“…what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21;22

            “It’s not fair,” fumed third-grader Betsy to her Mom.  “The teacher always lets Carla do more in her spare time than the rest of us. Carla is her pet, and it’s not fair!”

            Eighteen-year-old Daryl declared, “Dad, it’s not fair! Joe’s boys are allowed to wear this kind of shirt, so why can’t I?”

            Ever since the beginning of time, mankind has cried out, “It’s not fair!”  After killing his brother Able, Cain said, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (“It’s not fair!) (Genesis 4:13). Down through the ages, people have been holding grudges and fighting, all because they thought they were treated unfairly.  It’s common to feel cheated and robbed of justice.

            Children may think their teachers or parents are not treating them fairly.  Young people may feel that parents or even church leaders are not ‘fair.’  “Why can that person do this but I can’t?”  Church members, at times, may feel that church decisions are unfair. Citizens often think the government is not fair.  But God is always fair, merciful, and just. Psalm 103:10 tells us that He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

            If anyone was treated unfairly, it was our Savior. He was mocked. He was despised. He didn’t call for skilled attorneys to defend His cause.  He didn’t cry out, “It’s not fair!”  He could’ve called down a legion of angels in His defense.  But, as Isaiah 53:7 tells us that He did not open his mouth.  He was nailed to the cross as the worst of criminals.  He suffered, even for those by whom he was tormenting, and yet, they showed no appreciation, and He never opened His mouth.

            You remember what His attitude was at that moment.  Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  I’m so glad He did that for us.  If God were to treat us ‘fairly’ without the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, we’d have no chance because we would actually deserve all of God’s wrath.  But because of Christ, He treats us fairly, in Christ, with mercy and grace.

            We now, are to have the same attitude as Christ, to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you(Matthew 5:44).  We won’t, often times, understand why some things happen, but then we need to remember that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God’s) ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Can we trust Him?