It's not Fair!

1 Peter 2:23

23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

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Fairness.......where do we get this concept? Nothing in life is truly fair, and yet we cry "Not Fair!" all day long. It's as if we are constantly surprised that life is not fair, even though we have zero reasons to believe that it would be. This is like being surprised every time you open up the refrigerator and find that it's cold on the inside. 

Even though this makes sense intellectually, "Yeah, life isn't fair," our souls still cry out for an existence where things really are fair. Isn't this interesting? There's a C.S. Lewis quote that goes:

"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?" - Mere Christianity

When things happen to us that we do not deserve, we want justice! We want retribution, vindication, revenge. We want to hurt whatever or whoever hurt us so bad that they will never try anything like that again. That's where my heart goes when I've been "wronged." That's what/how we all feel, isn't it?

Almost all of us...

These feelings that well up in us when we've been wronged or unjustly punished, how are we suppose to deal with them? How did Jesus deal with it?

I hate being punished for something I didn't do, I want to do everything in my power to prove my innocence. Jesus reaction comes in stark contrast to my own.

1 Peter 2:21–25 (NLT)

²¹ For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. ²² He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. ²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. ²⁴ He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 

Jesus voluntarily chose to be punished for crimes he did not commit - “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”” (John 10:18, NLT)

And when he was suffering through the worst of it, he did not retaliate or try to vindicate himself, but rather he "left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly." Again in Romans 12:19 “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”

Jesus trusted in God, even during the worst of his suffering. If you are going through something right now, you're in the midst of it, know that God isn't some lofty God who from an ivory tower tells you to just deal with it. Rather God is a compassionate God who sent his Son to suffer as we suffer, to live as we ought to live, and to die a death separated from God that we don't have to die if we trust in Him for our salvation.

Isaiah 45:22 (ESV)

²² “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Hebrews 2:18 (NLT) — 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”