DEAR young friends, I heard a gentleman tell a sad story of the death of a little slave boy. The gentleman had been a missionary for twenty-six years among the colored people.
“One evening,” said he, “a little slave boy came to my house to hear about Jesus. He had not been there long when his master came to seek for him, and, in my presence, ordered the boy to get twenty-five lashes on the bare back. After he had received the lashes, his brutal master asked,
‘What can your Jesus do for you now?’ ‘Me love my Jesus,’ was the dear little fellow’s reply.
‘Give him twenty-five lashes more,’ cried the master. After the second lashing was over, again he asked,
‘What can your Jesus do for you now?’
‘He love me.’
‘Give him twenty-five lashes more.’ The third scourging was too much for the poor boy, and when finished, the master again asked,
‘What can your Jesus do for you now?’
In a feeble whisper, which could scarcely be heard, the words fell from his lips, as life was fast ebbing away,
‘He give me grace to pray for you’; and in a short time after, his spirit was with the Saviour he loved so well.”
No doubt, dear young friends, you will be deeply touched at the reading of this sad story; but, let me ask; have you ever thought of what Jesus did for that slave boy, and for you?
The Lord Jesus suffered far more for you, than the little slave boy suffered for Him. Jesus never sinned, and the soldiers were very cruel to Him. They placed on Him a crown of thorns, and a purple robe. They smote Him, spat on His face, and, worst of all, drove great nails through His hands and feet, and nailed Him to a tree. On that cross God forsook Him, and before He died, the cry was wrung from His lips, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” His last words were, “It is finished,” and He died.
This is what Jesus HAS DONE FOR YOU, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.” Isa. 53:5. He has suffered all this that He might have you with Him in heaven for ever.
The slave-owner asked the little slave, “What CAN your Jesus do for you now?
I have told you what Jesus has done for you; and let me tell you that He can now save you, and forgive you all your sins. If you simply believe that He died for sinners, yes, for you, He will give you everlasting life, and make you His own forever. Whenever you believe on His love and death for you, you will be able to say with the black boy, “Me love my Jesus.” Meantime you may take up his language, and say, “He love me,” and whenever you receive His love into your heart, you will love Him who suffered and died for you.
Your youth need be no barrier to your salvation. Boys and girls need Christ, as well as men and women, and if any die without Him, they will be eternally lost. Now, why not believe on Him at once? Why not trust Jesus? He saves all who believe on Him, and saves them without money or price, or cost of any kind to them. Jesus paid the price with His own blood.
ML 01/27/1924