The commentary of this verse is a profound lesson for all who come to Jesus Christ: and His disciples followed Him. For the first disciples of Jesus Christ, this was a physical following of Jesus Christ wherever He went. But for us who do not have a physical Jesus to follow as the first disciples did, we will have to understand what it means to follow Jesus today.
Interestingly, the apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 2:21, made known what it means to follow Jesus in every age. "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us. Leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." So, what example did He leave for us to follow? The next two verses make this known.
"Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." 1 Peter 2:22-23
WHO COMMITTED NO SIN
According to the apostle Peter, this is the first example that Jesus left for to follow. He committed no sin. To be sure, this is not suggesting that we are required, like Jesus, to be sinless; if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, and if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His truth is not in us (1 John 1:8, 10). Since we have noted that this is not a call to sinless perfection, what, then, does it mean for us that Jesus committed no sin?
In Hebrews 1:8, the apostle showed us the practical application of this truth when he wrote that Jesus hated sin and loves righteousness. To follow the example that Jesus left for us to follow will require that we, like Him, should hate sin and love righteousness. The question, will Jesus do this? will be a guide to following the example that He left for us to walk in.
This, and many other examples in the way that Jesus conducted His life as a man, are what it means for His disciples to follow Him. It is inconceivable to claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and you love the things that He hates, and hate the things that He loves. He hates sin, therefore, His disciples must also hate sin; He loves righteousness, therefore, His disciples should also love righteousness. This is how the disciples of Jesus Christ follow Him.
Toni
