Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

 In so doing he left us an example that we should follow in his steps ( 1 Peter 2:21). The word Peter uses for example is very vivid. It is hupogrammos ( G5261) , a word which comes from the way in which children were taught to write in the ancient world. Hupogrammos ( G5261) can mean two things--an outline sketch which the learner had to fill in or the copyhead of copperplate handwriting in a writing exercise book which the child had to copy out on the lines below. Jesus gave us the pattern which we have to follow. If we have to suffer insult and injustice and injury, we have only to go through what he has already gone through. It may be that at the back of Peter's mind there was a glimpse of a tremendous truth. That suffering of Jesus was for the sake of man's sin; he suffered in order to bring men back to God. And it may be that, when the Christian suffers insult and injury with uncomplaining steadfastness and unfailing love, he shows such a life to others as will lead them to God. 