Day 58 – Condemned

Read:  John 8:12-30

I have a friend who was an inmate in the Florida state prison system. He was convicted of a crime in the 1990’s when he was a teenager. After spending almost 15 years in prison, he was released on probation. When I first met him, he was working hard to change his life. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances he was found to be in violation of his parole and was immediately sent back to prison. There was no trial, no jury, no judge, no hearing, just prison. He would have to serve the remaining years of his sentence without a second opportunity for parole. I was heartbroken and shocked by this turn of events. Not only by the accusation that my friend had violated the terms of his parole, but also by the fact that there would be no opportunity for him to defend himself and avoid being sent back to prison.

I spoke to a lawyer friend who explained that this man was already condemned under the terms of his original conviction. The time he was on parole was grace (my attorney friend knows how to speak "pastor") and could be revoked at any time for any reason without a trial. The old conviction stood. My friend was a condemned man.

In John 8:15 Jesus reminds the Pharisees that He did not come to judge. He had explained this to Nicodemus on the night of his visit (see John 3:17). This does not mean judgment hasn’t already taken place, however. Jesus tells the crowd that they have been condemned to die in their sin. Sin is its own judgment and produces its own consequences. We have all died in our sin. Jesus did not have to pass judgment because, like my friend on parole, we live under the penalty of a pre-existing conviction. Instead, Jesus came to exonerate us by taking the punishment in our place. It would be as if someone had offered to switch identities with my friend the night before he was to return to prison. My friend’s willingness to accept the offer or his decision to reject it wouldn’t have changed the fact that he was already convicted. Nor would the person’s offer make him my friend’s judge.

Would you live differently if someone went to prison in your place? How would it affect your attitude and demeanor to know that a punishment that was rightfully yours had been executed on another who willingly took your place? Someone has. Jesus stands ready and willing to take your place. If we reject His offer, we already stand condemned. For those who think it too narrow a worldview to believe Jesus is the only way, I would ask, "How many people are standing in line to take your place in prison?" My guess is there is only One. You should take Him up on His offer.

Mercy of God,

Thank You for taking the punishment that was rightfully mine. Thank You for coming in grace and mercy to rescue me from the prison of sin and shame. Help me to live as one set free. May my gratitude be evidenced by the grace and mercy I show to others.

Amen