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1 Peter 4:14
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
The Apostle Peter wrote his first canonical epistle to equip believers to respond properly to the suffering we will endure for following Christ. As is true in other areas of life, giving the right response to suffering requires that we have the proper frame of mind. Thinking correctly about our circumstances allows us to approach them rationally and not to be swayed by our emotions into improper or sinful responses. Thus, in 1 Peter 4:12–13, the Apostle helps us get ready for suffering by reminding us that it is sure to come, so we should not be surprised, and that rejoicing in suffering for the sake of Jesus will enable us to persevere in faith unto eternal glory.
Continuing his guidance for developing the proper frame of mind about suffering, Peter tells us in today’s verse that “if [we] are insulted for the name of Christ, [we] are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon [us]” (v. 14). Peter’s statement reminds us that suffering does not always take physical form; sometimes it consists simply in verbal reproaches for following Jesus. More importantly, he indicates that there is blessing in suffering because it means that the Holy Spirit is resting on us.
The Apostle’s language alludes to texts such as Isaiah 11:1–2 and 61:1–2 as well as the account of Jesus’ baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove and the Father pronounced that He was pleased with His Son (Matt. 3:13–17). The Spirit’s presence indicated that Jesus was the object of God’s special favor and blessing. Jesus likewise suffered for the sake of the kingdom. Putting all this together, our suffering persecution for Jesus confirms that God’s favor rests on us. Like Jesus, we have the Spirit as proof of this favor, and we are blessed by the Lord even if we must suffer in the short term. These sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us (Rom. 8:19).
Matthew Henry comments: “The best men and the best things usually meet with reproaches in the world. Jesus Christ and his followers, the Spirit of God and the gospel, are all evil-spoken of.” If the world persecuted Jesus, who was anointed by the Holy Spirit, we should not be surprised that it persecutes His disciples, who also have the Spirit. We should in fact rejoice, not in the pain itself, but because we are the objects of God’s gracious favor and will live with Him forever.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
True persecution of Christians falls only on those who actually have the Holy Spirit, so our suffering for the sake of Jesus contributes to our assurance of salvation. We have to be careful here—suffering because we are personally annoying is not the result of true persecution. But when we do what Jesus says and suffer for it, we have confirmation that we have the Holy Spirit and therefore possess saving faith in Christ.
For further study
- Isaiah 42:1
- Ezekiel 39:25–29
- Luke 3:21–22
- Romans 5:1–5
The bible in a year
- Ezra 1–2
- John 20