Jury Duty

I have been called for jury duty twice in my life. Both times an official-looking letter came to my mailbox with my name on it along with a summons to appear on a given day at a set time. I was told when I gathered with others who had also been called that Canada’s option of being tried by a jury of one’s peers, is admired throughout the world.

Just entering into an actual courtroom is an awe-inspiring experience. One must show utmost respect by sitting quietly, turning off phones and waiting patiently for the judge to show up. Meanwhile, bailiffs sit in the room as if to maintain order, even though a court case is not being tried!

Each potential juror is asked to state his or her name and occupation, and then are asked if they can be unbiased in hearing a case. Some said they could not, and gave their reasons. They were usually dismissed from having to do jury duty so that the trial could be as fair as possible.

Can you imagine being in a courtroom presided over by a judge with 12 people to decide your fate? Perhaps you actually have had this experience? I looked at the accused person who was present in the courtroom, and wondered what he was feeling while all of this was going on.

This verse tells me that we have all broken God’s law and been judged guilty in the courtroom of life. The good news of Easter is that the Judge took off his heavenly robe and stepped down from his elevated bench, put his arm around the sinner standing in the docket, and gave that sinner another option, to accept Christ’s death on the cross as payment for the gift of righteousness. Best of all, anyone who believes can claim this gift! It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done or what citizenship you hold!

Father God, righteous judge, thank you for presiding over my case and offering me a way out of the sentence that I deserve! Jesus, thank you for paying the price in order that I might be righteous in God’s sight…what an amazing example of your love and grace that you would do this for me!

Consider This: Imagine the judge of a courtroom taking off his robe, stepping down from his bench and coming to put his arm around you as you stand in the docket of the accused. Jesus Christ, who paid the price for your guilt, is your defense lawyer! He has pleaded your case, and although you know that you are guilty, you have a choice. Do you choose to remain in your silent guilt, or do you accept the verdict of “not guilty” (righteous)?