BBC
Radio Leicester Thought for the Day
©
John Denney 8 September 2004
A
few months ago, I was called for Jury Service.
Apart from an awful lot of sitting around doing nothing, I sat on one
jury to hear a case. The trial proceeded
along the lines that have evolved over 800 years of English history. The defence barrister sat near to the jury,
and took every opportunity to curry our favour by nods and winks and raised
eyebrows as events unfolded. The
witnesses were examined and cross-examined, and we were sent out to consider
whether the accused was guilty or innocent.
The jury was impressive. Everyone
had their say, whether they were a university lecturer, a builder’s labourer, a
schoolgirl, a taxi driver, a housewife or whatever occupation was followed by
the jury members. And we picked holes in
the evidence and dissected the prosecution and defence cases, and after four or
five hours, we came to our verdict. And
when we’d delivered it, the accused’s long history of previous offences was
read out, and it was clear that the accused would be spending a very long time
in prison. Justice had been done. And it was very satisfactory to play my tiny
part in the machinery of law.
Sometimes,
though, justice doesn’t seem to be done.
Terrorists who murder and maim and then kill themselves seem to escape
justice. Even their death is not enough
retribution. Sometimes, people who are
clearly guilty get off because of a technicality. And sometimes, the police know who did it,
but can’t get enough evidence together to prove the case to the satisfaction of
a jury.
One
of God’s characteristics is that He is Just.
The Bible says that one day, we will all be called to account for our
actions. Justice – God’s justice – will
be done. And that’s a bit scary. Because I’m not perfect, any more than you
are perfect. I’ve not always lived up to
my own standards, let alone God’s standards.
So the Day of Judgement is definitely scary. Or, it would be: because one of God’s other
characteristics is that He is a God of Mercy.
Forgiveness is in his nature.
That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to take the blame for my wrongdoing,
and yours.
And
in return, God wants us to forgive.
Remember those words in the Lord’s Prayer? Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass
against us. But notice the
order of things: we’ve got to be forgiving people before God forgives
us.