There were two boys who grew up together as best friends. As the years went by they went their separate ways. One had a good career and  became a judge. The other fell on hard times, got mixed up with the wrong company and became a thief. One day the judge realized that the man standing in the dock before him was none other than his old childhood friend who he had loved dearly. He had an awful dilemma. As a judge, he was bound to uphold the law. He knew that he had to serve the thief with a large fine. He also knew that his friend could not pay. If he didn’t pay, he would be condemned to prison…

The judge passed sentence, as he was bound to. But then, he stood down and took off his judge’s wigs and his gown. To the utter amazement of everyone else in the courtroom he joined his old friend in the dock, took out his chequebook and paid the fine on behalf of the man he loved. His friend was free to go. No fine, no prison sentence, no debt at all.

REFLECTION:

God is a just judge. He is also a merciful judge. He loves us so  that he offers a gesture of friendship to us, a friendship that even costs his own life for our sake…Let’s thank him for this great and unparalleled act of God.