Our Easter Courtroom
Ready to face my fate, I am brought into the courtroom. Shackles around my ankles. Cuffs around my wrists. I am seated alone at the defendant's table. My individual guard close by watching my every movement.
The snake-like prosecutor looks over at me with disgust as he unloads the reams of pages he has packed in the files he has against me. Legal pads are filled with notes. He certainly has done his homework to compile my past offenses.
Just as the clock ticks the hour to begin the proceedings, the judge strolls into the courtroom. While he has a welcoming demeanor, he is intimidating at the same time. He sits down and immediately clears his throat to get down to business, "Prosecutor, are you ready to begin?"
In one slithery motion, he stands and almost gleefully replies, "I am, Your Honor." He sits giving me a withering sideways stare.
"Defense?"
I fumble to my feet. Hesitatingly, "I...uh-um...I..."
The prosecutor smiles and almost chuckles as he shuffles his reams of documents.
Silence. The tears well behind my eyes. I have nothing---
The side door to the courtroom opens and a blinding light shines in. A figure appears, and a deep voice cuts through the silence, "Your Honor." The prosecutor's smile withers at the voice, and he slinks in his seat.
The voice says, "Your Honor, I am willing to speak on this child's behalf. We are willing to admit that the accused has not lead a perfect life.--I myself can contest to how challenging that feat is to complete.--I am further willing to say that I will take all punishment that this child deserves."
"Actually, Your Honor, the accused's crimes have already been paid for long ago. The deserved death sentence...I served it."
My heart swells and the tears now flow. The prosecutor whimpers as the stack of pages slowly disintegrated before him.
The judge's verdict echoes as the gavel sounds, "Free to go." After these words were spoken and the gavel was dropped, the courtroom scene quickly transformed itself to a windblown hill with three crosses. As my shackles fell away, a drop of blood from the man on the cross landed at my feet and I heard the words, "It is finished."
This Easter if you haven't stepped into the eternal courtroom and trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Redeemer, and Representation, please consider the eternal consequences.
Prayer: Father, I am guilty, imperfect, and unworthy; yet Your love, Your grace, and Your Son are offered to me. I surrender my will and my selfishness to live my life for you, O Lord. In Jesus' Precious Name. Amen.
John 10:10 " The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
