You Are The Jury

These are written so that you may believe.   John 20:31, ESV

Imagine that you are in a court of law. You are part of the jury, and the apostle John wants to present you with evidence that shows Jesus is the Christ. When he is finished presenting his case, he will be looking for you to give a verdict.

He is not like a bully attorney, trying to intimidate you. Nor is he a tear jerker, trying to gain your sympathy. He is presenting key evidence of the things that he has seen and heard as a direct witness over the three years that he has spent with Jesus. All he asks is that you hear the evidence without prejudice.

Of course, that is precisely the problem. When a jury is sworn in, the key question is whether there are any ways they may be prejudiced with regard to the particular case that is going to be tried. You may be a very good member of the jury in one trial, but you may be highly prejudiced when it comes to another.

Many people have issues that cause them to prejudge their hearing of the evidence about Jesus. For example, our culture is highly prejudiced against the possibility that any one person could be the Savior of the world, so many dismiss this possibility before they’ve even heard the evidence.

There is also prejudice in our hearts. We know that if we come to the verdict that Jesus is the Christ, it will have a major impact on the direction of our lives. Many people are tempted to come to a conclusion before they’ve heard the evidence. They’re not open to hearing the actual evidence, so they ask to be excused from the jury. “I’m sorry, but I cannot try this case.”

If you are not in heaven on the last day, it will not be because God has failed to provide you with the evidence or with the opportunity. Don’t excuse yourself from the jury, and don’t allow the opinions of others to determine your verdict. He has given you firsthand evidence, so take the time to examine it carefully.

For further reading, see John 20