Imagine for a moment you are seated in a courtroom.
You are on trial for murder, a crime that carries the death penalty.
The evidence against you has been delivered to the jury and your attorney has presented your defense.
Now you await the jury's verdict....
A hush falls over the courtroom as the jury foreman steps forward.
You rise to your feet and face the judge.
You know one fact no one else knows for certain: You committed the crime.
As the jury Forman announces the verdict of guilty, you are not surprised.
The judge pounds the gavel and pronounces your sentence.
You cannot escape the penalty and your lawyer cannot protect you.
You are helpless to save yourself.
But as you are led away from the courtroom in handcuffs, a man steps forward.
This man is a stranger to you.
"I will take your punishment," he says. "I will be your substitute".
The judge leans forward to question him.
At last, satisfied by the man's qualifications, he accepts the stranger as your substitute.
The handcuffs are removed from your wrists and put on his.
While this man undeservedly goes to his death in your place, you are set free.
You are allowed to live - even though you are guilty - because someone else has taken your punishment.
Does this sound familiar?
For some you may already have known where this was going,
for others you had no idea.
For those that are not sure where I might be going...
The one who took your place was Jesus Christ!
And God did it FOR YOU because HE LOVES YOU!
