Guilty or Not Guilty... That is the Question

We all know the hour and time will come when we have to stand before Christ and atone for our sins. This past weekend, I think many of us were more reminded about how quickly Our Lord can call us home, even at the most unexpected times. The shootings in Auro, Colorado left many questioning why someone would let bad things happen to good people. Growing up I have always prayed for the protection of those I love dearly. Even going on car trips I always found myself saying a silent prayer that we would arrive safely and that the Lord would keep us safe from harm. But yet, even as I placed my trust and safety in the Lord's hands, deep down inside a part of me still knew that if the Lord saw fit to call me or one of my family members home that day, who was I to stop him? 


With all the stories and information coming out of Colorado,  I found myself reliving the life and stories of Mary Magdalene. Even my daily devotions seemed to relate back to stories of Mary's life. While some information is known about Mary's relationship of Jesus, much of it still remains a mystery to me. At a young age, Mary Magdalene appeared before Jesus while He was eating at a Pharisee's house, Simon. The story describes Mary not by name, but by the fact that she was a sinner. 

"And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment." 

Luke 7: 37-38

At that time, the alabaster jar of ointment was considered an object of great value. Here was a woman, who took her greatest possession, broke it, and used the oil to anoint Jesus's feet. She was so overcome with love and compassion for this man and His Word. And yet, even though Luke describes her as a sinner, she did not let her fears or the thoughts what others might say about her actions stop her from kneeling before His feet and anointing them with the oil. Despite her sins, she took a risk, one that Jesus greatly rewarded her for, even if Simon did not agree. 

"You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."

--- Luke 7:46-47

How great it is that if we truly atone for our sins, we can kneel before Christ's feet and be forgiven for our sins. If we truly believe in His Word and what He has done for us, our faith can save us from our sins. Even though He was perfect, He chose to take the guilty verdict for us. 

"The Lord has a plea against His people"

--- Micah 6:2

When God chose to die on the cross for our sins, He chose to plea for our case and sign the papers acknowledging our sins as His own, and give up His own life for us, just so we could be "Not Guilty". How great is His love for us. This reminds me of the song by Citizen Way "Should've Been Me". 

I've read the story
I've seen the movie
I give to charity
And tithe my ten percent
These I remember
But I so easily forget
All these years never heard it like this

It should've been me
It should've been us
Should've been there hanging on a cross
All of this shame
All of these scars
Should've been stains that were never washed
Why do I hide
Why do you try
Over and over and over again
I guess it just leaves saying thank God
It leaves me saying thank God, thank God
For the should've been

Christ did not have to do give His life for us. To take the verdict for us, and yet He did so freely and with such Love. Nor did He have to choose to forgive us or Mary of her sins. And yet, through all of this I love how God continues to ignite and show us that His love and actions, more than 2000 years ago, is all apart of a bigger plan. I'm sure those in the Pharisee's house had no idea of how far Christ would go for us in the days to come. And even after her sins had been forgiven, Mary continued to follow her heart, to follow Christ and offer her life up to Him. Her love and compassion was so great, that Jesus choose to be the first person to appear to Mary Magdalene when he rose from the dead. 


I think all of this should be a reminder for us to realize how we should act when promoted by Christ's love for those around us, friends, family members, even complete strangers. Regardless of how they treat us, their reputation, or the sins they have committed they are as much as worthy to knowing and receiving Christ's love as we are. Which is why it is our job to help share Christ with them in a loving and compassionate manner. I can only hope that I continue to be a model of Christ's love to others, with the courage to live my life like He did, using my love and offerings (both big and small) to help bring about His eternal plans for us. For when my time does come to stand before Him I hope and pray that I can say I have done well to make Him proud of me. For even though the temptation to sin will always be there, I hope that through my actions of love and mercy will outweigh the sins I've committed. But until that time, I also know how I choose to life my life and the decisions I make will greatly impact the guilty or not guilty verdict. What choices will you make? What will your verdict be? Will you be guilty or not guilty when you stand before the throne of Christ and atone for your sins? It is never too late to change for Him. All He wants is to love you and bring your closer to a life with Him. After all, His plea for us is to come closer to Him, rely on Him, and truly experience how much He loves us!!!