Justice was Denied

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

And like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So he opens not his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him.”

-          acts 8.32

 

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

Yet he opened not his mouth;

Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

And like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

So he opened not his mouth

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

And as for his generation, who considered

That he was cut off out of the land of the living,

Stricken for the transgression of my people?”

-          isaiah 53.7-8

I find it interesting that we demand justice.  We actively petition God with our works, insist that all must be given a chance at salvation because He loves, and assume our righteousness.  Is it so hard to comprehend the extreme cost of the grace that is being given to us?

God demands justice, as a perfect and fair God, He must.  The Christ was denied what was right, and instead took on our sins as His own in an act so scandalous it leaves the angels perplexed.  Jesus was denied the justice that He so rightly deserved – to be glorified and made one with God.  Instead, he was shamed, hated and condemned; separated from the Father.

And so I find it ironic that we desire justice so badly.  The only thing we’ve earned is condemnation!  Hell, eternal death and suffering could not begin to cover my multitude of sins; why would I ever want justice? 

We should be left begging for mercy and praising God’s glory rather than demanding justice from a perfect and righteous God.  Consider our Savior and the torment He endured for our transgressions; do you really want justice?