We Need a Lawyer

You need a lawyer! That is never a happy conclusion, but sometimes the right one. There have been a few defendants who have successfully argued their own case, but very few legal advisors would recommend it. Most of us know just a little about the legal system (from watching TV I suppose!). Maybe, like me, you have been called in to “jury duty” and actually sat in on a trial. I am sure that you have never sat in on a trial like the one that occurred in the home of the judge who listened to Jesus’ accusers!

     Actually, a Kenyan lawyer, Dola Indidis, has filed a petition with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, suggesting that the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ was unlawful, and the State of Israel, among others, should be held responsible, as re-ported in the Kenyan news outlet the Nairobian recently…. The case was first filed in the High Court in Nairobi but was rejected. Indidis then applied to have it heard at the ICJ. (Not likely to go anywhere, do you think?)

    While Jesus’ accusers demanded that He confess to high treason by admitting that He made Himself out to be the Messiah, Jesus finally answers them with His own warning to His accusers—the day will come when they will be the ones on trial! “I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mt. 26:64) “…They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zech. 12:10)      On that day, (Judgment Day), those who held Jesus captive for an illegal midnight trial, will stand trial before God Himself. They will give an account of every idle word, evil deed, and hidden motive. They will be judged by the perfect law of God; their accuser will be the Devil, and they will have no one to plead their case!

   To those poor sinners who confess their guilt, plead for forgiveness and trust in the saving mercy of Jesus, their Savior, Paul the Apostle says: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death!” He later adds: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:1,2,34)

As those who follow Christ, we may be “on trial” while we live here on earth, but the real courtroom is in heaven, when the books will be opened—our cases have already been settled “out of court”!

Pastor Jim B

  ’47 / ’56  St Charles MN