사형수 감방의 기쁨 Death Row Joy

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3월 18일 • 수요일

사형수 감방의 기쁨 Death Row Joy

성경읽기: 신명기 32-34; 마가복음 15:26-47

새찬송가: 488 (통539)

오늘의 성경말씀 / 베드로전서 1:3-9

이제도 보지 못하나 믿고 말할 수 없는 영광스러운 즐거움으로 기뻐하니 [베드로전서 1:8]

1985년 앤서니 레이 힌튼은 두 명의 식당 매니저를 살해한 혐의로 기소되었습니다. 그것은 조작된 것이었습니다. 그는 사건 당시 몇 마일 떨어진 곳에 있었지만 유죄 판결을 받고 사형을 언도 받았습니다. 재판에서 레이는 자신에 대해 거짓말한 사람들을 용서하며, 이런 억울함에도 불구하고 자신은 여전히 기쁘다고 말했습니다. “나는 죽으면 천국에 갑니다. 당신들은 어디로 갑니까”

레이에게는 사형수 생활이 힘들었습니다. 다른 사형수들에게 전기의자가 사용될 때마다 교도소 불빛이 깜빡거렸는데, 그 일은 앞으로 자신에게 일어날 일을 암울하게 상기시켜 주었습니다. 레이는 거짓말 탐지기 테스트를 통과했지만 그 결과는 무시되었습니다. 그것은 그의 사건에 대한 재심 결정이 나기 전까지 당했던 많은 부당한 일들 중 하나였습니다.

마침내 2015년 성금요일에 미국 대법원은 레이의 유죄판결을 뒤집었습니다. 그는 거의 30년 동안 사형수로 살아 왔습니다. 그런 그의 삶이야말로 하나님의 실재를 보여주는 증거입니다. 레이는 예수님을 믿는 믿음 때문에 시련 중에도 소망을 가질 수 있었으며(베드로전서 1:3-5), 불의 앞에서도 초자연적인 기쁨을 경험할 수 있었습니다(8절). 레이는 풀려난 후에 “내가 가진 이 기쁨은 감옥에서 절대 빼앗을 수 없었다”고 말했습니다. 그런 기쁨은 그의 믿음이 참된 것임을 증명해 주었습니다(7-8절).

사형수가 기뻐할 수 있다고요? 그것은 억지로 할 수 있는 것이 아닙니다. 그런 기쁨은 눈에 보이지 않아도 살아 계시고 시련 중에 우리를 붙드시는 하나님을 가리켜 보여줍니다. - Sheridan Voysey

시련 중에 하나님의 기쁨을 경험했던 사람들을 떠올려 보십시오. 그들의 믿음의 특징이 무엇이었습니까? 바로 지금 억울함을 겪고 있는 사람에게 어떻게 하나님의 기쁨을 전해줄 수 있을까요?

모든 소망의 하나님, 우리가 어떤 상황에도 하나님을 신뢰할 때 우리를 당신의 기쁨과 평화로 채워주소서. 하나님을 사랑합니다.

베드로전서 1:3-9

3. 우리 주 예수 그리스도의 아버지 하나님을 찬송하리로다 그의 많으신 긍휼대로 예수 그리스도를 죽은 자 가운데서 부활하게 하심으로 말미암아 우리를 거듭나게 하사 산 소망이 있게 하시며

4. 썩지 않고 더럽지 않고 쇠하지 아니하는 유업을 잇게 하시나니 곧 너희를 위하여 하늘에 간직하신 것이라

5. 너희는 말세에 나타내기로 예비하신 구원을 얻기 위하여 믿음으로 말미암아 하나님의 능력으로 보호하심을 받았느니라

6. 그러므로 너희가 이제 여러 가지 시험으로 말미암아 잠깐 근심하게 되지 않을 수 없으나 오히려 크게 기뻐하는도다

7. 너희 믿음의 확실함은 불로 연단하여도 없어질 금보다 더 귀하여 예수 그리스도께서 나타나실 때에 칭찬과 영광과 존귀를 얻게 할 것이니라

8. 예수를 너희가 보지 못하였으나 사랑하는도다 이제도 보지 못하나 믿고 말할 수 없는 영광스러운 즐거움으로 기뻐하니

9. 믿음의 결국 곧 영혼의 구원을 받음이라

Death Row Joy

Though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

In 1985 Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with the murders of two restaurant managers. It was a set up—he’d been miles away when the crimes happened—but he was found guilty and sentenced to death. At the trial, Ray forgave those who lied about him, adding that he still had joy despite this injustice. “After my death, I’m going to heaven,” he said. “Where are you going?”

Life on death row was hard for Ray. Prison lights flickered whenever the electric chair was used for others, a grim reminder of what lay ahead. Ray passed a lie detector test but the results were ignored, one of many injustices he faced getting his case reheard.

Finally, on Good Friday 2015, Ray’s conviction was overturned by the US Supreme Court. He’d been on death row for nearly thirty years. His life is a testament to the reality of God. Because of his faith in Jesus, Ray had a hope beyond his trials (1 Peter 1:3–5) and experienced supernatural joy in the face of injustice (v. 8). “This joy that I have,” Ray said after his release, “they couldn’t ever take that away in prison.” Such joy proved his faith to be genuine (vv. 7–8).

Death row joy? That’s hard to fabricate. It points us to a God who exists even though He’s unseen and who’s ready to sustain us in our own ordeals. — Sheridan Voysey

Reflect on others who’ve experienced God’s joy in their ordeals. What have been the qualities of their faith? How can you bring God’s joy to someone facing injustice right now?

God of all hope, fill us with Your joy and peace as we trust in You despite our circumstances. We love You!