Release Date: June 24th, 2026What We Really Need
- by César García
And Jesus said,
"Neither do I condemn you.
Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."
John 8:11 (NRSVue)
Rodrigo, a slave trader and murderer, resolved to change his life but felt overwhelmed by guilt, believing he deserved punishment for his past cruelties. He decided to revisit the place where he had once captured and sold Indigenous people, hoping they would find it in their hearts to seek justice or revenge. What could he expect? In the following scene from the 1986 film The Mission, an Indigenous person chooses to spare him, lifting the burden he has chosen to carry from his shoulders. Rodrigo is finally freed from the weight of his guilt, the past, and his wickedness, symbolized by the heavy armour he has carried, and he feels relief and gratitude for the forgiveness he never expected—granted by those he had victimized.
His justice aimed to transform the lives of the offenders.
How should we respond to those who have hurt us? Some cling to resentment, while others try to escape by ignoring their past. Jesus demonstrated an alternative approach: His justice was neither about seeking revenge nor denying the truth. Instead, His justice aimed to transform the lives of the offenders.
He demonstrates that justice isn't about giving someone what they deserve but about providing what they need
While the Pharisees sought to punish the wrongdoer, Jesus focused on restoring and reconciling. He prioritized healing the wound over strictly enforcing the laws the Pharisees obsessed over. This approach allowed the adulteress to find forgiveness and a fresh start. For those who come to Jesus, life, not death, is offered. He demonstrates that justice isn't about giving someone what they deserve but about providing what they need—love, compassion, mercy, and transformation.
- César García is an ordained MCEC pastor and General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference