Jerry Sandusky
The sentencing of former Penn State football coach and convicted child sex abuser, Jerry Sandusky, has something profound to teach us about the Gospel.
“Just when I thought I was beginning to understand grace. . .” That was one reader’s comment to this recent post from my favorite blog, The Gospel Coalition Voices.
This took me 15 seconds to read. But I rejoiced over it for hours. Here’s an excerpt:
This is a horrific and heartbreaking story. We can sympathize with the anger expressed by Victim No. 9′s mother, who told Sandusky, “Whatever comes to you I hope it is tenfold for what you did to my son and others.”
Startling, therefore, were the words of Victim No. 6. Looking into his abuser’s face, the victim reportedly said: “If you seek forgiveness, Jesus will forgive you. There’s not any other way. Please repent, or there is a bigger judgment to come.”
Saul of Tarsus was a news headline sort of sinner, too. As he later reflected:
Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent . . . The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:13, 15-16
The astonishing news of Christianity is that God’s eternal Son didn’t launch a rescue mission for mild sinners. He came for the sick—for blasphemers, persecutors, insolent opponents. Yes, even for child sex abusers.
The world won’t forgive you, Jerry, but Jesus will. Turn to him in trust. Calvary’s repentant thief bears loud witness that it’s not too late.
The gospel of the bloody cross declares that you can sit in a cold prison cell freer than ever before.
”The gospel of the bloody cross.” I love it. Do you?
