An Innocent Man

An Innocent Man

The above title is not original; in fact many of you probably recognize it as the title of a John Gresham book I recently read. Feelings of anger and sympathy ran through my mind while reading it.

I don’t think I am giving away any secrets in saying the book is about an "innocent man" wrongly accused and convicted of a crime. A young lady was murdered in Ada, Oklahoma. The detectives decided this man was the murderer and went about the business of gathering evidence against him. Medical evidence that first proved his innocence was later re-examined and used to condemn him. False witnesses were gathered to testify against him. The judge neglected his duty to ensure a fair trial. The prosecutor threatened witnesses to make sure they testified against the accused. His defense lawyer doubted the man’s innocence and showed no real interest in the case. Much of the evidence was visual in nature and the defense lawyer was blind so he was unable to cross examine it properly. Even the jury was tainted with members that were prejudice against the defendant. Finally, the man was found guilty and placed on death row in McAlester, Oklahoma.

All of this was in the 1980’s before DNA testing was done. The innocent man was within days of being executed when a Federal Judge stopped the proceedings. Upon review of the case it was determined a new trial was needed. DNA testing proved his innocence. Witnesses were exposed and the real murderer was eventually determined by DNA testing. Despite all of this, the prosecutor still believed the man was guilty of murder. The "innocent man" was released and eventually sued the city of Ada and won.

Let me point out some lessons this book illustrates for us.

First, we should be angry when we hear of an innocent man being wrongly condemned. This man did many things wrong, but he was innocent of the charges against him. In reading of Jesus we read of a man that was falsely accused. "Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.’" (Matthew 26.59-60). Not only were the witnesses liars but the judges had already determined that Jesus had to die. "Then the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this man works many signs...Then from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death" (John 11.47, 53). The trial we read about in the gospels was not to determine Jesus’ innocence, but to condemn Him. To quote a line in a western movie, "They wanted to have a fair trial and then hang him."

While we should be angered at the treatment of Jesus, we should also realize the great love He showed for all of us. The death of Jesus was according to God’s plan. Psalm 22 describes the torment Jesus felt on the cross. Isaiah 53 tells us how Jesus was lead as a lamb to the slaughter. None of what we read in the Gospels was a surprise to God or Jesus. The Son of God knew when He went to Jerusalem He would be betrayed and handed over to the Romans. Matt 20:17-19

17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."

As the song says, Why did He drink the bitter cup of sorrow, pain and woe? Why on the cross be lifted up? Because He loved me so! In contrast to the man in the John Grishom’s

book, Jesus did not fight for His rights, but He laid them aside and went to the cross.

Man’s justice is often imperfect, but God’s is perfect. I have often defended the death penalty. The Bible teaches that the government has the responsibility to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, Romans 13. I walked away from reading this book with some misgivings of condemning men to death when they may be innocent. I understand every person on death row is not innocent, but the few that are deserve better treatment. In contrast to man’s justice we can say God’s justice is perfect. He knows all that we do, all that we say, and all that we think. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

We will not be falsely accused; there will be no false witnesses against us. The judge will not be prejudiced against us. God is the perfect Judge and His word is the standard. Whatever we receive will be just, those in sin will be condemned and those that have had their sins washed away by the blood of Christ will have the reward of heaven. 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Finally, I thought of what it must be like to live on death row with all the murders and violent people. The loss of freedom and privacy and the knowledge you are there for one purpose, to die. Now think of your life. We are going to die one day, Hebrews 9.27. If we die in a lost condition we will spend eternity with murderers, liars, and those without respect for God or man.

Our hope of salvation is to go to "the innocent man" that died for us and being faithful to His word. D.T.

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