Rusty never had any visitors, he didn’t have any friends or family.
He was filthy and smelly, just languishing in jail, no one bothered with him on death row.
Then a lovely christian man (Bill) started visiting him and showing him the love of Jesus and in that dank jail cell, Rusty this condemned man, became a Christian.
He knew his life wasn’t long on this earth.
This christian man, Bill who was kind to the murderer on death row was actually the brother of the girl Rusty had murdered.
Some say why would he do that?
Didn’t Bill want revenge?
Didn’t he want to punch him up?
Bill was just showing the love of Jesus doing what a real committed excellent christian would do, it was amazing that this christian man would look after the man that had murdered his sister, how amazing.
He visited and shared with Rusty, and cared for him while he was on death row.
The last night of Rusty’s life and he was waiting to go to the electric chair next morning.
Bill came to see him.
Bill came to say goodbye and they discussed looking forward to being in heaven.
Then Bill kissed Rusty on the forehead and tucked his blanket around him because in the morning Rusty would be going to his execution.
Do you know that was the first time Rusty had been kissed on the forehead and tucked in at night, he never had that as a child.
Message here - love your children, and when you forgive someone it brings release to you.
Jesus was spat on, abused, whipped, betrayed, tempted by Satan, crucified.
And his words on the cross were “Father forgive them they know not what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 Both Bill and Jesus did it how about you this Easter.?
Chaplain Liz Spicer
