Christ's Example of Suffering for Good (1 Peter 3: 18-22)

CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING FOR GOOD (1 Peter 3: 18-22): 

After letting the believers to understand their calling to do good amid suffering for it, Peter writes to the believers about the perfect example who had done the same, that is Jesus Christ. Jesus had suffered without doing anything that could convict Him to be hung in the cross. But He accepted it by His great humbleness and patience. Jesus suffered once for the sins of all who were followers of the law, called to be righteous and for those who live differently in an unrighteous way.  Jesus had been ever righteous following the commandments of God, though He didn’t follow all the traditions especially those that were against people. Jesus suffered for everyone by the eternal purpose of God as a sacrifice so that there is reconciliation with God, bridging the gap due to the fall of man. Though He had been put to death in the cross, He arose alive as it was pre-told by the prophets. Because of His resurrection, Christ had become a great hope for all those who accept Him, believe Him, and commit their life unto him. Peter’s words about Christ went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison is interpreted in different senses because of the following verse and those can be invalidated as it doesn’t go in line with the author’s purpose and the whole purpose of Bible. But the best explanation could be, work of resurrected Christ in the hearts and minds of those who have their spirits captured by sin.

Peter then uses the analogy of Noah’s life who was a righteous man in the sight of God during his lifetime. God was very patient though men had become very violent and outrageous against God. The people of the period of Noah didn’t heed to His words and didn’t repent after looking at Noah’s act of building the ark. Because they didn’t trust God or obey God, they mocked Noah. God waited for people to repent till the ark is being prepared by Noah, but only Noah’s family believed in God and there were only eight human beings who were brought safely through water. Peter affirms the examples of suffering for doing good through the life of Jesus and Noah. Jesus who was crucified though He does Good was resurrected and Noah who was mocked and distrusted was safe with his family through the water.

Peter corresponds to the Baptism with Noah’s Ark and says that it saves the believers. It’s not that those who are baptized are saved. Like Noah’s Ark was explicit and visible, baptism is a visible act for being saved from the sins. The baptism of immersion is the explicit act of removal of dirt from the body which is the analogy for removal of dirt that is inner and deeper in the hearts and minds. The removal of inner sins, shame, and guilt could be possible only with a good conscience that is appealing to God by the Hope in Jesus Christ which is acquired by His resurrection. Jesus with His divine authority gone into heaven to be with God along with the heavenly authorities, angels, and powers which are all subjected to Him as He was from the beginning and everything was created by Him and created for Him.    

     

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.      For whom and why Christ suffered?

2.      How Christ suffered and what happened after that?

3.      Who are those to whom Jesus was said to be gone and proclaimed, whose spirits are in prison? 

4.      Whose day’s people formerly didn’t believe?

5.      What was told about God’s patience?

6.      How many persons were brought safely through water? Who are they?

7.      How Peter corresponds the Baptism to? Why Peter explains Baptism after saying about Noah?

8.      What do you mean by good conscience? How we can acquire it?

9.      What was the emplacement of Jesus?

10.  Do righteous need Jesus? Why?

11.  What could be learned from Jesus and Noah?