Published: August 17, 2008 12:42 am            

JOHNSON: Justice needs mercy to work

Jesse Mathes died two months ago. He was an evangelist who loved to share Jesus’ love with people in prison. He was a big man, with a booming voice and an infectious enthusiasm for life. He was fun to be around.

One time he was preaching in a prison chapel, and an inmate challenged him; “Hey, Jesse, he shouted, “If I came up there and slapped you in the face, would you turn the other cheek?”

“I don’t know,” Jesse laughed; “but why don’t you come on up here, and we’ll both find out!”

Jesse was a man of deep and expectant faith. When he learned a few years ago that he only had a short time to live, he decided to trust the Lord for healing. He had his bad days during his last few years, but he defied the experts and lived much longer than they expected. They were fruitful years.

Jesse got the healing he prayed for. Jesus came and got him on June 13th, and now he’s home in heaven and enjoying his reward. He will be missed.

Let me tell you about another man; I’ll call him Robert. Robert was a resident of Jesse’s program, and he wasn’t doing well. A young man, he had spent most of his life in and out of prison. He had a violent temper, and people feared him. Robert wanted to change, but didn’t know how.

When my wife and I arrived at Jesse’s place, we were told that Robert was about to be kicked out of the program; his violent outbursts were scaring everybody. His anger had made him an outcast among outcasts.

One Memorial Day the staff was gone for the weekend, and my wife and I were alone with Robert and the other residents. The men decided to have a barbeque, and invited their families to join them. No one came to visit Robert.

The guys fired up the grill and started to cook up the food; but it was taking a lot of time. No one really knew what they were doing, and the coals kept going out.

Did I mention that Robert was a large and muscular man? Well, he got a little bit impatient about the lack of progress, and decided to take over. Before anyone could stop him (not that anyone was nuts enough to try), he stepped up to the grill, pushed the other guys away, and went to work.

Robert had never barbequed before, but he did a great job. Everyone had plenty to eat, and then the men and their families wandered off to spend some time together. It was just me, Robert, and the grill. We talked as he cleaned up.

“You know, Robert;” I said, “I want you to know that you really blessed me and everyone else today. I admire the way you stepped up, took charge, and got the job done. That was really great. Thanks for doing that.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t looking at an angry young man. With a huge smile on his face, he looked like a kid with his first dish of ice cream. He finished his work, and then sat down with me under my awning. We had a long and very satisfying conversation. Robert poured out his pain, and at some point, the Lord began to set him free.

From that moment on, Robert became a model resident; the violent outbursts of anger were gone. As time progressed, I witnessed a dramatic change in his behavior. He still got mad, but he didn’t get violent anymore. People stopped fearing him, and he began to make friends.

The last time I saw Robert, he was walking to the laundromat, pulling a little red wagon full of dirty clothes. He had completed Jesse’s program, had a job and an apartment, and was growing in the Lord. And he was smiling — from the inside.

Two men; one, a giant in prison ministry, home with Jesus now, his mission accomplished; the other, a child in a man’s body, who needed to experience a father’s unconditional love in order to start a new life.

Jesse’s life didn’t start well, but he overcame his past and finished strong. Robert’s life didn’t start well either, but he’s doing great now, thanks to a “chance” conversation and Jesse’s investment in his success.

Justice requires that people who break the law must pay for their actions; but justice alone is not enough. Mercy is also required; not the kind of “mercy” that ignores guilt, but the kind that acknowledges the damage done, and then works to repair it, if possible.

Justice is needed to preserve order, but mercy maintains the peace. To me, Jesse and Robert represent the good that can happen, when justice and mercy work hand-in-hand.

The Rev. Richard H. Johnson is the co-founder and Executive Director of Christian Formation Ministries, Inc., in New Albany, whose mission is “to reduce crime, one changed life at a time.” He is in his fifteenth year in prison ministry, in the course of which he has traveled to 34 states and four Canadian provinces. He likes to sleep in his spare time. He may be reached at richard@christian-formation.org. His number at CFM, Inc. is 812-945-0886.

        

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