God’s justice of grace

Pastor James Avery

Most of us believe we have a highly developed sense of justice. When someone does something that is contrary to what we think is acceptable, we can aptly come up with suitable consequences for that person. As an example, consider this story: One day, a farmer noticed an entire carload of people had stopped their vehicle on the road. They climbed through his fence and were not only eating his produce from his garden without seeking his permission, but also putting his vegetables in a shopping bag to take with them. Annoyed, the farmer quietly walked up behind them and confronted them. Surprised, one of them smiled sheepishly (thinking that a little flattery would win the farmer over), and said, “We hope you don’t mind but we have enjoyed eating some of your most excellent produce. You sure can’t get vegetables this fresh and tasty in the store.” “No, I don’t mind at all,” said the farmer, “but I hope you don’t mind that I just let the air out of your most excellent tires.” We can relate to the farmer. Like him, often we are tempted to take justice into our own hands. From a very early age we learn when someone does something to hurt us in any way, the right response is to quickly give back a suitable punishment for the hurt that we feel. In some cases, maybe we inflict a little more punishment, just to make sure the person is really sorry or to make sure they don’t hurt us again. However, God looks at justice another way. He demonstrates a different approach for us. Most of us know the story of the prophet Jonah. He was called by God to go to Nineveh, to preach repentance and God’s mercy. Instead, Jonah tried to run away from God’s call. Eventually, Jonah did go to Nineveh and proclaimed the message God had given him. Something miraculous happened: the people of Nineveh turned away from their vices, repented and turned to God. What great news! It was great news, but not for Jonah. Scripture tells us God saw the people of Nineveh had given up their wicked behaviour. So He changed His mind and did not punish them as He had said he would. Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry. “Lord, didn’t I say before I left home that this is just what you would do?” Jonah prayed. “That’s why I did my best to run away to Spain! I knew that you are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish. Now then, Lord, let me die. I am better off dead than alive.” (Jonah 3:10-4:3) The problem for Jonah was his sense of justice had taken precedence over God’s mercy. Jonah fell to the temptation we all face; he wanted to see justice carried out in human terms, he wanted to see the people of Nineveh suffer instead of receiving the gift of God’s grace. God is a perfect God, He demands perfect justice. God created us to be in perfect harmony with Him and with all of humanity. Sin is simply falling short of the mark that God has established for us; it is reflected in the brokenness of our human relationships, it is reflected in the vices we fall prey to, it is reflected in our lack of commitment to worshipping God as God. We have all sinned. We have all done things that make us guilty. It is for that very reason that Jesus Christ came to this world. When Jesus died, all of our guilt and shame was nailed to Calvary’s cross with Him. As He died, perfect justice was served. He paid the price so that He could take all of your guilt, all of your shame, and all of your hurt away from you. Jesus took justice into His own hands; the sharpness of your sin in the form of nails is what held Him on the cross. God’s justice has been served. There is no sin too big, or too dirty; there is no sin that Jesus has not paid the price for. God longs to have a relationship with you. He created you and He loves you.