PRÉCIS ON THE GOLD STANDARD: JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SUPREME EXAMPLE OF HONOR IN THE CRUCIBLE

SCRIPTURE. “‘For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps. He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips.” – 1 PETER 221-22, AMPC

KEY TERM: “FOLLOW.” ‘Epakoloutheó’ [ἐπακολουθέω]: “To accompany;  

follow close after, imitate, pursue, remain studious of; properly, follow along as ‘fitting,’ i.e. as it morally corresponds to what leads; hence, to follow in close correspondence (connection); To go after or behind; to walk, ride or move behind, but in the same direction; ‘to obey; to observe; to practice; to act in conformity to; it is our duty to follow the Commands of Christ;’ good soldiers follow the orders of their general; good servants follow the directions of their master.”

QUOTATION. “‘Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship.’ The disciple is not above his master. Following Christ means ‘passio passiva’ [passive passion], suffering because we have to suffer.” ― DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, The Cost of Discipleship, 1937; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Who did no sin’ – Who was in all respects perfectly holy. There is an allusion here to Isaiah 53:9; and the sense is, that He was entirely innocent, and that He suffered without having committed any crime. In this connection the meaning is, that we are to be careful that, if we suffer, it should be without committing any crime. We should so live as the Saviour did, as not to deserve to be punished, and thus only shall we entirely follow His Example. It is as much our duty to live so as not to deserve the reproaches of others, as it is to bear them with patience when we are called to suffer them [for the cause of righteousness] …

‘Neither was guile found in his mouth’ – There was no deceit, hypocrisy, or insincerity. He was in all respects what He professed to be, and He imposed on no one by any false and unfounded claim. All this has reference to the time when the Saviour was put to death; and the sense is, that though He was condemned as an impostor, yet that the charge was wholly unfounded. As in His whole life before He was perfectly sincere, so He was eminently on that solemn occasion.” – ALBERT BARNES, Notes on the Old and New Testament, 1834, 1884; edited

CODA. I believe strongly that I was led to this teaching in order to most sternly counter the popular (and overwhelmingly mythological) teaching of today’s American Church that Jesus is the nicest Person who ever lived. That He primarily exists to bless us and make sure you we happy and healthy. And that He would never ever become angry with us, or frankly anyone for any reason, ever!

Jesus is first and foremost, all about Love, and nothing else!

‘But there is also Truth! Along with suffering and pain and sacrifice and loss and loneliness!’ Just ask Dr. Bonhoeffer about that by studying his life and times (but do not ask Mr. Metaxas; he hasn’t a clue). Beloved, our God has otherwise said it so very plain and in so many ways, both directly and through His Apostle: 

“‘And this, so that I may know Him’ [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], ‘and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings,’ by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.” – PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11, AMP

CODICIL. Therefore, beloved, it is not only through ‘Exhilaration’that we come to Intimacy with the Master, but also through our own ‘Passion of the Cross,’ that unique human drama wherein we experience our own agonies – for Him! Always and only for Him, and not for bringing shame to His sacred Name.

Those who agree to this ‘Covenant of Sacrifice’ constitute what I love to call: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE WILLING. It is a very Unique Community of servants and soldiers and penitents, and it is only got by dying for Him daily.

And perhaps, even literally, should He ever require it. Selah.