Imagine you’re a member of an organized crime ring with connections to corrupt city authorities. You discover someone who knows your gang’s every deed. One night you decide to round him up. He has to be silenced. Your thugs bring him to you and you hatch a devious plot.

A news conference is held the next morning. The mayor steps to the podium and says, “We have intercepted a terrorist plot to blow up the town hall.” Your victim’s face is then shown on the television screen.

The innocent man is held in custody where bored cops berate him. They kick him, spit on him, put lipstick on his face and pour beer over his head. Some of your cronies enter his cell. They bind him with duct tape on his wrists and feet, and then use it to cover his nose and lips. His body is found by a guard that afternoon.

Now imagine you’re in your home a few days later when there’s a knock at the door. You fling the door open to see . . . him. Tape marks on his feet and wrists, but standing before you whole. He looks at you and says: “I forgive you.”

How do you feel?

This first day of Lent, let’s look to the Easter story. Jesus was hunted and mocked by a corrupt Jewish mob (Mark 14:53-59) and falsely accused of a terrorist-style plot (Mark 14:58). He was condemned to death by a corrupt Gentile ruler (Mark 15:15), abused by soldiers (Mark 15:16-20), shamefully killed (Mark 15:22-24), but raised to life (Mark 16:6).

Both Jews and Gentiles condemned Jesus—all of humanity was complicit. The Creator came to earth, and we killed Him. We were the guilty ones, He the innocent. Yet He offers us forgiveness (Luke 23:34).

That’s the scandalous grace of God.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Numbers 22:5-38