When was the last time you wished someone would get exactly what they deserve? All of us can think of a situation where someone wronged us or someone else. When that happens, it’s pretty natural to hope they get caught…if only to make sure they don’t do it again.
- Have you ever gotten caught right after you did something you knew was wrong? What did you learn by that experience? (Answers may vary.)
- Have you ever known someone who always seems to get away with things? Without naming any names, tell how that makes you feel. (Encourage students to discuss, but be careful to avoid gossip or oversharing.)
When people do things that are wrong or harmful, it can sometimes take a long time before they get payback. Other times, though, it happens right away! It can feel pretty satisfying to see this so-called “instant justice” of consequences immediately following actions. In the video we’re about to watch, a reckless driver goes far beyond the speed limit—and receives the consequences for that choice.
Play the following video for your students [0:27]: 19-year-old accused of topping 100 mph in 50 mph zone in Lee County
- How did it feel to see driver get “instant justice” for his selfish speeding? (Answers may vary; encourage discussion. Most students will acknowledge it was good for the teen to be punished before any harm could come to him or others on the road.)
- Have you ever had a chance to try and administer your own “instant justice” and get back at someone for something they did to you? What choice did you make? (Accept all reasonable answers; be prepared to share your own experiences.)
It’s easy to feel a sense of justice when someone making a bad decision gets caught. But when someone has wronged us personally, we can sometimes get too carried away with trying to get back at them. Our lesson today is about someone who had an opportunity to take justice into his own hands in an instance like that. Let’s see what happened.