Week 1, Day 2 Jesus' Resurrection and You

Justification comes by faith. Think of this word faith as trust. We trust (believe, have faith , etc.) that what Jesus did for us in his death, burial and resurrection is sufficient to save us. In saving the rebellious humans, Christ's death was the only way for God to retain both His justice and His mercy.

One of my well-worn illustrations about justification by faith goes like this:

Imagine you arrested for speeding 90 miles/hour over the speed limit. When your court date comes, you are heavy hearted because you know you are guilty. But at the trial, you notice the judge look familiar. It is none other than your next door neighbor, Dave! You are elated! You have spent many afternoons chatting and barbequing with Dave, but you never knew your neighbor was a judge. This is great news!

When your case is called, Dave smiles at you and you smile at Dave. He asks, "How do you plead?" You think he's kidding at first. You laugh, "Dave, it's me--do we really need to go through all this formality?" But he is not kidding--"How do you plead?" he repeats.

"Well, Dave, er, Your Honor, I'm guilty, but, come on, we are neighbors, right? What do you say, Dave? Can we forget this whole thing?"

""If that's your plead," Dave thunders from the bench, "then this court finds you GUILTY! The fine is $1,000 or 90 days in jail"

You cannot believe your ears. You don't have $1,000. But you are too angry to think about that. You think he should have declared you innocent. He has the power--he's the judge! Some friend. You thought Dave really cared about you. You are furious.

Then you notice some commotion from behind the bench. Dave stands up, removes his judicial robe, and steps to the clerk, where he pulls out his wallet and begins counting out 100 dollar bills!

When he gets to ten bills, he winks at you and says "Your fine has been paid."

Now, it is at this point where I can see the story finishing with two very different endings.

One ending is you immediately forget about your previous anger toward Dave, and maybe even laugh at yourself for being so self-centered that you forgot you WERE guilty after all, and Dave was a JUST JUDGE. You swallow your pride and give Dave a big bear hug and cry THANK YOU as loud as you can. You leave a free (and happy) person, and probably drive a little slower!

The other ending, as crazy as it sounds, is played out all the time in real life. In the other ending, you retain your pride, you clench your teeth, and you glare at Dave. "I don’t need your charity" you growl.

"But you don’t have $1,000. The only alternative is jail," says Dave.

"Then jail it is--I'd rather spend 90 days in jail than be you or anyone's charity case. It's your fault anyway for not declaring me innocent--and now what? You want to pay my fine so I have to OWE you, is that it?"

"No, I want to pay your fine so you can go free. And as a judge, I cannot break the law I'm supposed to uphold--that's why I pronounced you guilty. Come on, let me do this for you."

"No, Dave, I'll take my chances and go my own way."



This illustration has been handed down from preacher to preacher for a long time. It always rings true to me. There are those who hear about the grace of God, and accept it in humility--they KNOW they have no chance without grace. Then there are those who will look Jesus and His grace right in the eyes and think, as Milton wrote so long ago, "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."

Karl Barth may or may not have heard of this story or something similar when he called Jesus "the judge who was judged in our place." In less formal but nonetheless true diction, a kid on the basketball courts of Jamaica Queens told me upon hearing this story, "Yo, it's like the dude Dave took the hit for his homey."

Yep. Jesus took the hit for you and me, homey.