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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
JUDGE OR FATHER? WHICH WILL IT BE?
The Father of the victim sits in the judge’s seat. The victim himself is acting as the defense attorney for the accused. What chance is there that justice will be served in such a situation? Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions! Chances are you’d be wrong!
Having read previous devotionals, you recognize this to be the scenario in which the killers of Jesus found themselves. Peter spoke plainly when he charged that they had killed the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15), the one whom God had resurrected to His own right hand. What chance does justice have in this situation? From a human viewpoint the response echoes back, “None”! However, had I been in the shoes of the murderers, justice would have been the last thing that I would have sought. “Mercy, Yes!! Justice, No!!”
That is the amazing story of the Prince of Life. He vicariously suffered for every wrong of humanity on the tree of Calvary. Not only did He take the blame for the misdeeds of His slayers, He took upon Himself the sins of all mankind for all time. In His role as resurrected Savior, He acts as the advocate of all who penitently come to the Father. However, His role as Advocate isn’t abstract and unemotional. Divine and lofty motives compel Him to act in this capacity.
As a finale to this scenario of Judge, Advocate and the Accused, there’s one last part that defies all human understanding. When sinners come to the Father and call upon the name of the Son, they become the adopted sons of the Father (Romans 8:15 & Ephesians 1:5). This relationship between the Judge of the Universe and humanity (the accused) is the grandest of relationships! Surely nothing could top it! But, don’t be too hasty! If the Judge is my Father and the Defense Attorney is His Son that means that my Advocate is my brother. And, that’s just what Hebrews 2:11 declares! Jesus, my Advocate and Defender is my Elder Brother! How can I lose!!
In the halls of human justice, such an arrangement would not and should not be allowed. The victim should not serve as defense for the accused. Nor should the Father be the judge in a case involving harm to His Son. Obviously, the judge should not be the adopted Father of the accused. In human courts, such an arrangement is similar to the proverbial man who became his own Grandpa! Yet, within the halls of Divine justice, this is the very arrangement that God the Father wants to exist. He wishes to adopt all those who are the accused. He wants His Son to act as their defense attorney. He, from the standpoint of human justice, absolutely does not desire that justice be served; rather He prays for mercy on the part of every accused.
In this world, I must work for fairness and justice to all. However, in the court of eternal affairs where the destiny of souls is at stake, I plead for Mercy! I call the Prince of Life to my side and depend upon Him for my deliverance! I want His Father to be my judge, but ONLY if the Son takes my case. The Prince of Life will not lose a case when He is summoned to aid in keeping with His terms as revealed in the New Testament. The Prince of Life will secure life!
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