The crack of a gavel commands instant silence, yet John the Baptist commanded attention with nothing but a leather belt and a message that cuts through our modern obsession with never judging others. We love to quote “judge not,” but Scripture paints a more complex picture than just turning a blind eye to sin. This message tackles the difference between hypocritical pride and necessary truth-telling, leading us to the ultimate courtroom scene where the evidence is stacked against us, but the Judge himself steps in to take the sentence—leaving us with the surprising, scandalous verdict of “Not Guilty.”