Mark 14:66-72

After the arrest, all of Jesus’ disciples scattered with the exception of Peter.  Peter followed him to the courtyard where the council was trying Jesus.  However, when Peter was confronted about his involvement with Jesus, he denied even knowing him.

Often people who are incarcerated experience the withdrawal of family and friends due to their crimes.  Their feeling of abandonment only intensifies their situation.  Understandably, friends do not want to be suspected of criminal behavior, and family members often feel ashamed as they share the burden of guilt.  Families are sometimes marginalized by their friends, churches and communities.

Do you know a family that is currently facing the trial or incarceration of a close relative?  How have you treated the family thus far?  What could you or your church do this week to support them?

The state of Texas evidently believes that prisons are the answer to all infractions of the law.  There have to be other ways to hold people accountable.  Prison will only put this man (and thousands more like him) further into debt.  Check out the story at HERE.

Mark 14:53-65 

How is the “trial” of Jesus a mockery of Old Testament court procedure?  What is the final verdict based upon?  How is Jesus treated once he is convicted?

We know of many instances where prisoners are treated shamefully by guards or captors.  The torture and mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by US forces in 2003-2004 created a global scandal.  There have been charges of torture and mistreatment of prisoners at the US detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba, and guards at Cook County Jail (IL) routinely beat up inmates.  Women are often victims of rape by those assigned to guard them.  Why do you think those in authority authorize (or at least allow) mistreatment to occur?

What do you think we are to take away from the accounts of Jesus’ mistreatment? 

John 13:1-7

Judas was initially a trusted member of Jesus’ disciples.  He was given responsibility for keeping the funds and paying the bills.  Later, it was discovered that he embezzled some of the funds.  Jesus also knew that Judas would ultimately betray him to the authorities.  Yet, in this scene just prior to Jesus’ arrest, Jesus washes Judas’ feet!  Jesus recognized that Judas was not “clean”, but it did not stop Jesus from serving him.  How do you think Judas felt about having Jesus wash his feet?

Jesus told his disciples that he was giving them an example and that they should do what Jesus had done for them.  Do you think people that are not “clean” are to be included when we “wash people’s feet”?  What makes that especially challenging for you?  Which criminals would you have the most difficulty including in your “foot washing” activities?  Murderers?  Sex offenders?  Why?  

Isaiah 55:6-9

Isaiah invites ‘the wicked’ and ‘the unrighteous’ to turn to the Lord who will have mercy and abundantly pardon.  The Hebrew word translated pardon means “to forgive or release”.   We use the word ‘pardon’ to release an offender from the legal consequences of his/her action.

We are familiar with the concept with Presidential Pardons—an executive order that forgives a crime and cancels any penalty.  In the 20^th Century, over 20,000 pardons have been granted with 3,687 granted by Franklin D. Roosevelt alone.  Most famously, President Gerald Ford gave a full and unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon just before he was to be indicted for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.  His pardon of Nixon was criticized by those who wanted to see Nixon brought to justice and it remains controversial today.

As we begin the final week of Lent, we are reminded of God’s extravagant and abundant grace and forgiveness, and whose thoughts and ways are higher than our ways.  What words come to your mind as you consider God granting pardons?  How have you experienced God’s pardon?  Is there anyone that has turned to you for pardon?  If so, what did you do?  If not, what do you think you would do?

There is no devotional for Sunday, April 13, 2014.  Devotionals will resume on Monday, April 14

Today’s Chicago Tribune featured an article on the Ford Heights Four, four men who were wrongly convicted of rape and murder and sent to death row for years.  Later, they were exonerated due to DNA evidence, but they are still dealing with the effects of incarceration.  Read the entire article HERE.

Luke 18:9-14

Which person are you more like—the law-abiding citizen without a record or the person who has made questionable life choices and broken some laws? 

If you are more like the law-abiding citizen, have you ever regarded another person with contempt?  Who is most likely to be on the receiving end of that contempt—thieves, rogues, adulterers, ______?  How can you guard against contempt toward those who aren’t as upstanding as you?  Does Jesus’ story offer you any hope?

If you identify with the guy with some skeletons in his closet, how does Jesus’ story impact you?  How would you want the law-abiding citizen to treat you?

Leviticus 13:45-46; Mark 1:40-45

The Law stipulated that those with a leprous disease (a description of any skin rash or disorder) had to live in a separate place—isolated from family and friends.  While they were free to roam around, they always had to announce their condition so as not in endanger others. Once again we see Jesus refusing to shun those who have a mark, but instead offers treatment and reintegration into the community. 

Today’s laws stipulate that people with certain criminal records be restricted as to where they can live, who they can be with, and what activities they can participate in.  They must register with the police any time they move so the community can be notified as to their whereabouts.  Beneath the policy is an unwritten belief that these people are beyond redemption or change.

Do you think our isolation laws ensure public safety or do they perpetuate anti-social behavior?  What does Jesus’ action teach us? 

Wrongly convicted.  Released after 25 years.  Exonerated.  Thank God.  

http://news.yahoo.com/man-cleared-nyc-murder-25-years-prison-182841043.html

Mark 10:13-16

Jesus took children in his arms, laid his hands on them and blessed them.  However, before he could, he had to chastise his disciples for trying to prevent it.  Why do you think the disciples tried to limit the children’s access to Jesus?  What might their underlying attitude be toward children?  How do you think the children (and parents) would have felt if Jesus rejected them?

Today, we have seen a growing number of adults “laying their hands” on children—not to bless them but to punish them.  Due to zero tolerance policies, children are being suspended and expelled from school at growing rates.  Expulsion is even becoming common in preschools.  What message do you think expulsion gives to young children? 

Many groups have begun to call suspension and expulsion the first step in the “school to prison pipeline.”  Children who are expelled are much more likely to repeat the behavior and end up incarcerated in juvenile detention facilities and later in adult prisons as they grow up understanding themselves as “bad”.  What, if anything, might Jesus have to say to us about our treatment of children.  Link HERE to learn more about the “school to prison pipeline” and pray that teachers and administrators will move to divert children away from the pipeline.