[Replying to 'If a rapist was sentenced to death, and his mother died in place of him, how is justice served at all?']Actually the mystery of Christ dying for us is even harder to comprehend than the scenario you post. Here is a better analagy: A rapist commited a crime that the law required death to be the punishment - no jury, no deliberations, just him and the judge. And the judge, feeling gracious (for some unexplainable reason), said the law requires death for the crime itself, so if you can find someone who is willing to come forward to take the death sentence for you, then you will be set free and justified in the eyes of the law. So, of course, no-one would step forward to die in the place of this gruesome criminal, until.... The person who he raped so horribly and violently, and showed no mercy to, went to the judge and said- I WILL DIE FOR HIM- and the judge slams the gavel and orders the new prisoner to be executed in the morning, and he says to the executioners-" do not be merciful on the prisoner, for in taking the place of the condemed, he must suffer exactly as the condemed would have- the law requires no less for this crime." And then the judge turns to the criminal who had fully deserved his death sentence (and he knew he had deserved it and stood speechless as the one whom he had violated offered to take his place)- and says "My child, you are now justified in the eyes of the law- you are set free" This criminal feeling shock and disbelief at what had taken place- swore the rest of his life in service of the one who died for him. He was so awed that the victim had taken his punishment, that he told everyone he knew of the mercy that this victim had showed him- He swore to never let the merciful one's death be in vain. He would tell the world!! A lengthy explanation- but I hope it suffices- and to answer your final question of how can this even be justice? I will never claim to understand why the son of God stepped forward to take our place in death- it will remain a mystery forever to me. I don't know why He did it, but I'm forever grateful that He did. To answer your other question, to why God requires a life for a life (blood)- I tried to explain that in my above post. Also, you ask why doesn't he just snap His fingers and clear our sin?- well, if He did that He wouldn't be a just God. Law requires that there be a punishment for the crime.