The next time someone asks you what the Reformed Episcopal Church believes, tell them lex talionis, or "the law (lex) of retaliation." This is a theme that is woven into the fabric of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It’s the idea of equal and direct retribution: in the words of the Hebrew Scriptures, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, an arm for an arm, a life for a life."

God says in Ezekiel 18:20 "The soul that sins it shall die." What is sin? God’s Word says in I John 3:4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." So then, sin is a violation of God’s law or standard.

God sets the standard and demands that we meet it. For example, He says, "Be ye holy, even as I am holy." If we can’t perfectly obey His law by being as holy as He is holy, we must die. "For the wages of sin is death."

Now the question we must ask ourselves today is, "How does the law of lex talionis apply to Christ?" He had six trials. First, He went to Annas the father-in-law of Caiaphas, then He appeared before Caiaphas the high priest. Then He was tried before the Sanhedrin, the religious Supreme Court. Then He went before Pilate, the governor of Jerusalem. Then Herod, the governor of Galilee. Then He appeared before Pilate again.

When they finished those six trials, what did they have to accuse Him of? Nothing. He had done nothing wrong. They had no crime against Him, no accusation that would stick.

Illustration: A friend of mine once said, "Listen to your enemies. Often, they’ll tell you the truth."

What about the enemies of Jesus?

Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He planned His arrest. He watched Him for three years and then turned Him in. Then after it was over, He regretted what He did. He tried to give the money back then he committed suicide. But before he did, he said, "I have sinned for I have betrayed an innocent man."

Pilate. Pilate, obviously wasn’t a Christian. He was a Roman pagan. After trying Him twice, he said in Luke 20:3 "I’ve examined Him thoroughly and I find Him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent Him back to us. Nothing Jesus has done calls for the death penalty."

The thief on the cross. He certainly wasn’t any kind of religious person. He was dying for crimes he had committed. He said in Luke 20:3, "We deserve to die for our evil deeds. But this man hasn’t done one thing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

Roman soldier. He was the executioner. Matthew 20:7 "When the soldiers guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were very frightened and they said, "He really was the Son of God."

St. Paul summarized what we believe about the innocence of Christ in I Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Illustration: You probably don’t remember the name Timothy McCarthy. He was the man who jumped in front of Hinkley and took a bullet for President Reagan and saved his life. We think, "What a hero!" He took a bullet for the President from an assassin.

Yet at Calvary, the President of the Universe took a bullet for you. He suffered the pain of lex talionis. We sinned and deserved to die. He didn’t sin and didn’t deserve to die. Yet it was Christ that was punished for us. The wrath of God was poured out on Him like an inverted pyramid. He suffered for the sins of the world, for our sins.

May God grant us grateful hearts, hearts of love for what Jesus endured for us. Amen