A little bugler named Willie Holt once lived in a regiment in the army. His father had been killed in action, and his mother died six months later. He was too weak for the life he had to lead, but he had been born in the regiment, and they decided to use him for this simple job.
One week, the Colonel of the regiment heard about some wrong things that had been done, and he decided that the next time there was a problem, the guilty person would be beaten.
One morning it was reported that, during the night, the shooting targets had been thrown down and vandalized. The act was traced to the very tent where Willie Holt lived. All in the tent were put under arrest, to be tried by court martial. The Colonel pled with them to produce the guilty man, but they refused. Finally, he said, “If any of you who slept in Number 4 tent last night will come forward and take his punishment like a man, the rest will get off free. But if not, there remains no choice for me but to punish you all — each man in turn to receive ten strokes of the cat.” (The “cat” was a whip with nine cords.)
For a couple of minutes there was dead silence. Then from the middle of the prisoners, where his thin body had been completely hidden, Willie Holt came forward.
He walked to within a couple of yards from where the Colonel sat; his face was very pale but determined.
“Colonel,” he said, “you have passed your word that if any one of those who slept in Number 4 last night comes forward to take his punishment, the rest shall get off free. I am ready, sir; please, may I take it now?”
For a moment the Colonel was speechless, completely taken by surprise. Then in a fury of anger and disgust he turned on the prisoners.
“Is there no man among you worthy of the name? Are you all cowards enough to let this lad suffer for your sins? That he is guiltless, you know as well as I.” But stubborn and angry, they stood there without a word.
Never had the Colonel been in such a painful situation. He knew his word must stand, and Willie knew it too. So, he gave the order, and Willie was led away for punishment.
He stood with his back bared, as one — two — three — strokes descended. At the fourth, a faint moan escaped his white lips, and before the fifth fell, a cry burst from the group of prisoners who had been forced to witness the scene. With one bound, Jim Sykes, the black sheep of the regiment, seized the cat, as, with choking, gasping words, he shouted, “Stop it, Colonel, stop it, and tie me up instead. He didn’t do it; I did,” and he flung his arms around the boy.
Willie lifted his eyes to the man’s face and smiled.
“No, Jim,” he whispered, “you are safe now; the Colonel’s word will stand.” His head fell forward — he had fainted.
The next day as the Colonel was going to the hospital tent where the boy was, he met the doctor.
“How is the boy?” he asked.
“Sinking, Colonel,” he said.
“What!” he exclaimed, horrified beyond words.
“Yes, the shock of yesterday was too much for his feeble strength.”
The dying boy lay propped up on pillows and, half kneeling, half crouching at his side was Jim Sykes. The change in the boy’s face was startling; it was deathly white, but his big eyes were shining with a wonderful light. He was talking earnestly. Neither of them saw the Colonel.
At that moment the kneeling man lifted his head. There were drops of sweat on his forehead as he muttered, “Why did you do it, lad? Why did you do it?”
“Because I wanted to take it for you, Jim,” Willie’s weak voice answered. “I thought if I did, it might help you to understand a little bit why Christ died for you.”
“Christ has nothing to do with such as me, lad. I’m one of the bad ones.”
“But He died to save bad ones — exactly for them. He says, ‘I came not to call the righteous but sinners,’ and, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.’ Dear Jim,” Willie’s voice pleaded, “shall the Lord have died for nothing? He has poured out His precious life-blood for you. He is knocking at the door of your heart; won’t you let Him in?”
Willie’s voice was failing, but he laid his hand gently on the man’s bowed head, as he sang:
Just as I am without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God — I come.
... touching the heart of every man who heard it. Then gradually the light faded from his eyes, and the spirit of the boy fled to God.
And now, what about you? Have you believed and received the gift of God which is eternal life, the gift He offers you because the Lord Jesus loved you enough to die for your sins? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)).
Messages of God’s Love 5/25/2025