God is both just and merciful

By Dean Collins

Children and even teenagers enjoy a silly antic that ends with someone laughing and saying, “made you look.” I am sure a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew has tricked you into “looking” at some time or other. Teasing games have endured through the centuries.

 But there are some things that are hard to watch or look at. No one enjoys looking at someone suffering. We find it especially hard to watch someone we know and love suffer pain whatever its source. In recent years as technology has advanced, there are millions of video clips of things that are hard to watch and probably don’t need to be watched. But everyday, someone posts a clip of some tragic situation of a shooter, a fight, or of some abused person. National media sources will give us the courtesy of a warning that a video contains difficult or hard content to watch so that one can make a choice as to whether they could or should watch the content.

 We don’t have video of the events of the suffering and cruel death of our savior Jesus. It would be extremely difficult to watch. Even the gospel writer’s descriptions are hard to read and dwell upon. But before we rush past Good Friday and experience the glorious event of the resurrection, let us remember the reason for the agony of Jesus’ death. We can choose to look back, to reflect, and to be reminded of both the gift Jesus has given us and how we can move forward to a new and abundant life because of the events of this day.

 One of the passages of scripture I memorized earlier this year is Philippians 2:12-14. The passage opens with these words, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish…” Doing all things without grumbling or disputing requires divine help. Life is filled with difficulties and difficult people which tend to create an environment where grumbling is an easy default. 

 You probably remember the incident in the wilderness where the Israelites had a habit of grumbling and complaining even as God was providing food, water, health, and safe passage for them to the promised land. The Israelites were warned about their grumbling and complaining and fighting against Moses, but they continued to do so. The result was that God sent fiery serpents that began to bite them. The one antidote for the snakebites and resulting death was that Moses was told by God to make a bronze snake and hold it up on a pole.  If the Israelites were bitten, they could look up at the bronze snake; and they would be healed and saved from death.

 It may sound harsh, but remember that God is both just and merciful. There is a penalty for sin that must be paid. When talking with Nicodemus, Jesus referred to this story from Exodus that Nicodemus would have been familiar with. Right before the best known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, Jesus said this to Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

 Just as the Israelites were told to look to the bronze serpent to be saved, we are called to look to Jesus, the Son of Man, to be lifted up that we might receive our salvation. When we look to the cross, we remember that Jesus endured his death to pay the penalty for our sins. 

 The psalmist called the people of God to lift up their eyes to the one enthroned in the heavens and to pray that God would have mercy on them. When we look to the cross, we discover that God did indeed show us his mercy and his wonderful love.

 Before we look to the empty tomb and our victory over death, may we look to the cross and, with humility, thank God for paying the price for our sins.

 Father, it is hard to stare at the harsh reality of your son’s death caused by our sin. Thank you for forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life that comes through the sacrifice of Jesus. We stand amazed in your presence as we consider this costly gift.  In Jesus name, Amen

 Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 123:1-4; Colossians 3:1-4; Ephesians 1:20-23;John 3:14-17; Philippians 2:14-16 ESV

Photo by Miriam G on Unsplash
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