Justice.

Acts 28:3-5, When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

The people concluded that Paul was a murderer, based on their own superstitions, and indeed he was. By their own natural sense of justice, they also recognized that there was a price to be paid and that this viper had satisfied justice! And after they saw that Paul did not “swell up” as they knew the horrific fate of others bitten by that type of viper, they thought him to be a god. In truth, he had been caught up by the Son of God, and transferred from darkness to light. All the requirements of justice have been fully satisfied at Calvary, by Christ. And we all have access by faith through grace to this same satisfaction of justice! Even more amazing, we are raised by the same power of God that raised Christ from the dead to be seated with Him. And in Him we celebrate with joy the coming redemption of our bodies, to be transformed, to be like Him!

We thank You for our new life in Christ and the hope we have to be like You, transformed by Your power!

ESV Lectionary