Nobody wants to be mistreated or be subjected to suffering for doing what is right. But, the truth is, we are all going to be treated unfairly at one time or another. So, what would be our first response to this kind of situation? Peter in his epistles urges Christians not to retaliate when they are treated unjustly. Instead of returning evil for evil, Peter encourages the Christians to imitate the love of Christ, who was unfairly treated and murdered by evil people. He died for the sins of other people; He died for doing good for the unjust. But in the end, He triumphed through the resurrection.

Christ becomes the model for how the believers are to endure suffering for righteousness’ sake. We are not only to respond to trials the way Christ did but also to anticipate great spiritual victories. In this section, Peter prepares Christians to suffer for the sake of Christ so that they can enjoy the victories that Christ has won for them.

In this passage, we see at least 7 areas where Christ was triumphant:

Christ was triumphant over Sin and suffering (V18a)

  • His suffering and death were ultimate (he suffered and died ONCE). His death was a ‘Sin Offering’ that has a perpetual validity that does not require repetition. “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once and for all when he offered up himself.” (Heb. 7:27).
  • His sacrifice was comprehensive (Once for ALL). The sacrifice of Christ for sin was not limited to a certain person, a certain family, a certain nation, or a certain time like the Old Testament. His sacrifice was enough for all the elect at all times.
  • His suffering and death were purposeful (that he might bring us to God). He opened the way to God. He satisfied the wrath of God. Once enemies of God have become friends of God (Rom 5:10). He reconciled us to God. The veil in the temple was broken from top to bottom and now we have immediate access to the Holy of Holies.

Christ was triumphant over spiritual death (V18b)

  • Christ died in the flesh bearing the weight of sin and went to the tomb, but His spirit was alive and went somewhere. His spirit was neither dead nor separated from God. His spirit was not consigned to judgment for He was sinless. It was impossible for Jesus to die spiritually because, as very God, Jesus’ divine nature is immutable. Jesus can never cease to be God any more than the Father or the Spirit can cease to be God. God cannot divorce Himself from His divine nature or eternality. To do so would violate the divine union of the three persons. It is His physical death in obedience to the will of the Father that sanctifies us (Heb. 10:10).

Christ was triumphant over Satan and demons (v19a-20a)

  • Christ not only defeated the Sin of humans but also defeated the demons and Satan. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15). Christ went and proclaimed his victory to the captive spirits.
  • There is cosmic conflict in this universe between God and Satan. Satan did everything he possibly could to destroy the purpose of God in Christ. From the very beginning, Satan knew that his head would be bruised and that he would be ultimately defeated, so he fought against the purposes of God and Christ in every way possible. And now as Christ hangs on the cross and His life is crushed out of Him, it would seem that the demons have won. Probably they were celebrating in hell when Christ appeared heralding His victory!

Christ was triumphant over Salvation (v20b -21a)

  • During Noah’s time in the ark, eight people were saved through water. The story of Noah is an analogy to the triumphant salvation Christ has provided. God provided the Ark to save 8 believers from the wrath of God (flood water). In the same way, God provided Christ to save His elect (believers) from the wrath of God (damnation to Hell).
  • The Baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ that saves you (v21). Christ accomplished the salvation of sinners at the cross. ‘It is FINISHED‘ was His victory cry! (John 19:30). Jesus is the founder of our salvation perfect through suffering (Heb 2:10)

Christ was triumphant over physical death (v21b)

  • Jesus’ humanity, which knew no sin, tasted the horror of the sin of all humanity. Christ died in the flesh and was raised to life in a physical body. Christ conquered death because He was sinless. Christ’s death was a deliberate act of will (Christ yielded up his spirit -Matthew 27:50). The resurrection was not only the supreme validation of His deity; it also validated the Scriptures, which foretold His coming and resurrection.

Christ was triumphant in supremacy (v22a)

  • Christ is at the right hand of God. The right hand of God represents prominence, honor, majesty, authority, and power. Christ is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and He is above every title that can be given in this world and in the world to come. (Eph. 1:21).
  • Christ was invested with lordship over heaven and earth; every knee bows to Him. (Phil. 2:10-11). He is the supreme KING who judges the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1)

Christ was triumphant over angels and all powers and authorities (v22b)

  • Jesus rules over all invisible, spiritual forces in the heavenly realm, both good and evil. All the angels, principalities, and powers in the spirit world have been made subject to Him.

When man was created in the garden he was crowned not with suffering but with glory. But the man lost his crown when tempted by Satan and fell into sin, resulting in a world of suffering and death. God had a plan to bring us back to glory through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came and took back what was stolen. He reversed the curse, defeated Satan, sin, and death and restored the life and glory of His brothers.

The path to victory that Jesus walked was the path of suffering. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is now “crowned with glory and honor because he suffered” (Heb. 2:9). It was for Christ, and it will be for us. But why was this Jesus’ path? “For it was the fitting way for God to bring us to glory” (Heb. 2:9).