Perfect and merciful justice - Ruminating in the Word of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:18-23,

"With one voice they cried out, 'Away with this man! Release Barabbas
to us!' (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in
the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed
to them again. But they kept shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' For
the third time he spoke to them: 'Why? What crime has this man
committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty.
Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.' But with
loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their
shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released
the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder,
the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will."

Pilate wanted to release Jesus after the leaders of the Jews brought
him to them. Pilate found no cause for the death penalty. Together
with the people, the chief priests and the rulers insisted Jesus be
crucified. They said, "Away with this man!", "Crucify him! Crucify
him!", and "insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their
shouts prevailed."

Anything but justice took place that day as the mob demanded the Son
of God be put to death. Falsely arrested and accused, Jesus was put to
death for no crime he had committed. And, yet, the greatest act of
justice was accomplished on that day, justice this crowd knew nothing
of.

The Son of God came to planet Earth for this very act: to die on
behalf of all mankind. Taking the punishment of all, he took our place
and suffered in our stead. Justice was accomplished in the court of
God, justice satisfied by the payment Jesus Christ made. Mankind now
has a way into God's family. All this by predetermined design and
artful manipulation as Jesus carried out his earthly ministry.

Jesus said, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Luke 19:10. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "He [Jesus Christ]
sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself."
Hebrews 7:27. As such, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com