WHEN a fierce war once raged in India between the British and Tippoo Sahib, several English officers were taken captive and put in chains. One of the officers was a gray-headed veteran, another a young man, named Baird who had been badly wounded and was very weak. As the native officer brought in the fetters the aged soldier said: “You will never put these upon a wounded, man?”
“There are just as many fetters as prisoners, and all must be worn,” replied the conqueror. “Then,” said the brave officer, “put two pairs on me.” Which was done. Wonderful to relate, Baird lived to get free and retake the city, while his kind reliever died in prison, died virtually to set his wounded comrade free.
A noble act. But was it not more noble of our Saviour to bear, not one fetter, but all the fetters, yea, all the sins which fettered us, in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)): when “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5))? Baird did not have to wear the fetters when his substitute had them on. So if you look to Jesus and see Him putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, dying the Just One for you, the unjust, like Saul, the chief of sinners, you will be able to say, “The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Rest not till you are able to declare, “He took my place and died for me.”
(Extracted.)