This court room drama brings the gospel alive in an easy to understand way.

1. The Way An Original Presentation By Leona Atkinson

2. I am in court before the Judge. The verdict has been read. I am guilty of sin and deserve to be punished. The punishment is death. What do I have to say for myself? Are there any last words I wish to speak before my sentence is carried out?

3. I plead for mercy! The reality is that I am a sinner. I know it but I am helpless to change. I try but I fail and this makes me even more miserable. Judge, help me! I know I am guilty. I know I deserve your punishment. What can I do to pay for my sins? What can I do to escape your judgement? Can I be forgiven? Can I make restitution? What can I do??!!

4. The Judge replies “NOTHING”. “There is nothing you can do.” Because of your sins, I as a just and holy Judge must sentence you to death. I cannot forgive you. I cannot restore you. The verdict is death.

5. My countenance falls. I stand alone. Guilty! Hanging my head, I await my due punishment.

6. HOPE “ But…the Judge says….there is Hope!”

7. My head jerks up. I look and see a softening in his eyes. I listen in desperation, barely able to breathe, as he continues speaking.

8. HOPE “ There is hope” the Judge says “ Because I Am also the One who is loving and full of grace and mercy. Because of this, I have made a way for you to be saved from the wrath of judgement. There is a way for you to be justified.

9. “ Justified?” I whisper. “What does that mean?” I ask timidly.

10. “ Justified means that your debt will be cancelled.” the Judge says. You will be set free from the guilt and punishment of your sins and declared legally “Not Guilty” for any sins past, present or future. You will be released from the punishment of death.” HOPE

11. I can barely speak I am so in awe of this revelation! “ How can this happen?” I ask excitedly. “ What is the way You have made for me to receive this?”

12. The Judge looks to His right, to One who is seated next to Him. “ Son” He says.

13. The One called Son stands up. “ Yes, Father” He says.

14. “ Son, this person is a sinner and is due to be condemned to death, but is now pleading for mercy. There is no one here who can help this person. Are You willing to be this person’s Advocate?” the Judge says.

15. “ Yes Father,” the One called Son answers.

16. Just then, I hear a loud voice, almost as the sound of a lion roaring, and someone comes running towards the Judge’s bench. He has a name on him which says “Accuser”. “Guilty! Guilty!” He is shouting as he points at me. “This one is guilty and deserves to die!”

17. “ Silence!” says the Judge. “ Let My Son, who is this person’s Advocate, speak.”

18. The Advocate looks at the Accuser and then speaks. “ All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. I have already paid the price for this person’s sins and there is no reason that this one should have to receive punishment or death.”

19. The Accuser backs away and says nothing, but slowly begins to move toward me. I feel a chill run down my spine as he positions himself between me and the One called Advocate.

20. The Advocate looks at me. His eyes are so full of love. “ I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” He says. “ I have paid the price for your freedom. If you will believe in Me and in what I have done for you, you will be set free and will have an eternal life in heaven as well as an abundant life here on earth.

21. I am now so confused. It is all so overwhelming to me. I feel like I am dreaming. “ Why would You pay the price for me?” I hear myself saying. “I don’t understand! I don’t even know You ! And it’s not like I am innocent. I am guilty and I do deserve to be punished. So why would You accept my punishment and pay the price for my freedom?”

22. The Judge now speaks. “ I told you previously that I had made the way for you to be set free. My Son is The Way.”

23. The one called Accuser is now standing in front of me, blocking my view of the Judge and the Advocate. “ The Way?” He whispers into my ear. “ Did He say The Way?” “ I am not sure…” I say, “ I think that is what He said.”

24. “ Surely, there is more than One Way !” he hisses.

25. It is hard for me to think clearly. The Accuser’s voice continues speaking in my ear with an ominious hissing sound. “ I can show you many ways….” I hear him saying.

26. I strain to see and hear the Judge and the Advocate, but I feel almost blinded and deaf. It seems as if I cannot see or hear anything except the Accuser who is standing in front of me now blocking my view and constantly whispering in my ear. “ Leave me alone” I cry out “Stop tormenting me!”

27. Suddenly I hear someone as if in travail, wailing and crying loudly, it seems as if they are in great distress. As I turn to look, I feel a mighty rushing wind blow over me. It’s as if someone just turned on a big fan.

28. The Accuser falls backward and staggers as if nearly knocked over by the wind. My mind now seems to clear and once again I am able to see and hear the Judge and the Advocate.

29. “ There is no other Way, in heaven or on earth, that you can be saved and set free.” the Judge is saying. “ If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”

30. Somehow, in my heart, I know what the Judge is saying to be true. I do need someone to save me. I cannot save myself and I have tried all the other ways.

31. “ I believe You!” I shout! Running forward, I drop to my knees in front of the Advocate. “Save me! Set me free! I know there is no other way for me to be saved. I have tried my way and many ways, but nothing has worked. I have a sinful nature and cannot help myself. I repent of all I have done and place all my hope and trust in You.”

32. I am sobbing now, feeling broken and helpless. I am so near to the Advocate I can barely hear the Accuser who is behind me calling out.

33. The Advocate reaches out and touches me. “ Stand up, child” He says. “Your faith has saved you.” “ Receive now, My Robe of Righteousness, which will be your covering.”

34. As He places His Robe on me, He turns and writes something in a Book and hands it to the Judge. “ Your name is now written in ‘The Book of Life’ ” He says. “You may go now to stand before My Father clothed in My Robe of Righteousness.”

35. As I turn and walk to stand before the Judge, One whose name is “Helper” comes and stands next to me.

36. “ The Helper will go with you and be your Guide. He will lead you and teach you how to live an abundant life here on earth, a life that is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” The Judge looks down at me and says: “ You are free to go. There is no record here against you.”

37. As I turn to go, the Judge says: “ Walk in the freedom you have received, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I have prepared a Book of Truth for you to read daily. If you will read it daily and keep it in your mind and heart, it will keep you on the right path and help you grow in your new life and give you wisdom to help others. “

38. The Helper hands me the Book of Truth the Judge is speaking about and begins to reveal amazing things in it to me, great and wonderful things that I never before knew! I am so excited I can hardly wait to read and learn more. I feel as if I am actually hungry and thirsty for these words in this Book.

39. “ One more thing, before you go out into the world” the Judge says: “ Remember that the Accuser, who is your enemy, wants to kill you, steal your freedom and destroy your life. Stay alert, then, and do not give him any opportunity. He will tempt you to sin, but My Son, your Advocate, will be praying for you and He will always provide you with a way out so you can stand in freedom. However, if you do happen to stumble and fall into sin, My Son, who is your Advocate, will forgive you if you will turn from your sin and repent, for He is Faithful and Just to forgive you and restore you again to freedom.”

40. “ Thank you ! Thank you so much! “ I say “ I am so grateful for my new freedom and my new life! I feel as if I am a new creation ! The old me is gone and this new me is so anxious to go now and LIVE!!”

41. The Son then spoke. “ Fulfill ‘The Great Commission’. Go, then, into the world and tell everyone this Good News! Share your testimony with all you meet. The Helper will be with you always and will give you the right words to say. Go, and be a witness to all that has happened to you, so others may receive forgiveness and freedom just as you have. “

43. THIS IS NOT THE END BUT ONLY THE BEGINNING… Of LIFE! FOR ETERNITY