The Meaning of the Cross, part 4

Welcome to our fourth day of our “40 Days of the Cross” series. Each day we are taking just a few minutes to look at a word which will help us better understand the meaning of the cross. Today’s word is justice. Perhaps this seems like an odd word to associate with the cross. After all, the trial and execution of Jesus was a travesty of justice. Jesus had committed no crime against the state. One of His fellow prisoners realized this. Even His judge, Pilate, realized Jesus was innocent. But because of the politics of the situation, Pilate allowed the religious leaders to carry out their plan to have Jesus nailed to the cross. Certainly, that was not justice.
 

No, the justice of the cross is not found in the actions of men. The justice of the cross is found in the action of God. A verse we read yesterday, 1 John 1:9, says that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Our forgiveness is just. On the scales of justice, the death of Jesus on the cross was a suitable payment for the sins of humankind. Justice was satisfied by Jesus giving Himself on the cross.
 

Now that doesn’t seem fair. Jesus was a man without sin. He was the eternal Son of the Father. Even as He took human form and was tempted like the rest of us, Jesus knew no sin. And yet our sins were place upon Him on the cross so that through His death, the punishment would be given, the price would be paid, and justice would be satisfied. It doesn’t seem fair because it’s not.
 

But Jesus wasn’t concerned about fairness; He was concerned about us. We had no way to balance the scales of justice, no instrument to offer the payment for our sins. Knowing that we were damned without divine intervention, God intervened in the affairs of men, offering Himself as payment for our sin. Justice was satisfied because of His love for us, because Jesus became the sacrifice. (We’ll talk more about sacrifice tomorrow.)
 

Let’s close our time in prayer. After we pray, I encourage you to spend a little time in meditation and prayer thinking about the justice of the cross.
 

Heavenly Father, thank You for paying the price for our sins. You are holy and just, so is your forgiveness, so is the cross. Keep me near your cross so I may learn more of your justice. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
 

Continued tomorrow