No. 70 Jesus in Jail?

I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:36

 Prison life is a miserable life. People who could not control themselves to conform to the law are controlled by others with rules far more objectionable than the rules they violated.

Instead of not stealing a car, a prisoner cannot drive anywhere. Instead of controlling the impulse to strike an enemy, a prisoner is shackled. Instead of refusing to connive for illicit gain, a penniless prisoner loses precious freedom. Prison is where convicted criminals live in a sorry state of punishment. Without laws, the ensuing chaos demonstrates how vile and wicked human beings can be to each other.

There is no confinement as infinite, hopeless, and bleak as the prison of the self-damned. Christ offers free release, yet hardened hearts refuse to reach out to receive it from Him. In the words of John Ciardi, “Like addicts, the damned both hate and love their self-destruction.”

In Matthew, the king damns those who did not visit prisoners with compassion. To visit a prisoner is to see a sacrificial lamb carry your sins. Prisoners, from desperation, or passion, or greed, violated man’s law, while for the same reasons, we repeatedly violate God’s commands.

Console the prisoner, and awaken to the consequence of choosing darkness over light.

But when you go to prison, remember that unlike Hell, there is hope of release, and repentance, even small surprising blessings, and worship.

There but for the grace of God go I.