“How do you plead?” asked Judge Pike after the charges had been read.
“Guilty as charged,” responded the woman with a sigh.
Standing before the judge was a middle-aged woman, dying of cancer. She had written a check for $200 even though she didn’t have any money, and she had been caught. There was no excuse for her. This woman knew what she had done was wrong, and also that she had no way to pay back the $200 debt. Because she was so sick she could not work, and so she had no money.
We are all standing under the judgment of God because we have sinned against Him, so there is a penalty to pay. There is no way that you and I can pay the penalty for our sins by ourselves. God is a just God and cannot let us go free, just as Judge Pike couldn’t say to the woman standing before him, “I really feel sorry for you. You can go home now.” If he had, he wouldn’t have been a fair judge! No, Judge Pike had to order this woman’s penalty.
“You must pay back the $200 and pay all court costs,” he told her. Not paying would mean she would have to spend time in jail.
Another man was in court that day. He had charges against him from the city and had his own problems to face. But he felt sorry for this woman.
After the court session was over for the morning, the man went to the bailiff and asked if there were any way that he could pay what the woman owed. The bailiff was really surprised to hear this. In all his years of serving Judge Pike, no one had offered to pay the penalty for someone else!
There is only one Person who can pay our penalty for our sins, and He already has paid that price. However, He had no charges against Himself. He is Jesus. He knew that we had sinned and could not pay that debt to God. Because He loves us and cares about us, He died that He might pay that penalty for us. Anyone who will personally accept His payment for his or her sins can walk out of the courtroom free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The man paid the woman’s debt, and a receipt marked “paid in full” was given to her. She now owed nothing! This grateful woman made sure she thanked the man for what he had done for her. He had not only paid her debt, but he had saved her from possibly going to jail for 60 days. And Jesus not only died for us, but for those who personally accept His payment for their sins. He has saved us from punishment in hell forever. Our penalty for sin is “paid in full,” and we can go free!
Will you personally accept what Jesus has done for you because He loves you?
Then you will be able to say, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).
ML-01/04/1998