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| Ellis County Courthouse - Waxahachie, TX |
Tune: LANDAS
We watch way too many legal dramas on the television at our house.
In fact, we’re now into several from the BBC; we just couldn’t get enough
courtroom drama here in the states! We both read legal thrillers, and because
Carlita works in a law office, we have lots of discussions about how the system
works.
After the bailiff (or British usher) calls the court to
order, one of the first questions to the accused is “How do you plead?” or “What
is your plea?” In most cases on the televised dramas, the plea is “not guilty”;
otherwise, these could be some very undersized shows!
It is then that the arguments are presented from both sides
of the aisle… the prosecution and the defense teams present every possible
angle to support their belief in guilt or innocence.
We understand that we are all guilty, right? Guilty, vile and helpless we. Our having
sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God have put us into that category. But our case is argued by our Advocate
(I John 2:1) – the One who sits with us at the defense table. Our striving would be losing were not the
right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing… Christ Jesus.
His argument on our behalf is brief: “I have died for this
person,” he says. It’s a short argument, but it is enough. The Holy Spirit is called as a witness (Hebrews 10:15), and
the defense rests.
Despite the rantings and objections of the prosecutor – the Evil
One himself – who may call witnesses to the contrary, the verdict is “not
guilty.” We turn to thank our Defender and offer him payment for his services;
he hands us his bill marked “paid in full.” The case is closed. The next sinner
on the docket is called forward, and the process continues. It is fortunate for
us that the Father of our Defender was our Judge.
That’s a lot to process while singing this one hymn-line,
isn’t it? I’m afraid that is how my mind works! When this phrase comes across
my lips, I am reminded that I’ve had my day in court and that I am now free from the law – and it’s a happy condition.
Originally Posted 09/03/2013
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