BILLY was very fond of his little sister, Betty, who was two years younger than he. They always played and walked together. One day Billy heard a band playing music, so he called Betty, and away they ran to see the parade. The soldiers' uniforms looked so wonderful, and the bugles and drums sounded so grand that they stayed a long time—in fact they forgot all about the time. At last they turned to go home, but they were so excited that they lost their way. When at last they reached home, it was long past the time when they should have been in bed.
Billy was frightened. Do you know why? Their father was a very bad man, one who used to drink a great deal and used to beat his dear boy and girl. When they reached the door, Billy said, "You let me go in first, and if father is home I'll come out and tell you." But Betty crept timidly behind her brother as he entered the house, and sure enough they heard sounds upstairs which told them plainly that the father whom they dreaded was home—and drunk. He was blaming and beating his poor wife for allowing the two children to go out. Billy ran right upstairs, for he loved his mother; but as soon as his father heard him coming, he turned and began to beat him unmercifully with the same rope that he had been using on his wife. Then he turned on Betty, who had followed, and said it was her turn next.
Now, as I have said, these two children loved each other very much, and the poor boy could not bear to see his sister beaten. Although he was crying with pain, when he saw his father lay hold of Betty, he forgot his own suffering, and, throwing himself between his father and his little sister, he cried out,
"Oh, Father, don't beat her. BEAT ME AGAIN!" Brave Billy! He would rather take her turn than see her punished. I am glad to say that the man found this too much even for his wicked heart, and so let the child go, and laid down his rope. Thus she was SAVED from the punishment.
I am sure you will say that Billy was a noble boy; and if you have paid any attention to what you have read in the "Messages of Love" you will see something in his loving act which reminds you of a greater than he. You see, this boy was willing to be punished instead of his sister because he loved her.
Who was it took the sinners' place 1900 years ago, and suffered in our stead on the cross? You know it was Jesus, God's dear Son. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Not that God wanted to punish sinners, but he could not pass by sin. God must punish sin. But, here is the good news,—"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).
Billy wanted to stand in Betty's place and be punished instead of her. This proved that he loved Betty more than himself. Jesus loved you and me so much that He not only wanted to, but he did bear our punishment and endured God's wrath against sin to the uttermost. Thus He put sin away, and made it possible for a righteous and holy God to forgive the worst of sinners who believes in Jesus.
Do you believe in Him? Have you trusted Him as your own Saviour? Have you ever thanked Him for dying for you?
Messages of God’s Love 1/13/1949