Opening Prayer
Lord, lead us into Your sufferings. Amen.
Text: First Peter 2:21–25
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth;” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Devotion
You who are converted to the Lord, are called to suffer. He left us the example of suffering, in which we should walk, and not elsewhere. It is hard for the flesh, but what is hard for the flesh is exactly what is good for the spirit. – Really there are two kinds of suffering. Jesus suffered patiently and quietly. Only in this way is His suffering holy. But if we are to be able to do it, above all we must know and believe the grace in Christ’s suffering. He suffered for our sins, not for His own, yet He murmured not. How much more should we, who have deserved suffering, endure it and be still! His example is striking, but that alone does not give us the strength. There is something else with His suffering which gives us strength to follow Him in it. “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” He took away our guilt since He suffered our punishment. Therefore our suffering, when we believe on Him, is not the suffering of punishment under the scourge of judgment, but the suffering of chastisement by the Father’s rod. Understand this: it is bitterness that especially tempts us to be impatient. Away with it! And instead let there be a spiritual sweetness in suffering. But He also took away the power of sin, He offered Himself with our sin on Himself, His pure fire of holy love which consumed Him burned up our sin so that in Christ you are dead to sin, and alive in righteousness. His wounds are your healing. Faith knows this mystery and possesses this grace.
Such Christians can demonstrate the power of Christ’s suffering. But most who call themselves Christians are such in name only and do not want to and cannot suffer as Christians. – It is you who shall suffer, you believers, who are converted to the Shepherd of your souls. You are called to suffer here. You shall suffer patiently and praise God and thereby show the genuineness of your Christianity!
Closing Prayer
God, grant us grace to suffer and give thanks for it. Amen.
Hymn
Upon the cross Thou off’rest Him,
Nails, spear, deep wounds bestowing;
Thou slaught’rest Him e’en as a lamb,
His soul and veins are flowing;
From veins it is the crimson flood
Of His most holy, precious blood,
From soul His mighty sighing,
O dearest Lamb, what shall I do
To show Thee my devotion true
For such great good supplying?
Of death I am no more afraid,
New life from Thee is flowing;
Thy cross affords me cooling shade
When day’s hot sun is glowing.
When by my grief I am oppressed,
On Thee my weary soul shall rest
And o’er grief’s ills so conquer.
And when beneath life’s stormy woe
My ship is driven to and fro,
So art Thou then my Anchor.
Gerhardt: A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth L 305:4.9 ELH 331:4, 9;
tune: An Wasserflüssen Babylon Stanza 4 tr. ©1995 Harry K. Bartels. Used by permission. Stanza 9 tr. composite The Lutheran Hymnal ©1941 CPH. Used by permission.