The most wretched things had happened to her. At only four months old, her little body had gone through more abuse and trauma than anybody should ever have to endure in a lifetime. She was at the hospital, fighting to recover. If she were to make it, the sequels of her ordeal would follow her for the rest of her life. Nothing about her situation was fair. Her case is one I’ll never forget.
I have a tough time dealing with injustices and sometimes even with forgiveness. Just thinking about the perpetrator of this baby’s suffering makes my blood boil with anger. Human justice was doing its thing, but would that be enough?
I sometimes wonder why God doesn’t eradicate evil and start over again. But then I look at the cross, and remember that Jesus died for all wretched humanity, including me.
Around this time every year, Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. We sing about the empty tomb, post about hope, and remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. But we often forget that “the world” includes the people we would never choose to save.
Jesus died for the victims—and for the perpetrators. For the repentant and the reckless. For those barely holding on, and those who’ve caused unimaginable pain. This is a hard pill to swallow for me, to be completely honest. Why would He? They don’t deserve it!
But then again, do I deserve it?
It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t feel fair. But grace never is.
God is still working in my heart in this regard.
So, we hold space for both grief and the concept of grace. We ache with the broken. We cry out for justice. And still, we marvel at the scandal of the cross. Because the truth is that Jesus dying on the cross for wretched, sinful, evil, and disgusting human beings (of which I myself am one) is the most scandalous thing I’ve ever heard of.
Now, every time I find myself like the prodigal son’s brother struggling to understand God’s willingness to forgive a human being who doesn’t deserve it, I remember that for these wretched ones, Jesus died, including me.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8
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