Clemency seems to be the word of the month in the fading administration of the present US government. The whole concept, when delivered through the presidency rather than the judiciary, seems fragile, and even audacious when it involves family members. But the concept is not new. The Book gives many examples: Pharoah with his cupbearer. Solomon with a man who had offended his father. Nebuchadnezzar with Daniel. And Pontius Pilate with Barabbas.

Sometimes the pardon is warranted, as in the case of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Sometimes it is not, as in the case of Barabbas. But such royal pardons always seem to have a sniff of suspicion that makes the process less than satisfactory: Is the pardoned person really innocent? Does the pardoner really have all the information at hand to make a correct judicial call. Will the community really be risk-free upon the person’s release?

How different from clemency is grace. With clemency, perfect justice is not really satisfied. The pardon is not completely permanent. And the pardoned is not fully at peace in their conscience. But the grace that comes from heaven delivers all three. Paul in his great letter to the Romans makes bold the claim. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus died!’ And so to the God who pardons, it is perfect justice, and to the one who receives the pardon, it is perfect peace.