Pastor's Corner from the May 2017 Newsletter
The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. (Thank
you, Captain Obvious!) April 25th marked the 20th anniversary of my
mother’s passing. I thank God so very much for Christian parents and the
biblical foundation they provided to me and my brothers. As I worked on Easter
messages, I came across an article that Mom had given to me a long time ago. I
share it with you this month to honor my mother and her life that spoke humbly,
but clearly, of God’s gracious love. The author isn’t listed and Mom didn’t
include the source from which she clipped it. I have edited it only slightly for
clarification. I realize that it isn’t politically correct, but I think it
speaks truthfully about a one-room schoolhouse in Appalachia in years gone by.
He Took My Whipping for Me
Years ago, there was a certain school which no teacher could handle. The
boys were so rough that the teachers resigned one after the other. A young
grey-eyed teacher applied for the job and the old director said, “Young feller,
you’re in for an awful beatin’!” He
replied, “I’ll risk it.” The teacher appeared for duty and said, “Good morning
boys, we have come to conduct school!” They yelled at the top of their voices.
“Now, I want a good school, but I confess I do not know how, unless you help
me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard.”
One
fellow yelled, “No stealin’!” Another yelled, “On time.” Finally, ten rules
appeared.
“Now, said the teacher, a law is no good
unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with the one who breaks
them?”
“Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on.”
“That is pretty severe, boys. Are you ready to stand by it?” There was another
yell and the teacher said, “School comes to order!”
In a
day or so, “Big Tom” found his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry, the thief was
located – a little hungry fellow about ten.
The
next morning, the teacher announced, “We have found the thief and he must be
punished according to your rule – ten stripes across the back! Jim, come up
here!”
The
little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to the
neck and pleaded, “Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please
don’t make me take my coat off!”
“Take that coat off; you helped make the rules!”
“Oh,
teacher, don’t make me!” He began to unbutton and what did the teacher behold!
The lad had no shirt on, but braces on his bony body.
“How
can I whip this child?” he thought. “But I must do something if I keep this
school.” Everything was as quiet as death. “How come you to be without a shirt,
Jim?”
He
replied, “My father died and mother is very poor. I have only one shirt to my
name, and she is washing that today and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep
warm.”
The
teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then, “Big Tom” jumped to his feet
and said, “Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.”
“Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for
another. Are you all agreed?” Off came Tom’s coat, and after five hard strokes,
the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands, and thought, “How can I
finish this awful task?”
Then
he heard the entire school sobbing, and what did he see?” Little Jim had
reached up and caught Tom with both arms around the neck. “Tom, I was awful
hungry. Tom, I’ll love you till I die for taking my licking for me!”
Friend, the bible leaves little doubt about our sinful condition. All of
us have sinned (1) and deserve eternal punishment! But Jesus Christ took our
scourging for us (2), died in our stead, and now offers to clothe us with His
garments of salvation. Won’t you fall at His feet and tell Him you will love
Him forever? “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (3)
-Selected
(1) Romans 3:23 (2) Isaiah
53:5 (3) Romans 6:23
Blessings,
Martin
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