How the Guilty Boy Got Free
THE following incident took place some years ago, in the city of Dublin. There were two brothers, Johnnie and Willie, with whom I was acquainted. I give the account, as well as I can remember it, as they told it to me.
One morning Willie, the younger brother, was rather unwell, and for a while it did not seem as if he would be able to attend school that day, but he became better, and it was decided that he might go. Accordingly the boys packed up their books, and Johnnie watched over his brother on the way.
There were certain rules and regulations in the school-things which the scholars, were to do, and things which they were not to do—and it was known to the boys that the master would not allow an act of disobedience to go unpunished. He had given full directions and stated distinctly what was to be done, and what was not to be done, and he would not depart from his word.
The school began, and the boys were all attentively at work. The master looked around; everything was going on well, and he was pleased. But presently a boy did the very thing which he had been told not to do — went quite contrary to the master’ known desire and will! How gladly this boy would hide himself! But the master’s quick eye was scanning the room, observing all that was going on. His eye rested upon the guilty boy, and he called him up.
Now, while the master and the school were looking upon the offender, Johnnie grew exceedingly thoughtful, for the guilty boy was none other than his brother Willie whom he loved very much. Johnnie thought of the punishment which Willie’s offense must certainly receive. He knew it would be useless to ask the master to let his brother off; besides, the master would only be acting right in punishing little Willie, and Willie would be only receiving that which he had brought upon himself. But Johnnie kept wondering if he could get his brother free.
Presently he thought of a way by which perhaps Willie could escape.
“What, Willie get off!” does my young reader say? “How could the master keep his word, and yet the guilty boy get free?”
Johnnie knew very well that the master could not let the offense go by unpunished, and still keep to his word; but for all that he had thought of a way by which the master might maintain his position, and the act of disobedience also receive the full penalty due to it. So he went up straight to the master, acknowledged that his brother was guilty, and deserved to suffer, and then said, “My brother deserves the punishment, but, please, sir, allow me to bear it in his stead.”
Now, the master was a gracious man, and was quite willing to let the boy go free, if that were possible, so he accepted Johnnie As the punishment-bearer in the stead of his brother.
Willie’s freedom now depended entirely upon Johnnie’s accomplishing that which he undertook to do. Should Johnnie fail, then Willie must bear the punishment. And if Johnnie would only bear part, then the remainder must come upon Willie. For him to be free, the whole must be borne.
A touching scene ensued. The guilty boy was taken from the place where he stood, and the boy who had done nothing deserving of punishment stood in his place. The boys all looked on in wonder, while the master took the rod, and stroke upon stroke fell upon Johnnie, and when the last stroke was borne, then Willie was free. The offense had received its due; it had been borne by one who did not deserve it, but who willingly stood in the place of the guilty. And he was treated as if he were himself guilty, and was dealt with as though he were the actual offender.
Thus you see how the guilty boy got free. His punishment was borne by another — by his brother who loved him, and who patiently endured it so that he might be saved from it.
I have often thought of this incident. It is an illustration of the way in which God can righteously save the sinner who believes, seeing that Christ has died.
In Christ, the beloved Son of God, we have the only One who could answer to the requirements of God, who could do anything for the sinner. He, according to the Father’s will, became man, and on the cross received the full weight of the judgment due to sin, leaving nothing to be done — nothing to be borne. Hear His own words, “It is finished,” and see in God’s raising Him from the dead and taking Him to His own right hand in heaven, that which gives assurance that all is accomplished. He who had done “nothing amiss” suffered, the “Just for the unjust.” The full amount of stripes came upon Him, for God did not lessen the judgment because His Son was the Bearer of it, but dealt with Him according to that which sin deserved.
God is now able, righteously, to save all who, believing Him, put their trust in Christ Jesus. When the sinful child of Adam, whether he be old or young, rich or poor, owns himself or herself as guilty, and accepts the cross of Christ as the only way by which he can be saved, he is free from judgment — delivered from the wrath to come. The once guilty sinner, who was afraid of God, is afraid no longer, and while he owns God’s love in giving, he thinks of the love of Christ in dying. The sinner sees the question of sin has been settled. He finds pleasure in the presence of God, and as he thinks of that which he has in Christ — salvation from the consequences of sin — a place with Christ in the glory, his heart is filled with exceeding joy, and his delight is to live to Him Who loved him and gave Himself for him.
A few words more— God, Who has been true to His word in punishing sin, is, and ever will be, true to His word in saving those who believe; but He will also be true in dealing in judgment with those who believe not. For while there has been that done by which He can righteously save, yet the benefit of it only comes to those who, owning themselves sinners deserving of punishment, avail themselves of His gracious provision, whereby He is able to save now, in this, the day of grace, those who believe.
E. K.