Orthodox Church in America - The Hub for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Session 9: Final Deliberations and the Jury's Decision

Respected Ladies and Gentlemen of the Juries, you have now heard the evidence and the arguments for and against the person of Jesus of Nazareth. It is time for you to decide whether you will find Him guilty of misrepresentation, as the Prosecution has attempted to demonstrate, or not guilty, as the defense has tried to demonstrated. Is Jesus the Son of God, risen from the Dead? Or is he the subject, willingly or unwillingly, of a great hoax and sham? If He is a false God, you must find Him Guilty. If he is true God of true God, you must find Him innocent, Not Guilty.

In courts of Law where Juries must deliberate over the fate of the person who stands accused, they must be able to come to a unanimous decision. All jurors must agree on the verdict, based on the evidence that they have heard and seen.

In this court, you have really not been able to hear a completely unbiased trial. All evidence you have received has come through one person, your teacher, and while has tried to be faithful to both the prosecution and the defense, it is unlikely that you doubt which position he agrees with. Therefore, you may find it justifiably difficult to render a decision in this matter, until you find evidence outside this classroom to substantiate the evidence presented. Your teacher has made every effort to provide evidence that speaks for itself as well as arguments that stand on their own merits as sensible and coherent. It is the opinion of this court that you should indeed make every effort to continue your education in this area so that you will be able to make the most educated and dependable decision possible.

In the meantime, however, please make your final decision for the purposes of this court, using the following questions as guidelines in your deliberations:

At present, how convinced are you that the evidence supports the position of the prosecution? What about the defense?

What evidence do you consider most significant and influential in your decision? Why?

What evidence do you consider least significant and influential in your decision? Why?

What other questions would you like to have answered in order to feel more certain in rendering a decision? What kinds of evidence would you also like to consider?

How would you improve these court proceedings in future cases? Are there any jurors who would be willing to participate in such a trial as prosecutors or defenders, and not just jurors?

As you end deliberations, how does your jury find the defendant, Jesus of Nazareth, called Christ? Is He guilty or not guilty of misrepresentation, either voluntary or involuntary, in the Gospels and Bible that claim to represent the truth about Him?

Please remember to seek a unanimous position. This may mean you will have to debate and discuss amongst yourselves for some time, possibly even having to convince members of your jury who do not agree with you (whether for or against the defendant, Jesus). At the appointed time, your jury spokesperson must render the verdict to the court. A jury which cannot agree unanimously will be considered a mistrial. Lastly, the court thanks you for your attention and participation in these proceedings.