216 West Seminary Avenue Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Rev. Earl E. Mason Office (410) 825-4840     Parsonage (410) 825-4718 E-mail  pastor@stjohns-lutherville.org

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Rev. Earl's Musings The Pastor's Messages from "The St. John's Story" for May 2003 Dear Members and Friends, The story is told of a man who died, and suddenly found himself in court. He soon realized that he was the defendant, the devil was the prosecutor, and God was the judge. Jesus came over to him and said, "I will defend you, if you want?" The man agreeing, the court case began. Then the devil shared all the times the man did nothing when confronted with the hungry, the homeless and the imprisoned. The man wanted to object. He had not done anything wrong. He did not in any of these cases mistreat anyone. He had worked hard to gain money and power. Now he was being blamed for how he had failed to use it to help others. It was not his job. All this should not be held against him! His attorney sat silently. The devil said, "If this is not enough, look at what this man did with the life that you gave him!" Then one by one in excruciating detail, the man's sins from the smallest to the greatest, were brought out before the court. Now in front of everyone came out the sins that he wanted no one to know about, not even his closest friends. Embarrassment was replaced with shame, followed by dread. His attorney sat silently. This time the man agreed. There was nothing to object to. It was true, all of it. The devil summed up his case. This man was undeniably guilty. How could someone this soiled, go to a place where all were clean? He certainly did not deserve paradise, and the only other place was death in Hell. There can be no other fair and just verdict. His attorney asked to approach the bench. "My client is indeed guilty," he said. "He does not deserve paradise. He does deserve Hell." Then holding up his scarred hands, he said, "I have already paid through my death on the cross for this man's sins. They have been paid for. All the sins need to be taken off the record." The Judge said, "Seeing no other charges against this man, I find him not guilty." Jesus looked to the Judge and said, "Thank you, Father." Satan stormed out yelling, "I will win next time." The man said thank you to Jesus and asked the question, "Doesn't Satan know he will never win." Jesus looked at him and said, "Whatever gave you that idea. He wins most of his cases. I only represent those I know. Some claim to know me, but they only know about me. To know I am the Son of God is not enough to make a person a follower. Satan knows I am the Son of God. Most have to stand on their own, for better or worse. Now go. I have prepared a place for you." So the story ends. It is the story of Easter. For in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our hope. Yours in Christ our Lord, Rev. Earl E. Mason To read an archive of 2003 "Musings" by Rev. Earl, Click Here To read earlier "Musings" by Rev. Earl, Click Here