Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2, KJV)
Good question, I think because the translation is a bit gray. "he that hath suffered" is a single word in the Greek:
pascho, meaning
to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful). I think this part of the verse would be more clear as:
"experiencing flesh, restrain sin"
...referring not to Jesus, but instructing the rest of us. How does he suggest we do that? Via his previous statement:
"arm (equip)
yourselves likewise with the same mind", that is, the mind of Christ. So equipped, we will then be able to experience flesh (this existence) while restraining sin as described in the verses that follow (what Lurker pointed out).
This "equipping" is the very purpose of Christ, meaning "anointed", that is, the anointing itself. "Anointing" is
chrisma in Greek, from
chrio (both meaning a smearing/rubbing with oil), akin to
chraomai, meaning
to furnish what is needed.
What is needed, and called for in this passage, is the mind of Christ; oneness with God; illumination/enlightenment - that's the "equipment" with which to "arm (equip) yourselves" so that while "experiencing flesh" we can "restrain sin".