Martinko was a poor orphan boy who lived in the village of Raschowo in northern Hungary many years ago. When twelve years old he began helping the village shepherd, and every day in, summer they drove the cattle and sheep to feed on the hillsides nearby.
Next year the old shepherd died and Martinko was given the charge of the flocks and an old hut to live in. He liked the animals and kept good watch of them and in his spare time he wove baskets and mats. It was pleasant on fine days to be out under the big trees. Often as he looked off to the blue sky he wondered what heaven was like. He had heard that God was there, but he knew little more of Him. No one had ever taken the time to tell him, and he had never been sent to school, or on Sundays to hear the preaching.
One day a stranger came down the hill path, and sat on a rock to rest. He talked with Martinko and showed him a book which he said was God’s Holy Word. The boy begged him to read aloud. This the young man did, but first he told him that all people in the world are sinners, yet that God loves them, so He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to bear the punishment of those sins Himself.
Then he began to read: first how Jesus went into a garden near the city of Jerusalem, and prayed and wept; how the soldiers came and took Him, bound, to the Jewish rulers, and to Pilate, the Roman Judge, who passed the sentence of death, though he could find no fault in Him. Then the soldiers scourged Jesus; spit on Him put on His head a mock crown of sharp thorns and led Him away to Calvary’s hill, where they nailed Him through the hands and feet to a heavy cross, to slowly die. A crowd stood by, with the soldiers, watching-and mocking Him as He hung there for six hours. Yet He never resisted, and spoke only gentle words, and prayed God to forgive them. The last three hours the sun was hid and all was dark, though yet day.
At last Jesus gave up His own life, saying, “It is finished.” And a soldier thrust a spear into His side. Men who loved Jesus begged for the body and buried Him, and a stone was rolled. against the grave.
All this sad story Martinko had not heard before, and he felt so sad that it was for his sins, as also for all our sins, that God’s Holy Son suffered that cruel death, that he laid down on the ground crying. To comfort him, the man read more; how on the third day after, God raised Jesus out of the grave; how Jesus talked with the people who believed in Him and loved Him, and told them He was going to heaven. but would someday come for them also, Then He was taken up from them, a cloud hiding Him from their sight.
This last reading comforted Martinko very much and soon the young man went on his way.
The shepherd boy did not forget the words he had heard that day. But wished he knew how to read and that he had a Bible. This wish came true before long. And it was because he was kind to another poor boy, Joschko, whose mother had died, and took him to live with him. The old hut was damp and cold, so the two boys did not have a good home, and sometimes not enough to eat, but Martinko tried to keep it clean, and they were happy.
In the day time they watched the flocks, in the evenings Joschko read aloud and began to teach Martinko. That winter, for the first time, Martinko went to school. A kind man gave him a New Testament, and soon he could read for himself. They were very happy and often sang as they tended the flocks when summer time came.
One night a sheep was missing, Martinko saw it, at last, caught in some bushes among the steep rocks. In trying to get it, he fell, and lay stunned till aroused by Joschko calling him. He felt stiff and weak but glad to see the sheep safe and with much trouble carried it up the bank. They took the sheep home, and Martinko said, “I was lost, like the poor sheep, and Jesus gave His life to save me.”
Martinko was never very well after his fall. There was no one to give him medicine, or warm food. So he grew weaker each day, till soon the young shepherd’s life was ended. Neighbors took care of Joschko and buried Martinko. We know his spirit is with the Lord, as God has promised for all who love Jesus.
These are the verses Martinko liked best: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
“The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” Matt, 18:11.
ML 03/08/1936