Justice and Mercy

 

The apostle John ran to Peter and said, "I have good news and bad news!"

Peter asked, "What's the good news?"

John said, "He is risen. Jesus is alive again!"

Peter asked again, "What's the bad news?"

John replied, "He's really steamed up about what's happened last Friday."

Let's think about this for a moment.

After the Resurrection, the disciples and others were hiding in a house with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. (John 20:19 0nwards)

Jesus appeared and stood amongst them. He had every right to be angry that they ran away. That would have been justice.

Instead, He said, "Peace be with you," indicating that all is forgiven. That is mercy.

There's a great difference between justice and mercy. Justice is what we deserve for our sins. Mercy is what God offers.

Days later Jesus appears again. This time Thomas is there and Jesus shows him His wounds in His side, hands and feet. Thomas believes and Jesus shows him mercy too.

Unwittingly, Thomas did Christianity and the Church a great favour by not believing in the Resurrection when Jesus appeared the first time. I believe that it was all Divinely planned.

Had He not doubted, had he been there the first time Jesus appeared, Jesus would not have appeared again, and this whole episode would not have happened, and it would not have been recorded. 

Because it happened, the episode was witnessed by the other disciples, and written about for us to read and believe.

As Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."