what He did.

What’s more, Jesus Christ, the perfect son of God, was not received well by his creation. He was reviled and accused by them. Imagine God in the flesh, perfect divinity housed in humanity being accused of sin by His own fallen creation. No other irony could match that. Peter tells us in verse 22, ‘He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.’ Though Jesus’ treatment was unfair, he did not cling to what he deserved, rather he continued to submit.

There is no greater injustice in the history of humanity than the accusations leveled against Christ and his subsequent punishment. Yet Jesus’ submission was thorough. He did not resist them though they treated him unfairly.

How much more ought we submit, even when it seems unfair? Peter commands us as such in verse 18, writing, ‘servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.’ This is what Christ did. How could we ever resist submission because we think we know better; dismiss the laws of our leaders as unreasonable, or refuse to comply because we would rather do something else when we have the example of Christ who submitted so willingly in the face of such unfairness? We are called to submit even when it is unfair as we see so vividly in the example of Christ.

Christ’s submission was unsatisfying

Not only did Christ submit in an unfair situation, while doing it, he did not seek to satisfy himself by letting off some steam or making little comments about how ridiculous his accusers were being, even though they were. We all know that feeling of being in an argument or dealing with a difficult person and trying to get the last word. We may not be able to win them over or get our way, but at least we can get the gratification of knowing we said our piece. Why do we do that? I think we like to have the last word because it is a little bit of satisfaction in a very unsatisfying situation. ‘There!’ we think, ‘that will get them.’

In the same way, it is easy to submit on the outside but to be frustrated inwardly and to seek that same kind of ‘steam letting.’ But this is not how Christ submitted. Verse 23 says, ‘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 was so thorough that he did not even try to satisfy himself by returning ‘fire for fire’ with his accusers. He submitted willingly, silently even.

How easy is it, when we are treated unfairly or when we are called to submit in a situation we deem unfair, to do it for eye-service. To comply outwardly but to grumble all the way. But such a submission is not true submission at the heart level and so it is not done to the glory of the Lord. Grumbling submission is for our glory and Christ proves that in his perfect submission that did not seek to satisfy his flesh, but to keep quiet all the way in his submission for the glory of God.

Christ’s submission was unselfish

Christ’s submission was not even for his own gain only, he submitted for the benefit of others. Verse 24 says, ‘He himself bore our sins …that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.’ His submission was not about him, but about our sins, that we might die to sin. Jesus’ submission was not about seeking to get anything immediate in return for himself. Rather, he submitted unselfishly.

And what’s more, it’s not as if he suffered for a people who adored him and who were desperate for rescue and pleading with him for it, knowing he was their only hope. Verse 25 tells us ‘…you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.’ It was not when his people desired his rescue that Jesus suffered and died for them. It was when they were straying; wandering far and wide from him like scattered sheep. In other words, not only did Jesus not submit for himself, but he submitted for us when were not interested in following him in the first place. We were a people who had utterly rejected him. We could not have been more disinterested in knowing and loving God, yet Christ still chose to suffer for us.

Again, we see true submission exemplified. Submission that is done for personal and immediate gain is not submission. That describes a give and take relationship; we give something up so that we get something in return. This does not describe what Christ did. Christ submitted irrespective of personal gain and glory. True submission is giving up something without expectation of return. It is unselfish.

Christ’s submission was ultimate

Finally, we know that Christ’s submission was ultimate. Verse 24 says, ‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.’ The tree, of course, refers to the cross where he gave his life. Christ submitted all the way to death, giving up his life in that submission. Christ was not willing to submit up to a point and then he was done. There was nothing off limits, he was willing to go as far as submission took him.

It is easy to deceive ourselves into thinking we have submitted when we comply up to a point. We fool ourselves into thinking that we have submitted so far, but this next line is just too much. But true submission is revealed when we are pressed to the line, not when we are in agreement. The truth is that our submission will not be easy and will ask us ultimate questions at times. For Christ, his submission asked the most ultimate question, ‘would he submit to death, even death on a cross?’

Fortunately for us, his people, Christ was willing to submit fully. His example of humility also happens to be the basis for our hope in the gospel. If Christ was not willing to submit, we would have no hope in Him for redemption from the guilt of our sin. Christ’s submission bought our salvation and is working out our sanctification, even in learning to submit as he did. His submission is now to be our example as well. We are called be like Christ, putting his poster on the walls of our heart, so to speak, that we might live like him, and even submit like him.

Questions for personal application and reflection

1.     Where have you succeeded in following Christ’s example of submission in the past week? Where have you failed?

2.     Think of an example from your life in which you were called to submit. Which of the four facets of Christ’s example of submission was most difficult for you?

3.     How can you remember and aspire to Christ’s example of submission this week?