“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Sgt. Joseph Serna, a Special Forces soldier, served four combat tours in Afghanistan in his almost 20 years of military service. He was almost killed three times. He has three Purple Hearts and post-traumatic stress disorder, which led to struggles with alcohol. After he was charged with driving under the influence, he entered a veteran’s treatment court program where he had to report to Judge Lou Olivera. At one visit, he admitted he lied about a urine test. Judge Olivera sentenced Serna to one day in jail.

Then the judge drove Serna to the jail in a neighboring county, and Joe was put in a cell. He barely had time to sit down when the cell opened again and the judge walked in. The judge, who had served in the Gulf War, was concerned that leaving Serna in isolation for a night would trigger his PTSD. So the judge sat with the criminal the whole time.

You have a judge who sentences you for your crimes too. God knew that sin had locked us in a cell with no chance for escape. But then he crawled into our cell with us. He sent Jesus to be God with us, to suffer the ultimate punishment for our sins, death on a cross.

On Easter morning he rose again.

And we are set free.