As I stood before the judge, hearing the proceeding of the court, I knew there was no more hope for me. My accusers have all evidences against me, all witnesses produced by my accusers have accurately testified against me. I am exposed. I must face the consequences. The law in the book is clear the soul that sinneth shall die. I saw the look on my Masters face who is also my Judge- He looked disappointed (for that I have debased myself so low to have committed all these atrocities), a look of pity (that I have to face the ultimate penalty for my sin and that nobody can help me because He, my Master the Judge, has instituted the law and commanded that it be obeyed), a look of regret (that I have been an unprofitable and disobedient servant, despite all he had done for me to bring me close to Himself). Again I looked behind me, at the face of my Master's Son who is also my Advocate, soliciting for my release- I could feel him say friend, it is all over I can no longer help you, you have to pay the penalty. Then my master- who is also the Judge- rose up and said "We all know that this sinner is condemned by law to die but before he dies, is there anything anyone can do to help him. Quickly I looked at the direction where my friends and relatives are but there was no one with any solution, I looked at the Elders in the service of my Master- the Judge- but there was no one. I looked at my Masters valiant guards; no one. There was a great silence in the courtroom. I wept for no one was able to save me. I am condemned, forsaken and doomed forever. I bowed down my head and wept profusely.
At this point of deep grief, lamentation and weeping, I noticed some kind of commotion in the courtroom but I was too enveloped in my grief to care to look up. Why should I care anyway, I am condemned to die. The uproar of my bloodthirsty accusers overwhelmed me as they shout "he is guilty of death, crucify him" I cried the more, too ashamed to look up. I heard my Master the Judge pronounced in thundering voice "take him, he is yours" My accusers rushed towards me with their chains and shackles, hate and disgust mixed with a feeling of victory was conspicuous in their expressions. I shuddered as they came rushing toward me. However something strange happened; my accusers ran past me and threw their chains and shackles on my Advocate who is also my Master's Son. They started leading him towards the slaughter- the place of the skull. As I shuddered in utmost shock, I wondered what was going on. My Master's chief guard touched me on the shoulder and said "be of good cheer servant, while you grieved, your Master's Son, your Advocate has volunteered to take your place. The judgment of death has been passed on Him for your sake" I cried out " oh no, how can that be, I am the sinner, I am the disobedient one, my Advocate is righteous, the only beloved of my Master, how can He take my place. I never even showed him love, I have not done anything for him to die for me, nooo this can not be, how will my Master allow His Son die for me" I shook in horror, confused and horrified with fear and a feeling of shame for what I have brought about. I desperately wanted to know why He had to do this for me. I turned and looked at Him who took my place and I could barely recognize Him; He had been beaten and bastardised beyond recognition. My accusers had speared Him without pity, honour or respect. I manage to slip through the crowed to my Advocate, my Master's Son as He was laid down to be crucified. I got on my kneels before Him and covered my face. I felt so ashamed of myself and more unworthy to live. My Advocate looked at me, lifted up my bent head and rose me to my feet and smiled to me and said, "You were condemned to die because you have lived against the will of your Master. I had life because I had pleased him and done all He wanted of me; but today I make an exchange. I exchanged my personality with yours. Live my life and let me die your death. I have to die because your life that I now bear is no longer worthy to live, it is condemned already but remember you are spared to live today because you have my life, the life that had always pleased my Father. Live my life and let me die your death. Please live it.
I wept as my accusers whisked away my Advocate, my Saviour, the only begotten of my Master. As I wept uncontrollably, I felt a hand touched me from behind, I looked and alas it was my Master. I thought to myself I am finished; what shall I say to Him; how now can I appease Him, I have sinned against Him and now His only begotten son is crucified for a wretch like me. My Master stretch forth His hands and picked me up, he looked me in the eyes, smiled and called me the name of his beloved Son. I did not understand how my Master could call me "son" Then He said, "That is who I call you from now on, my beloved son. You have died, your accusers have killed you, the life you live now is no longer yours but the life of my beloved Son who exchanged His life for yours. The man hanging there on the cross is you but the man standing here before me is my beloved Son living in you. My Son lives in you, son. Come and enjoy my presence as a beloved son and not a servant,” He said.
At this point of deep grief, lamentation and weeping, I noticed some kind of commotion in the courtroom but I was too enveloped in my grief to care to look up. Why should I care anyway, I am condemned to die. The uproar of my bloodthirsty accusers overwhelmed me as they shout "he is guilty of death, crucify him" I cried the more, too ashamed to look up. I heard my Master the Judge pronounced in thundering voice "take him, he is yours" My accusers rushed towards me with their chains and shackles, hate and disgust mixed with a feeling of victory was conspicuous in their expressions. I shuddered as they came rushing toward me. However something strange happened; my accusers ran past me and threw their chains and shackles on my Advocate who is also my Master's Son. They started leading him towards the slaughter- the place of the skull. As I shuddered in utmost shock, I wondered what was going on. My Master's chief guard touched me on the shoulder and said "be of good cheer servant, while you grieved, your Master's Son, your Advocate has volunteered to take your place. The judgment of death has been passed on Him for your sake" I cried out " oh no, how can that be, I am the sinner, I am the disobedient one, my Advocate is righteous, the only beloved of my Master, how can He take my place. I never even showed him love, I have not done anything for him to die for me, nooo this can not be, how will my Master allow His Son die for me" I shook in horror, confused and horrified with fear and a feeling of shame for what I have brought about. I desperately wanted to know why He had to do this for me. I turned and looked at Him who took my place and I could barely recognize Him; He had been beaten and bastardised beyond recognition. My accusers had speared Him without pity, honour or respect. I manage to slip through the crowed to my Advocate, my Master's Son as He was laid down to be crucified. I got on my kneels before Him and covered my face. I felt so ashamed of myself and more unworthy to live. My Advocate looked at me, lifted up my bent head and rose me to my feet and smiled to me and said, "You were condemned to die because you have lived against the will of your Master. I had life because I had pleased him and done all He wanted of me; but today I make an exchange. I exchanged my personality with yours. Live my life and let me die your death. I have to die because your life that I now bear is no longer worthy to live, it is condemned already but remember you are spared to live today because you have my life, the life that had always pleased my Father. Live my life and let me die your death. Please live it.
I wept as my accusers whisked away my Advocate, my Saviour, the only begotten of my Master. As I wept uncontrollably, I felt a hand touched me from behind, I looked and alas it was my Master. I thought to myself I am finished; what shall I say to Him; how now can I appease Him, I have sinned against Him and now His only begotten son is crucified for a wretch like me. My Master stretch forth His hands and picked me up, he looked me in the eyes, smiled and called me the name of his beloved Son. I did not understand how my Master could call me "son" Then He said, "That is who I call you from now on, my beloved son. You have died, your accusers have killed you, the life you live now is no longer yours but the life of my beloved Son who exchanged His life for yours. The man hanging there on the cross is you but the man standing here before me is my beloved Son living in you. My Son lives in you, son. Come and enjoy my presence as a beloved son and not a servant,” He said.
