Unique Justice

May 17, 2022 Jim Musser

The cry for justice is being heard once again after the mass shooting in Buffalo over the weekend. Justice for the victims; justice for the shooter. Typically, justice is framed in terms of remedy for the victims through punishment of the perpetrator, as well as changes in laws that allow such injustice. When a perpetrator is sentenced for his crime, prosecutors and victims will often say justice has been served.

Of course, justice is a biblical concept. In the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, a whole system of justice was set up for the Israelites. People were to act appropriately according to God’s law or face justice. Examples include: Proper treatment of foreigners (Leviticus 19:33-34); holding to honest business practices (Leviticus 19:35-36), being fair to the poor in your employ (Deuteronomy 24:14-15) and the familiar one, life for life, an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth (Deuteronomy 19:21).

The justice of the Old Testament is what we are familiar with. It is the justice of accountability. If you are unjust toward someone else, you are to be held accountable. This is the reason we have laws against murder, theft, and abuse of others. And when people violate these laws, they are expected to be held accountable. What is not expected of the victim is forgiveness of the perpetrator.

You may recall the church shooting in Charleston, SC back in 2015. Most of the survivors and their relatives soon after in court expressed their forgiveness of Dylan Roof, the shooter. Many were critical of their response, including a few relatives of the victims. The same occurred in 2006 when a shooter shot 10 children (killing five) in an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster, PA. The same day, Amish leaders were at the home of the shooter’s family to comfort them and to express their forgiveness.

Both situations involved people who loved God and knew of their own forgiveness by him. Because of the Lord’s forgiveness of their sins, they were willing to forgive these men who took the lives of people precious to them.

Perhaps without even knowing it, these victims were emulating the unique justice found in the life of Jesus and throughout the New Testament. Jesus died to fulfill God’s justice. We sinned against him, and we deserved to die. As Isaiah says,

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Through Jesus, justice was served. He got what we deserved. But in the midst of that justice is forgiveness. Through Jesus, God has forgiven us despite our rebellion against him. For all human history, this is unique justice—the victim receives the justice earned by the perpetrator and then forgives them. The only condition is that the offender must accept the forgiveness. (John 1:11-13)

The question we must ask ourselves in times of being a victim of a crime or deep hurt is: Are we willing to follow the example of our Lord and forgive those who hurt us? If we’re not willing, will we commit to ask the Lord for the strength and will to do so?

Many people like to think that following Jesus is relatively easy. In times when tragedy and hurt invade our lives, is when we realize how difficult it truly is. The way of Jesus is forgiveness regardless of what a person has done to us (Luke 23:34). This is his unique approach to justice.

While he promises ultimate accountability at the end of time, our desire for justice must be tempered with forgiveness. This is the way of Jesus. It is to be our way as well.