God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

— 1 Peter 2:21-25

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

There is no greater expression of God’s justice and His mercy than the cross of Christ. Only the supreme sacrifice of God’s perfect Son could satisfy the absolute justice of God and meet His demands of holiness. Because Jesus came man, He could die in our place. Because Jesus is infinite God, He could bear an infinite number of sins. Because He is the sinless Savior—the very Son of God—He alone is worthy to fulfill both God’s justice and mercy. A lifetime of pondering the wonder of the cross cannot fully reveal the depth of Christ’s sacrifice.

God can be merciful to sinners only because Jesus paid the penalty for sin that God’s justice required. God cannot overlook sin just because He is merciful. God’s mercy alone could not solve humanity’s crisis without Christ’s sacrifice, which uncompromisingly satisfied His justice. God’s mercy is tethered to the shed blood of Christ. Those who forsake God’s mercy are left with only His justice. Jesus died in our place, satisfying God’s just wrath and extending unending mercy to all who seek His salvation.