Family, Community, and the World: Where to find an Honest Judge.

There was a judge who had twin sons named Adam and Christopher. Adam became a scoundrel. Growing up he disobeyed his father, rebelled against him, and left home. His father was broken-hearted over the waywardness of his rebellious son. The grief grew to anger as Adam turned to a life of crime, robbing, raping, and murdering people in the land where the judge presided.

The other son, Christopher, was the ideal son. He always obeyed his father and brought his father great joy. When Christopher grew up, he decided to become a policeman and help his father protect the innocent and fight crime.

One day after murdering and raping another victim, Adam was caught and arrested by Christopher. Christopher brought Adam to court, where their father was presiding. Adam spit in the face of his father and cursed his brother. Adam tried to escape and in the midst of the melee, Adam got a gun from another officer. He shot his brother Christopher shouting, “Die, die, die.” Christopher was taken to a hospital and kept on life-support in a coma.

The trial was the next day. After hearing the evidence against his criminal son, the judge pronounced Adam guilty and sentenced him to solitary confinement in the penitentiary until the day he would be executed for his horrific crimes. On one hand the father is glad that this criminal’s crime spree is stopped and that justice will be carried out when he pays for his crimes. But, every night he weeps over his condemned son, whom he still loves.

As for Adam, the entire time he is sitting in jail, he is seething with hatred against his father and brother.

While Adam is waiting in prison for the death sentence to be carried out, his brother, Christopher, recovers from Adam’s attempt to kill him. And every night the father and Christopher weep over Adam because they love Adam so much. But, they know as a righteous judge and police officer, the law demands these heinous crimes must be paid for by death.

On the day of his execution, Adam has two visitors. He looks up from his cell to see his father and his brother standing outside his cell. They tell Adam they love Him and don’t want to see him die. But, re-emphasize that the law demands the death sentence be carried out for his crimes.

Then they tell Adam they have some good news for him. They have devised a way for the death sentence to be fulfilled without Adam having to die. More than that, he can be released from prison, and he can be changed so he doesn’t continue in his life of crime. Adam listens intently to this good news.

The father and Christopher explain that they have agreed together to let Christopher die in Adam’s place so that the death sentence is carried out. In this way the laws demands against Adam’s crimes will be fulfilled and justice will be satisfied.

But, there’s more to this good news. They tell Adam that his criminal record will be erased and in its place he will be credited with Christopher’s record of outstanding performance as a police officer.

The good news gets even better. When Christopher dies for Adam, Christopher’s brain and heart will be kept alive. And by means of a new technological transplant breakthrough, Adam can receive Christopher’s brain and heart, so that Adam will begin to live like Christopher -- a life of love and obedience toward his father.

And there’s more. If Adam agrees to let Christopher die in his place and receives the transplanted organs from Christopher so he turns from a life of crime, Adam will also take Christopher’s place on the police force to help his father protect the innocent and fight crime.

Adam begins to weep over this kind of love that his father, the judge, and his policeman brother, Christopher, have for him. He regrets the way he has treated his father and brother. He is sorry for his life of crime and wants to be rescued from death and his criminal lifestyle. He wants to live so he can please his father and work with his father to protect the innocent and fight crime. But, he also realizes his freedom from death and power to change will come at a great cost, the death of his brother, Christopher.

Overwhelmed with the love and wisdom and justice of his father and brother, Adam then asks the obvious question: “What must I do to be saved?”

The father says, “Let Christopher into your cell and let him trade places with you. When he leaves your cell and dies, believe I will accept his death as your death, and I will pronounce that you are no longer condemned to die.”

Then Christopher adds, “Say ‘No’ to living a life of crime and say ‘Yes’ to living as a law abiding son and citizen. Believe that by receiving my brain and heart you are receiving my life. And by receiving my life, I will change you from a law-breaker to a law abiding citizen who protects the innocent and fights against crime.”

Adam gladly and tearfully says, “Open the cell. I receive Christopher as the payment for my crimes. I want Christopher’s brain and heart so I can be changed from being a law-breaker to a law keeper. And I want to join my father to protect the innocent and fight crime.”

The father and Christopher enter Adam’s cell and Christopher puts on Adam’s prison clothes. Then the father takes Christopher to the wooden gallows where he will be hanged until death. They embrace one another. The father says, “I love you, son.” Christopher says, “I love you, Dad.” The father places the noose around Christopher’s neck and with feelings of great sorrow, yet great joy, he pulls the lever and puts Christopher to death.

Then the father goes back to Adam’s cell and says “Christopher has died for you. You are no longer under condemnation and I release you from prison. Now let’s go to the hospital for the transplant.” They go immediately to the hospital where Adam eagerly receives Christopher’s brain and heart.

When Adam awakes from the surgery the next morning, his father says, “I love you, son.” And Adam says, “I love you, Dad.” The father gives Christopher’s police uniform to Adam, which he promptly puts on. Then the father and Adam leave the hospital arm-in-arm. They are walking and rejoicing together in this renewed relationship that Christopher made possible by giving his life for Adam and to Adam.

And when they step outside into the sunlight of the new day -- there stands Christopher.