UP IN THE mountains of Virginia there was a school which no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough that one teacher after another resigned.
Then a young teacher, slightly built, applied. The old director looked him over and said, "Young fellow, do you know what you are asking for? An awful beatin'! Every teacher we have had for years has had to take it."
"I'll risk it," was the reply.
When school opened, the new teacher applied for duty. One big fellow, named Tom, whispered, "I won't need any help; I can lick him myself!"
"Good morning, boys," said the new teacher. "We have come to open school, but I confess I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we start with a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard."
"No stealing!" yelled one fellow. "On time," piped up another. Finally ten rules appeared.
"Now," said the teacher, "the law is no good unless there is a penalty attached to it. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?"
"Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on," suggested one.
"That is pretty severe, boys. Are you ready to stand by it?"
They answered with another yell, and the teacher said, "School comes to order!"
A day or two later Tom found his dinner was stolen. Upon investigation, the thief was found to be Ben, a hungry-looking little fellow of about ten years. The next morning the teacher announced, "We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rules — ten strokes across the back! Ben, will you come up here!"
All trembling, poor little Ben came up slowly with a big coat fastened around his neck.
"Teacher," he pleaded, "you can lick me as hard as you like, but please don't make me take my coat off."
"Take off your coat, Ben. You helped make the rules."
"Oh, teacher," sobbed Ben, "don't make me!" He began to unbutton the coat and then what did the teacher see — the little lad had no shirt on, just strings for braces over his bony little body.
The teacher turned his head away. "How can I whip this child?" he said to himself. "But I must do something to keep this school." Everything was quiet as death. "How come you to be without a shirt, Ben?" he asked kindly.
"Since Daddy died," answered the little fellow, "Mother's been very poor. I only have one shirt, and she is washing that today; so I wore my big brother's coat to keep warm."
Rod in hand the teacher hesitated.
Just then big Tom jumped to his feet and said, "Teacher, if you don't mind, I'll take Ben's licking for him."
"Very well then," said the teacher, "there is a law that says one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?"
Off came Tom's coat, and after five hard strokes the stick broke. The teacher bowed his head in his hands, and thought, "How can I finish this awful task?"
By this time the whole school was in tears. And then what did teacher see? Little Ben had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck.
"Tom," he sobbed, "I'm sorry I stole your dinner, but I was awfully hungry. Tom, I love you, I'll love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I love you forever!"
Our hearts are touched at the sight of Tom taking little Ben's whipping, but I wonder if the reader's heart has ever been melted at the sight of Jesus the Saviour suffering at the hands of God for our sins upon the cross of Calvary. It was we who had sinned, it was we who deserved to die, but in love that blessed Saviour bore the punishment for us.
All who believe in Him and own Him as their Saviour are free. The judgment which fell upon Him will never fall upon the believer now. His blessed Substitute has borne it all for him.
Ought we not to love Him, and to serve Him forever?
Jesus, my Lord, 'twas sin's heavy load,
The curse that was borne by Thee;
Stroke upon stroke, as God's wrath awoke,
Fell upon Thee for me.
Jesus, my Lord, what oceans of love
Stirred in Thy heart for me!
Jesus, my Lord, in glory above,
Lovely art Thou to me.
Memory Verse
"CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, . . . WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE." 1 Peter 2!21.24
Messages of the Love of God 4/20/1975