1 Peter 2:22,23 - He did not retaliate

2:22

Peter now starts quoting from Isaiah 53, this is the chapter in the Old Testament that most clearly prophesies the cross and the resurrection, and was given some seven hundred years before it all happened. The first feature of Christ is that He committed no sin. This is demonstrated most clearly by there being no deceit in His mouth. Our words often “give us away”, not so with Jesus. Every word was true and completely reliable. As well as the obvious implication that we should do the same, ie our words should be trustworthy, there is also the implication that we can rely on His words entirely. We know that what God says is true, He does not  and cannot lie.

2:23

Now while Jesus acted perfectly this does not mean everyone liked Him and treated Him well, quite the opposite occurred. They hurled insults at Him. This happened at the cross, it was also His experience throughout His ministry. Moreover, He suffered horrendously. Before the cross itself He was beaten and mocked. Then the cross itself is an excruciating way to die (indeed, the word excruciating is derived from crucifixion). In the midst of all this Jesus did not retaliate and He issued no threats. How different from what our natural reaction would be. But that was not all. Instead of issuing threats He committed Himself to His Father, He entrusted Himself to God, the God who judges justly. So there is a crucial (another word derived from cross) point here. Not retaliating is not just a passive action, it is not giving in. Rather it is choosing to trust in God, to rely on Him for justice. We are not to take the law into our own hands. And God will judge justly. Sometimes this will happen in our lifetime, at others it will happen when Christ returns. Either way, God will judge.