How can a blood-stained cross be an object of such unparalleled beauty? Psalm 67 suggests an answer.

To describe God’s rule and guidance of the nations as fair and equitable is to speak of his character’s utter consistency and flawless integrity. It also speaks to how he is uniquely qualified to judge all the world. While his judgement does mean bringing all peoples to trial and executing his wrathful condemnation on them, it also means offering salvation and sanctification to them.

Thankfully in God’s economy, the latter precedes the former. God extends his justice to us in abundance in Jesus. The gospel for all nations, first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles, has been declared, carrying the full weight of God’s promise of undeserved justification through faith in Christ’s blood.

There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. We can be sure of that. Christ’s atoning death has executed God’s rightful judgement on sin while simultaneously offering the sinner liberty from that judgement “so as to be just, and the one who justifies.”

We see this when we cast our eyes to Christ’s bloodstained cross. We see our condemnation smeared all over it and not to us. Our garbage has been taken out, dealt with and destroyed.

This is grace and mercy to the highest degree, and God has put it on display for all mankind to see. Fairness and equity for all people in his governance of all things in Jesus. May we be glad and rejoice as we take up residence with Jesus by faith.