The story is told of a young woman standing in court, charged with speeding well above the limit. The law required a sentence of either three days in jail or a $500 fine. The judge, being just and fair, imposed precisely such a sentence upon the teary-eyed woman. Then he did something quite remarkable.
Rising from behind the bench, he removed his judicial robe and stepped down to the clerk’s desk. He reached into his pocket for his billfold, and paid the fine for the girl! Why did he do such a thing? Well, he was her father. You see, he had no choice in imposing the sentence demanded by justice. He did, however, have the freedom to satisfy the sentence himself.
So it is with our loving Father. His justice demands that sin be punished with death. So, like the judge, God the Son rose from his place of honor, clothed Himself in humanity, and came to a manger in Bethlehem – born to die. That was His whole purpose (John 18:37). He came to satisfy the righteous demands of His own justice, so that we would escape wrath. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly ... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6, 8, NIV).
May we never forget that the Almighty God is the Judge of all the world. May we also never foget, however, that He is also a Father Who loves His children - so much so that He would pay the highest price that they might enjoy Him forever. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)
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