Dateline: Minneapolis
For the past 2 weeks I was on jury duty (2nd time in 10 years). After days of waiting I was chosen to be in the selection pool for a kidnapping case. The defendant was representing himself and the state provided a prosecuting attorney. All of the members of the jury were thoroughly questioned and informed of the general details of the case. One morning we (the jury arrived) and were told to wait in the hallway. After 3 hours of waiting we were allowed into the courtroom and told the defendant had accepted a plea deal of "guilty" and had been sentenced. So, the jury was sent home for good. As we were leaving, I asked the judge what the sentence was and she told me, "74 months in prison."
I immediately wondered what kind of sentence was hanging over the defendant's head in order to make him accept 6 years behind bars...
Though this experience is ripe with sermon illustrations (the perils of defending yourself, the penalty of iniquity, judgment, prosecution, defense, etc.) all I can think about is the sentence we deserve without the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
These words mean so much to me right now, "For my pardon this my plea- nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
