Our scripture lesson for today describes a classic courtroom confrontation. On this Passion Sunday it is altogether appropriate that we consider it. Courtrooms are often places of high drama and suspense. Judge Ito's courtroom in Los Angeles has dominated America's attention since January.

Enormous power is wielded in courtrooms, power to levy large fines, power to decide between freedom and prison, power to determine life or death.

Judges have wide discretionary authority to design sentences to fit the crime. I heard about a schoolteacher who had to go to traffic court because she had run a red light. The judge, with a gleam in his eye, said, "Lady, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Sit down at that table and write 500 times, 'I must not run red lights.'" Sounds to me like a lit…