The Innocent Man Premium

DEVOTIONAL FOR 4/23/11

“If I’d only known this morning that he might have been innocent, I’d have charged him ‘The Innocent Man Premium’.” That’s straight from the lawyer’s mouth in the book, now movie, Lincoln Lawyer. He, the lawyer, is referring to a practice of charging more for an innocent man who has been falsely accused. Why? Well, because there’s no easy way out. For a guilty man, the defense can bargain for a lesser charge and sentence, but an innocent man requires a lot more work to defend. Shocking, isn’t it? Well, maybe not…after all, lawyers have a reputation to uphold.

The concept brings to my mind another innocent man who paid a premium, the only man who ever was completely innocent. The price He paid was not for His own defense, for He was given the verdict of our guilt, but He paid the price for our innocence.

Who’d have thought that their 3 year high would’ve ended so horrifically? At first they all scattered in fear at the sight of Roman soldiers making the arrest. Those military men were very good at their job. Their intimidation and follow through, their ruthless tactics, their creative ways of torture made them seem as if they had no conscience at all. Then, in spite of fear, the curiosity of the disciples placed them in the crowd of onlookers to witness a type of death well known in the region and probably observed from time to time with little empathy because, after all, the victims were criminals.

Never before had they thought so carefully about the details of a crucifixion, and when it was over, they found no rest. They suffered a replay over and over and over again of every cry, gasp, wrenched expression, stumble, quivering muscles…the list of details of what their eyes beheld go on and on. No matter how hard they tried that Saturday, they could not stop the traumatizing recap of the torture and death of their beloved Jesus the night before.

Is that what that whole scenario was…an “Innocent Man Premium”? But that’s the charge to defend an innocent man, and Jesus was not defended. He was silent as he was falsely accused. There was no arguing, no bargaining…He was led to the slaughter like a lamb.

On the other hand, His death is our defense isn’t it? For all those in Christ, our criminal charges are considered false in the eyes of God when Satan stands before Him accusing us. When…and only when…we accept the forgiveness Jesus Christ offers us, every finger pointed at us by our adversary is given the verdict of “Innocent”. Our defender is our Lord Jesus Himself. He did the work of our defense and He paid the premium for us. We never had to pay it. But, oh what a high price it was.

It’s understood that crucifixion was and is the most painful form of execution. Was Jesus’ more painful than anyone else’s? That’s quite possible. I’ve read about the details of what Jesus suffered through. I’ve asked myself about the chances of any other person suffering through each one of those details. I believe it’s likely that many have suffered through several of them, but even if some experienced them all, there’s one more aspect that might put Jesus’ suffering over the top. It’s a detail that is often missed, overlooked or disregarded as having anything to do with the horror of His crucifixion. It happened in the garden.

The intensity of the battle going on in our Lord’s spirit while He prayed had a physical effect. Sweating drops of blood is not just a poetic use of words to dramatize His anxiety. It’s a medical condition called hematidrosis. It’s a breakdown of the capillaries in the sweat glands causing blood to seep into the sweat. The after effect is understood to be an increase in the sensitivity of the skin. The pain He experienced the next day was very likely intensified due to this occurrence.

I have for years wondered why His death had to be so horrific. I understood that death was necessary. God says that death is the consequence of sin. The death of a sinless man was enough to cover every sin and consequences of those sins for all those who believe and ask for His forgiveness. Sure that makes sense, but I never understood the reason behind the torture.

Wouldn’t you know it? My pastor had that same question, and a couple of weeks ago, he offered an explanation. Scripture gives us insight to this question. It was the high price that had to be paid. Death is the bottom line price for sin. However, Satan was like a prosecuting attorney at a sentence hearing demanding a higher penalty or price. He demanded one high enough that he thought maybe, just maybe, Jesus wouldn’t go through with it. If we were bought with a price, just who do you think we were bought from?

I can just see it. As my Lord battled in His spirit, alone in that garden, while His closest friends drifted off to sleep, Satan was standing before the Father upping the price more and more. Jesus begged the Father to find a way out, but still said, “Your will be done….” It was God’s will for His Son to pay whatever had to be paid. The deal was made, signed and sealed with sweat tinged with blood. He got up, left the garden, and paid the price. He paid the “Innocent Man Premium” so that we would be set free and declared innocent.

The gavel did not hit the moment that Jesus breathed His last breath that Friday. It remained raised in the air hour after hour the next day while the disciples were remembering every detail. The clock was ticking waiting for that gavel to finish the job, and it did not make the final slam until the entire price was paid…midnight…Sunday morning…the gavel came down…it was enough to move the stone and raise the Son.

Every last penny was paid, and the verdict? Well, that’s up to you. What’s your verdict? Are you guilty or innocent? We’re all guilty until we accept the defense that’s already been paid at a premium cost. If you don’t accept it, you’ll have to pay for it yourself. What are you waiting for?

Amie Spruiell 4/18/2011