Yellow fever is a terrible disease that throughout history has caused the death of thousands for the most part in Central and South American countries. Major Reed of the U.S. Medical Corps was convinced that the culprit whose bite carried the killer germ was a kind of mosquito. For years Dr. Reed and other medical men had been experimenting with animals in an effort to come up with an antidote for the dreaded yellow fever. Now they had reached the point where nothing further could be done without working directly with a “human guinea pig.”
“We have done all we can do now without a human volunteer,” one of the doctors remarked. But who would ever volunteer for an experiment so dangerous that it might prove fatal?
Private John Kissinger, a young medic, was quietly working nearby at his job in the hospital. He overheard the doctors’ conversation and began to think. How wonderful it would be if a cure could be found for that terrible killer-yellow fever! The more he thought about it, the more John became convinced that this was the challenge he wanted. Finally he went to Major Reed and volunteered for the frightening task of submitting to any experiments necessary to help win the war against the dreaded disease.
“I would like you to experiment on me,” said John.
Although the very volunteer they were looking for stood before him, Major Reed warned John of the risks and dangers involved in such a commitment. John listened carefully to all his superior officer had to say, but at the end was as determined as ever to accept whatever might befall him if only thousands then and in future generations might be delivered from the grim enemy. How many lives would be saved! was all John could think of.
“Sir,” said John with decision, “you can start on me.”
Major Reed had a strange look on his face. Then he stood upright, and bringing his hand to his cap in a full military salute he exclaimed: “Sir, I salute you!”
Soon after that the experiments began. John was bitten by dozens of mosquitoes. Sure enough, the dread fever began to come on him. He suffered the greatest pain, his skin turned yellow and his temperature ran frightfully high for days. All the while the doctors ran extensive tests on him. He received a host of different medications and injections, and they watched him constantly.
At last he pulled through. The doctors discharged him as cured.
But John was never the same after that terrible ordeal. Gone was his old strength and vigor. For a period of some years he could not walk a step, and was often seized by strange painful sicknesses. But he asked nothing of any one. At last the American government gave him a pension. Together with gifts received from appreciative countrymen he bought a little home in Indiana, where he lived until his death in 1946.
The moving story of John Kissinger and his heroic sacrifice for mankind touches our hearts, but only carries our thoughts on to love more wonderful and self-sacrifice beyond human telling. When, through the serpent’s bite, sin entered into the world and death by sin, when there was no other remedy, Jesus, the Son of God, left His home in the glory and came into this world “to save sinners.” It was the Father’s will that He should come, and He said, “Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.”
John Kissinger risked his life, yet lived. But it was no risk for the Lord Jesus. He knew He must die, and He offered Himself up without spot to God as a willing Victim on the cross. “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” (Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28))
Now God has a remedy for sin. For “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)) Those who put their trust in Jesus and own Him as Saviour are cleansed from their sins and have eternal life—a life which disease, death, demon or hell can never touch.
“Sir, I salute you!” were the words of Major Reed to the embarrassed young private, John Kissier.
How much more does the Lord Jesus, the Saviour and Friend of sinners, deserve to be honored, worshipped and adored for all that He has done for us!
Tell me the old, old story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story slowly
That I may take it in
That wonderful redemption,
God’s remedy for sin.
ML-04/15/1979