Why Bad Things Happened to a Good Person
Today’s reading: Acts 2:14-4:22
My selection: Acts 2:22-24
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
My reflections: God is never surprised, never out of control, never defeated, never frustrated. The crucifixion of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was carried out by men but planned by God. It was the most evil act ever perpetrated (perhaps after the original sin of Adam and Eve) because it was done against the only perfectly good person, the Creator Himself.
The reason why this happened is that it was the means by which God satisfied His wrath against sinful humanity which He had purposed to save. With apologies to Rabbi Kushner, bad things happened to THE good person so that good things could happen to bad people, sinners who repent and believe in Christ.
My challenge: All of us experience some unjust suffering but believers in Jesus Christ also experience undeserved blessing. Forgive those who inflict unjust suffering on you, if you have a God who has poured out undeserved mercy and blessing on you.
Tomorrow’s reading: Acts 4:23-6:15