Many years ago, the story is told of a group of schoolboys that had a new teacher come to their school. He was a young man who had just graduated from college and was described as a fine Christian. Starting his first day, he told his class that in order to have a good school, there had to be rules to follow. He then informed them that he wanted them to help set up the rules for their school. Asking for suggestions, one student shouted, “no stealing” while another suggested “no cussing” and another “no lying.” Within a few minutes there were ten rules written on the chalk board. The teacher then added, “For a rule to have meaning, there must be a penalty for those who break them.” At that one of the students shouted, “Ten licks across the back without a coat on.” The teacher responded, “That’s a pretty harsh punishment – are all of you sure that is what you want?” The class answered with an emphatic “YES!”
About a week later the bully of the class, big Tom, declared that his lunch was missing. A search ensued to find the thief. As the teacher questioned each child, a poor, skinny boy named Timmy was questioned. Confessing that he had taken big Tom’s lunch, he explained to the teacher that he hadn’t had anything to eat for three days. His mother was a widow and doing her best to provide for her four children, but often there was little to eat.
Knowing the rules had to be followed, the teacher called Timmy to the front of the class. Explaining that he was involved in the making of the rules and the penalty for breaking them, he told Timmy to take off his coat. Timmy began to plead with the teacher, “Please don’t make me take off my coat. Give me all the licks you want, but please don’t make me take off my coat.” Reiterating that he helped make the rules and the punishment, the teacher told Timmy that he had to obey them just as anyone else in the class had to. Shaking all over, Timmy removed his coat. To the surprise of the class and his teacher, Timmy was wearing only a ragged T-shirt.
Looking in sympathy at Timmy, the teacher thought to himself, “How can I punish this child so severely?” It was at that moment big Tom spoke up, “Teacher, can someone take the place of another for their punishment?” The teacher replied, “Well, yes – in the Bible there is a law written that one can be a substitute for another.” With that big Tom came forward taking off his coat, “I’ll take his ten licks.”
With the fourth lash, the teacher noticed the entire class in tears. Through tears of his own, he watched Timmy put his arms around big Tom’s neck and cried, “Big Tom, thank you for taking my whipping for me; I will remember this for the rest of my life!”
In an infinitesimal more profound way, Jesus took our deserved punishment on the cross. The Bible states it this way: “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
And that gift of amazing mercy and grace is still available to all who would receive it!
To His Glory,
Pastor Bill