“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:19-22)
Glory is found in the witness of Christ, who died the just for the unjust to bring us to God; who knew no sin but was made sin for us; who was cut off not for His sins, but for ours. It is found in the image of a sinless, spotless, innocent Lamb who would not open His mouth as He was brought to the slaughter, bearing our sins in His own body. It is found in the one who was completely just in all He did being reckoned a transgressor and blasphemer of His God, while making intercession for the true transgressors.
We share Christ’s glory and follow in His steps when we have done no wrong, committed no sin against God or man, yet endure misguided “buffetings,” unjust accusations, and unwarranted reproaches with patience and without retaliation.
There is no glory however in bearing patiently the “stripes” of men that are due us for our faults. There is no likeness to the glory of Christ when we “play the martyr” while having more in common with the thieves on either side of Christ.
Honor does not always come by way of glory. It often comes by way of humility. “… Before honour is humility.” (Prov, 15:33) There are times when instead of trying to be like Jesus, it would be more becoming for us to be like the thief on the cross, who humbly acknowledged his fault and confessed his sins; who had the honesty to see the difference between his suffering and that of Christ. ” … We receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” (Luke 23:41)
The glory of Christ was manifested as He endured grief, suffering wrongfully. No, the thief on the cross could not share this glory; it could not be said of him that he “did no sin,” but it can be said that there was no “guile found in his mouth.”
Beautiful honesty! Honor restored.