I saw the jury summons, and I wondered what the experience would be like. I spent two days in a courtroom watching the judge and lawyers select members for the jury. I wasn’t chosen, but I could see that each lawyer wanted people on the jury that would sympathize with their client. I don’t know how that particular trial turned out, but, if the system worked, justice was done.

True justice demands payment. If you do the crime, you’ll have to pay the price. God’s justice is no different. If we sin, even just once, we deserve eternal punishment. We all have to plead guilty before a just and holy God. But God had a different plan.

Imagine a courtroom where a criminal is brought before the judge. The proof is clear, this person is guilty. When it comes time for the verdict, the lawyer says, “Don’t punish my client. Give me the punishment instead.” The judge agrees, and the lawyer is sentenced to death. No one would do that.
But one person did. Jesus comes before his Father and advocates for us. We are clearly guilty, but Jesus gives us his perfection. He took the punishment we deserve when he suffered and died on the cross. “Not guilty,” God declares, and justice is done.

That was God’s plan all along. He promised the very first sinners, Adam and Eve, that he would send a Savior, and it would be his own son. Jesus came and lived the holy life we cannot live. His innocence was transferred to us. He took our punishment and gave us his perfection.

Now perfect in God’s eyes, we get to share Jesus’ victory. Death couldn’t hold on to Jesus, and it won’t be our end either. We will join our Savior in heaven where we will thank and praise him and live in his perfection forever.