As the guards escort you away, you cannot help but hang your head, both out of guilt and shame. You know what you did, and you know why you did it, and that produces guilt within you. You are truly sorry of things that you said, did, and even thought. You know that what you did is wrong. Heck, if you had the ability to time-travel, you would surely fix those mistakes and avoid doing bad things. But, sadly, you can't. Just then, another series of thoughts cross you. What if all the bad things I have done stemmed from who I am? What if I can never do good? What if all those things that people told me -- that I'd never measure up or get things right -- is true? Am I...bad? This sudden soul-crushing, heart-dropping anger and bitterness of identity is called shame, and it is the very thing that is consuming you right now. This shame is so weighty that you could die just thinking about it.

Just as you are escorted to go out the big wooden doors of the courthouse --

Slam! Slam! Slam! Goes the Judge's gavel. It stops the celebration of the verdict dead cold in its tracks. Those in the process of filing out freeze right where they are, apparently caught off guard by the surprising sound of the gavel.

"But," bellows the Judge, holding up a finger for effect. "Before [Your name] is sentenced to death row forever, I do have one final thing to say pertaining to the verdict."

"Has the Judge gone mad?" Was the gist of responses from the people inside the courtroom. Even the guards, who seconds ago were determined to lock you away for good, looked just as puzzled as the rest. The jury was also stunned; never before had they seen the Judge act like this after a verdict. The Judge always gave a verdict and stuck with it, never attempting to add or modify it. The verdict was the Judge's word!

"This case," the Judge stated, "though it would seem to be an open-shut case, is an unusual anomaly." Gee, Judge, you think to yourself, slightly embarrassed. Thanks for calling me an anomaly.

"Though this man is guilty under the eyes of the law," the Judge continued, "there is more to this story than meets the eye. This man, though clearly and judicially found guilty of all the said crimes, had no defendant during the trial. No attorney, no other witness, no other side, no defendant, nobody. In short, there is no other side, thus presenting a very one-sided argument against this man."

"Hold on, Your Honor," the weaselly lawyer interrupts. "If the trial has concluded and the verdict has been decided, should that not make this man guilty? Why, then, would you desire to change the verdict?" To the rest of the courtroom, the lawyer shouts, "This man is guilty for all the said crimes, is he not?" To this, several yeahs and amens broke out.

"And this Judge, is He not a Man of His word?" Turning to face you, he cries, "Hah! Do you think your precious Judge will save you now? Do you not fear the powers that be? You worthless, trash bag excuse for bones, do you think this very Judge cares about you!?"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" the Judge exclaimed, yelling at the lawyer. "You know your place. Get behind me, or I will see to it that you are forbidden to enter this courtroom again!"

"Hmph. Whatever."

"Now then," continued the Judge, composing Himself, "Because this man has no defendant, I must modify his verdict. Normally, the Law states that each man is punished for their own transgressions, depending on the severity of the crime. However, that is if they have at least one witness to testify for and against them. But since this man has no defendant, or no such defendant has been found, then the Law allows for me to provide legal substitution. Specifically, in the case of no defendants, the Law allows me to assign an willing, innocent individual to take upon themselves the punishment allotted for the guilty person. Usually, this would involve a kind-hearted lawyer doing community service for the accused, or something of that sort."

Looking down at His desk, the Judge added, "With all the charges heaped upon this man, the penalty for him is death." Looking over to you, The Judge then says. "But, since the Law permits me to provide a legal substitution to those who are without a defendant, I have no choice but to do so."

The lawyer looked flabbergasted. "What? What on earth do you mean? And just where is this said exception?"

The Judge took a large book from His desk and threw it at the lawyer, hitting him in the head. "Read Isaiah 53:4-6 and Hosea 6:6." And it wasn't a suggestion.

"Whatever." The lawyer took the book, skimmed through it, and walked away, sulking. Eventually, he tossed the book in the trash.

The Judge then refocuses back on you, this time with eyes full of mercy and compassion  "I will take your place," the Judge says to you, speaking with authority and conviction.

"Huh?"

In a shocking, unpresented move, the Judge takes off his black coat and steps down from his seat. The Judge then hurries over to where you are standing. The Judge says to the guards, "Take those handcuffs off from him." The guards take off the handcuffs from your wrists.

Ca-clink. Ca-clink.

Then, turning His attention to you, He says in a soft voice, "Here, I want you to wear this." The Judge hands you his coat. "Put this on and sit where I sit."

You are shocked, but out of respect for the Judge, you put on the Judge's coat. "Are you sure?" you ask the Judge?

"Yes." He smiles and nods His head. "Go ahead."

You make your way up onto the steps and onto the Seat of Justice.

"Now lower your gavel." You find the gavel but hesitate to lower it. With a soft voice and a smile, the Judge says to you, "Lower it."

"I-I can't." You feel your voice breaking up.

"Go ahead, lower your gavel. It's okay."

Reluctantly, you softly lower the gavel onto the plate, still trying to understand what is happening. It makes a small thud sound. "Guilty as charged," says the Judge, with a smile still on His face. To the guards, He says to them, "Now put your handcuffs on me."

Clink. Clink.

You look at the Judge with horror and surprise. He should be up here, not you. You should be down there, not Him. You cannot help but feel something well up inside of you. Your eyes begin to wet and your chest begins to heave. A familiar sensation rushes to your head. "Your Honor," you say though tears. "I-I-I can't -- I mean, you can't -- I mean, it's not...it's not right that I...I..."

"It's okay," the Judge said in a quiet, soothing voice. "I will be alright."

You begin to break down crying. "It's just not fair!" you manage to say between sobs. You know full well what the Judge is doing and what will become of Him. The guards lead the Judge away and out of the courtroom. "Judge, Judge!" you shout between sobs. "Where are you going!? Come back, please!"

************

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain --

He washed it white as snow.

(Jesus Paid It All by Elvina M. Hall)

************

• "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4-6, NIV).

• "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6, NIV).

• "Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' Having said this, he breathed his last" (Luke 23:46, WEB).

• "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16, WEB).

************

Have a blessed Good Friday.