While I was waiting at one courthouse they started calling people to go to another courthouse. They asked people from certain cities to go over. After a couple rounds of people they said they needed more, and then they called my city. I thought, "This isn't good. If they are short handed I may end up on a trial." But they said it was mandatory to go over, so I had no choice. After I arrived at the new courthouse it wasn't long until they called my name. 55 potential jurors were called in to be questioned to see who would be on the panel.
When we got into the room we were told by the judge that this was a DUI case. Immediately my heart started thumping, I was getting upset... I prayed for the Lord to calm me. I didn't know yet, after all, if I would have to serve on the trial. I still had a chance to get out of it. So, I waited my turn to be questioned. You see, this was not the day for a DUI trial. This was Monday 1/12/15 and one year prior, on a Monday 1/13/14 a woman (a fellow runner and mother of 3) was struck by a drunk driver and killed. I run for this woman and her grieving family. I spoke about this on my previous post: My Meg's Miles Shoes It was late in the day, and we had to come back the next morning. They barely had gotten through the first group of 18 people for questioning. This made it even worse. The following day was the one year anniversary date of Meg's passing.
The next day they were about two people away from getting their jury together for the trial when the judge told us there was a medical emergency she had to attend to. She was canceling the trial for now. We were free to go home. I hadn't even been questioned yet. I actually was half hoping that I would be in the hot seat for questioning! I wanted a chance to tell Meg's story. Every story that someone shared of why they didn't want to sit on a DUI trial, the defendant heard it. I was praying he was listening. I didn't know his circumstances, and thankfully he hadn't hurt anyone while driving, but if he was a drinker and he was driving drunk... he needed to hear these stories. But it was not in God's plans for me. But there is something I learned from this trial that I would like to share.
The Judge asked every potential juror if we could uphold the law, even if we didn't always agree with it. Could we follow the law as written, not add our own interpretations or feelings to it... just obey the law and serve a sentence to the individual on trial that is in accordance with that law?
An interesting hypothetical that was thrown out there by the prosecutor. If there was a Grandma sitting in the defendant's chair, and she was on trial for feeding the ducks with her grandkids on a Wednesday at a park, when the sign at the park said "No feeding ducks on a Wednesday," and Grandma got convinced to do it by her grandkids, because that was the last day the ducks would be there before they flew South for the Winter... could you say, "Grandma is guilty!" Without knowing the consequence the judge would give her?
Apply this to the Bible. It is God's law. Sometimes we may not agree with the law that He established. Sometimes we just flat out don't understand why or what purpose it serves. But do we have enough faith in God to follow it and obey it? Can we trust God to serve judgement in the most fair and just way to even "Grandma?" If someone chooses to disobey God's law, are we able to be like a jury and to tell others, "You are guilty of breaking the law"? Because, as Christians that is what we are to do. Thankfully the difference is, when we say that we also can say, "There is someone who will take the sentence for you. You don't have to face the penalty of your law breaking. He will take it for you. You are free to go." How amazing would that be for those sitting in a court of law?! To sit there, waiting for your sentence for breaking the law, hearing your sentence, and then to have someone say... "Your honor, I would like to take this individual's place and serve their sentence for them."
That is what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross, he took the death sentence upon himself, and he has told God, "I got this. They are with me. You can let them go."
Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ." (emphasis added)
You are guilty... and so am I. But the good news is John 3:16... Jesus died for YOU and me!
