(scene: judge's bench or podium)
JUDGE -- (enters wearing black robe, crosses to bench, pounds gavel) This court is now in session. Case number (reads) 194571. Are both parties ready to proceed?
PROSECUTOR -- (enters carrying file folder) The prosecution is ready to proceed, Your Honour. (offers file folder to Judge) Jehovah versus Elizabeth Johnson. One count: violation of the fifth commandment.
JUDGE -- (paging through folder) How does the defendant plead? (pause) How does the defendant plead? (looks around) Where is defense counsel?
DEFENSE -- (enters running, carrying in briefcase) Sorry I'm late, Your Honour. I couldn't find the courtroom. I'm new here.
PROSECUTOR -- Another new one.
JUDGE -- Are you representing Elizabeth Johnson in case number (reads) 194571?
DEFENSE -- (pulls folder from briefcase, reads) 194571. Yes, Your Honour. That's the one. I'd like to move for a continuance.
JUDGE -- Motion denied.
DEFENSE -- Don't you want to know why I need a continuance?
JUDGE -- Not particularly.
DEFENSE -- Well, I don't think I can represent the accused sufficiently. I was just assigned the case five minutes ago. I haven't had time to familiarize myself with the facts of the case.
PROSECUTOR -- (condescending) He's new here.
JUDGE -- Doesn't matter. Get on with it.
PROSECUTOR -- Yes, Your Honour. The accused, Elizabeth Johnson,...
DEFENSE -- ...Your Honour, I really must object.
JUDGE -- What for this time?
DEFENSE & PROSECUTOR -- The accused is not present in the courtroom.
DEFENSE -- How did she know what I was going to say?
JUDGE -- They all say that. Poor slobs.
DEFENSE -- Well, it's true. We can't have a fair hearing without the accused being present, can we?
JUDGE -- Sure we can. Please proceed.
PROSECUTOR -- The accused, Elizabeth Johnson, disrespected her mother while in a disagreement over....
DEFENSE -- Your Honour, I really don't see how the accused can receive a fair hearing under these conditions.
JUDGE -- Stop interrupting. It's all a formality.
DEFENSE -- A formality?! According to the law of Moses, the penalty for disrespecting one's mother or father is DEATH!
JUDGE -- Why can't they train these new defense lawyers?
PROSECUTOR -- It's the turnover, Your Honour. As soon as they see what a travesty this judicial system is, they get themselves transferred to another department.
JUDGE -- Read on.
PROSECUTOR -- The accused, Elizabeth Johnson, disrespected her mother while in a disagreement over her relationship with an unbeliever.
JUDGE -- (paging folder) I don't see any paperwork on the alleged relationship.
PROSECUTOR -- It's the amendment on page nine. The charge was amended to include being yoked with an unbeliever.
DEFENSE -- (pages folder) I didn't get the amended complaint. Isn't that cause for a continuance?
PROSECUTOR & JUDGE -- No.
JUDGE -- Read on.
PROSECUTOR -- The accused, Elizabeth Johnson, disrespected her mother while in a disagreement over her relationship with an unbeliever. Defendant is also charged with one count of being unequally yoked with an unbeliever....
DEFENSE -- Your Honour, I really must object!
JUDGE -- So noted. How does the defendant plead?
DEFENSE -- Well, since the defendant is not here to consult about the plea, I will have to enter a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
JUDGE -- Very well. A plea of not guilty will be entered on behalf of the defendant, Elizabeth Johnson. Case dismissed. (pounds gavel) This court is adjourned. (pounds gavel, exits) I wonder what they're serving in the cafeteria.
PROSECUTOR -- (follows) I think today is meat loaf day.
DEFENSE -- Wait a minute!
PROSECUTOR -- (stops, turns) Yeah?
DEFENSE -- What just happened here?
PROSECUTOR -- Don't complain. Your client got of scott free. (turns)
DEFENSE -- Wait a minute.
PROSECUTOR -- Yeah?
DEFENSE -- I don't understand.
PROSECUTOR -- Good. As soon as you understand, you'll put in for a transfer. (turns) It's best you don't know.
DEFENSE -- (follows) Know what?! The penalty for disrespecting ones parents is DEATH. How did she get off? Was it something I said? Am I that persuasive?
PROSECUTOR -- (turns) Not you. It's Jesus. He already paid the penalty for the accused. She's a Christian. She gets off scott free. (exits) Talk about a travesty of justice.
DEFENSE -- (examines folder, exiting) I wonder if Elizabeth Johnson knows just how lucky she is.
-Bob Snook-
Galatians 3
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1 Timothy 2
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Hebrews 9
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
1 Peter 1
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Galatians 3
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1 Timothy 2
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Hebrews 9
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
1 Peter 1
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
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