The Greatest Injustice

In 1984, Kirk Bloodsworth, an ex-Marine with no criminal history, was arrested for murder after one of his neighbors thought he looked like the man in a composite sketch he had seen on TV. Throughout the trial, Kirk steadfastly maintained his innocence. In 1985, Kirk listened in horror as the jury rendered a guilty verdict and sentenced him to death. Kirk spent the next 2 years on death row in a prison cell below the gas chamber. Somehow he found the inner strength to move past his anger focusing instead on fighting to prove his innocence. He wrote letters, made telephone calls, trying to get someone, anyone to listen.

While reading a crime story, he learned about DNA testing and demanded to be tested. The DNA test was ordered and when the results were obtained, they proved that he could not have committed the murder. He was finally freed after serving nearly 9 years in prison. Had he not been his own best advocate - had DNA testing not been available, he might be dead today. And so, Kirk Bloodsworth was released from DEATH ROW after being wrongfully accused, wrongfully convicted and wrongfully sentenced to die.*

But Kirk Bloodsworth is not the ONLY innocent man to have been wrongfully accused, wrongfully convicted, and wrongfully sentenced to die….

An angry mob of Jews brought JESUS to Pilate, the Roman governor, making false accusations against Him and demanding His execution.  After questioning Jesus, "Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, 'You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found NO FAULT in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him … Indeed NOTHING deserving of death has been done by Him" (Luke 23:13-16).  The Jews cried out in opposition.  Pilate tried to reason with them: "Why, what evil has He done? - I have found NO REASON for death in Him! 
I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."  "But they were insistent, demanding with LOUD voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested" (Luke 23:22-24) 

And so, after enduring the mockery of a trial and a severe public flogging, this INNOCENT man was led away…. and was crucified between two criminals.

Here was a Man who was not only wrongfully ACCUSED, wrongfully CONVICTED, and wrongfully SENTENCED to die, but also One who was wrongfully EXECUTED for crimes that He did NOT commit. And what's worse -- THIS man is the Son of God!
Truly, the death of Jesus was the greatest injustice of ALL.

However, the crucifixion of Jesus accomplished the eternal plan of God to provide salvation from SIN for each one of us.  Although He had committed no sin, Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:22-24). "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Greatest INJUSTICE of mankind turned out to be the greatest BLESSING for mankind – as it became the means of salvation to all who will: place their trust in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sin (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (immersed) so that their sins can be forgiven (Acts 2:38), AND live faithfully to Him until death (Revelation 2:10).

Will you allow Him to bear the punishment for YOUR sins?

God bless you.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695  

*Oprah.com (adapted)

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