When Real-Life Scenarios Aren't Enough

Luke 22:63-71

In these moments leading up to the cross, Jesus stands on trial.

In this week's passage, He stands before the religious leaders: the "elders" and "chief priests and scribes" (22:66).

And in the following verses (ch. 23), He will stand on trial before the "earthly" leaders of Pilate and Herod.

As believers in Jesus, as we read these accounts, it is a good practice for us to see these trials of Jesus as our own.

We are the ones who are guilty. And we deserve to stand on trial before the Judge.

But Jesus - the Innocent One - stands in our place. Our guilt is passed on to Him. And His righteousness is given to us.

Our punishment becomes His punishment. 

Our cross becomes His cross.

And now we stand righteous before the Judge!

This truth is put so beautifully by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:

"For our sake, 

He made Him to be sin

Who knew no sin

So that in Him

we might become the righteousness of God."

(5:21)

This is such good news!

But even more, the good news of the Gospel does not stop there.

Consider with me another verse - this time from Peter, in 1 Peter 1:

"... you call on him as Father

who judges impartially

according to each one's deeds."

(1:17)

There is a judge, and this Judge "judges impartially" - He is a good and fair Judge.

And we know from above, because of the what Jesus has done, we now stand before this Judge innocent. Because the righteousness of Jesus has been given to us...

But also... even more... we call this Judge our "Father".

What I love about 1 Peter 1:17 is that our real-life scenarios and illustrations aren't even enough to contain the goodness of the Gospel!

Here's what I mean...

We can easily imagine ourselves standing in a courtroom, before a Judge.

And it is amazing that Jesus, through the cross, stands in our place, takes our guilty sentence, so that we can be declared righteous before the Judge.

But then, in what real-life scenario, after the trial is over, would the Judge then approach us and say,

"Hey, because of what my Son and I have done,

you are innocent and righteous now.

But I noticed that you are still an orphan.

You have no one.

You have no family to belong to.

Why don't you come home with Me?

I would be delighted for you to be my son/ my daughter.

Come be a part of My family.

You will always be welcomed with love and joy.

You'll always have a seat at My table.

It would be My joy to love you, and call you My child forever."

We call the Judge our Father!

Friends, rejoice that this truth is yours because of Jesus!

Not only do you stand innocent before the Judge. You call this Judge your Father.

And your Father will always welcome you.

Always love you.

And always delight in you.

- Joe