scandalous grace
read>Mark 14:53-65, 15:1-20 |
more>Read today’s passages again and imagine yourself as one of those who condemned or mocked Jesus. Now imagine Jesus saying, “Father, forgive them,” meaning you. |
next>How would you feel being in the mobster’s place and hearing words of forgiveness? How have you said “Thank you” to Jesus for forgiving you? |
Imagine you’re a member of an organized crime ring with connections to corrupt city authorities. You discover someone who knows your gang’s every deed. One night you decide to round him up. He has to be silenced. Your thugs bring him to you and you hatch a devious plot.
A news conference is held the next morning. The mayor steps to the podium and says, “We have intercepted a terrorist plot to blow up the town hall.” Your victim’s face is then shown on the television screen.
The innocent man is held in custody where bored cops berate him. They kick him, spit on him, put lipstick on his face and pour beer over his head. Some of your cronies enter his cell. They bind him with duct tape on his wrists and feet, and then use it to cover his nose and lips. His body is found by a guard that afternoon.
Now imagine you’re in your home a few days later when there’s a knock at the door. You fling the door open to see . . . him. Tape marks on his feet and wrists, but standing before you whole. He looks at you and says: “I forgive you.”
How do you feel?
This first day of Lent, let’s look to the Easter story. Jesus was hunted and mocked by a corrupt Jewish mob (Mark 14:53-59) and falsely accused of a terrorist-style plot (Mark 14:58). He was condemned to death by a corrupt Gentile ruler (Mark 15:15), abused by soldiers (Mark 15:16-20), shamefully killed (Mark 15:22-24), but raised to life (Mark 16:6).
Both Jews and Gentiles condemned Jesus—all of humanity was complicit. The Creator came to earth, and we killed Him. We were the guilty ones, He the innocent. Yet He offers us forgiveness (Luke 23:34).
That’s the scandalous grace of God.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Numbers 22:5-38
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Grace drowns every believer, if I am to compare it to the waters that clothe the oceans. It is far beyond our measure.
THANK YOU LORD for that certainty that no matter how I feel or what I did, Your grace is there to make me new, I just have to trust and have faith in You.
nivla, I’m with you—God’s grace is truly amazing. These words from Paul say it all, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
A deluge of grace is what He gives. Thanks Nivla.
Grace = unmerited favour. Favour we do not deserve, yet it’s something He gave. Unfortunately, many of us do not receive it with an open heart, or don’t even know the real meaning of grace.
True, genegoh89. I’m so glad we take communion at my local church each Sunday. It’s always a poignant and powerful time to worship Jesus—remembering His sacrifice on the cross—and reflect on God’s grace.
I think you’re right, genegoh89. Grace needs to be received, and then given to others. I think most of us struggle with God’s unconditional favor to us through Jesus. We keep slipping into a mindset of trying to earn his love (felt especially when we’ve let him down and think quickly about doing something ‘good’ to ‘make up’). In Jesus we’re fully forgiven and accepted. When we fully grasp that it revolutionizes our relationship with God and others.
Thank u Lord 4 your word it helps me with life’s challenges that I face…..right now I’ve been the very best friend 2 some people opened my home checkbook heart given everything that I had yet somehow things went wrong and the people who I helped r now calling me everything but a child of God and with tears in my eyes and a ache in my heart I know u gave me this word 2 day 2 let me know that its ok u got me and 2 4give them and let it go…..thank u 4 your Grace Lord
‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18). I pray you’ll be able to reconcile with your friends, candyk. Do as much as you can – forgive, ask forgiveness where necessary, be graceful towards them – and commit the rest into the hands of God.
I had a hard time getting past “imagine your part of an organized crime ring” – my mind made up all kinds of stories.
But I’m thankful for yours.
Great post, Sheridan Voysey! What is so scandalous is this: even when you- the mobster, never felt the need for forgiveness or asked to be forgiven, He graciously offers His forgiveness to you anyway. The suffering heaped on Him is the hatred and anger sinful humanity harbors towards a Holy God.
And as if killing the Creator was not enough, cruel creatures continue to cash in on movies that visually, violently, and graphically capture the gory details of this gruesome act. No one in all creation could look upon the terrible effects of the depravity of sin on our Savior. God Himself enshrouded the suffering and death of His Son in utter darkness. Scripture also describes His torture in a dignified way and does not use gross language. Wonder what entertainment people derive in watching the passion of the Christ.
There is absolutely no justice in the innocent getting killed by the guilty. Yet He still says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. You know why Jesus prayed for our forgiveness instead of asking for God to serve justice against His killers? Justice demands the sinner’s death. Death i.e. to be permanently separated from God is the ultimate penalty for sin.
Jesus experienced first hand on the cross, what it is like when sin separates a person from God. Hence, He absorbed the pain and evil of our sins into himself so that we might be made right with God. Grace cost Jesus everything. In response yes, we do say “Thank you” but don’t simply leave it at that to keep feeding on God’s grace like a leech that sucks its host’s blood till it is gorged— and then drops off.
As His followers when we likewise forgive those who hurt, persecute, molest, rape or kill us— others with a highly developed sense of justice will see it as a scandal. To show grace is easier said than done. It requires we absorb the pain, hurt, and evil done to us so the offender may walk away scot-free. Simply put, it requires the cost of drinking from the bitter cup of suffering to show scandalous grace to others.