“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Romans 13:1

I’m headed to jury duty today. It will be my first time, if I’m selected. 

I’ve been subpoenaed a couple of different times because of crimes committed against the churches I was serving. I didn’t need to appear in court for either of those cases. A sworn affidavit worked in both instances. 

I’ve also been in a court room a number of times to support family and parishioners. 

I can’t say I was excited to receive my jury summons. I don’t know anyone that is ever excited to open that envelope. It came in the middle of an overly stress filled week in the middle of a busy and stressful month. 

Jury duty never comes at a good time. 

And yet, I think there is something vitally important about the entire enterprise. Courtrooms, and the juries that are essential fixtures within them, are crucial to our society. 

Judges and attorneys, part of the establishment of our judicial system, are certainly the engines that run our courts. They know the law. They have the jargon and the legalese. They know and orchestrate the legal dance that takes place within the court. 

But there is something profound, beautiful, and freeing that it is the outsiders and the novices that are brought in week after week as the jury. 

The jury is the heartbeat of the court. Civilians who bring judgements and make declarations about guilt or innocence. 

I’m really glad that we have a justice system that brings our citizens into the process and gives us a pivotal role. 

But there is something freeing that God’s justice system works different. I’m really glad that our faith is not dependent upon anyone’s word other than The Word. 

When it comes to your merits for entering the kingdom of God—you fall short. You and I fail to meet the most basic standard. The verdict is guilty. Every single time. The evidence is not hard to compile. No trickery or legal loopholes get us out of hot water. To use the language of my kids—we are cooked!

Except that the celestial courtroom is different than ours here. The Lord Jesus is judge and jury. He is presiding over the proceedings and he is the one who wrote the law into being.

His grace covers your sin. His obedience fulfills you failings. His love shows you mercy. You are acquitted of your crimes. You are invited in. 

This is God’s holy work. This is Jesus in His love for you. He doesn’t send you to a jury of your peers. Instead, He became your peer, taking on human flesh, so that the verdict would be inflicted upon Him in your place. 

This is the Lord’s authority. This is His goodness.

What do you think Jesus would say about you when He is on the witness stand?