February 27, 2018 (Tuesday)
Attention! Readers of Dale Pogue’s blog. He has resumed publication.
It’s story time in my blog today. This story has been around a long time. I’ve shared it with congregations near and far, time and time again. During the weeks before Easter, we should think about Jesus and the price He paid to purchase our redemption. This story illustrates the love of God for each of us. Here’s how it goes:
Many years ago there was a school which no teacher could control. The boys were very rough. A young teacher applied, and the old director said, “Young feller, do you know what you are doing? Every teacher we have had for years has had to take a beating.” He replied, “I will risk it.”
When the new teacher started. One big student, Tom, looked at the him and said, “I can lick him myself.” The teacher said, “Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school, now, I want a good school, but I need your help. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard.” One fellow yelled, “No stealing!” Another yelled, “On time.” Finally ten rules appeared. “Now,” said the teacher, “a law is no good unless there is a penalty. What shall we do if someone breaks the rules?” “Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on.” “Are you sure, boys. Are you ready to stand by it?” They all agreed to the new rules. Then school started.
In a day or so Big Tom found his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry the thief was located a little hungry boy, about ten. Then 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!” “O teacher, don’t make me!” He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The lad had no shirt on and a very bony body. “How can I whip this child?” thought the teacher. Everything was 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.” Just then Big Tom jumped to his feet and said, “Teacher, I will take Jim’s lickin 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 5 hard strokes the rod broke! The teacher 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 am sorry I stole your dinner, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I’ll love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I’ll love you forever.”
Jesus Christ took our whipping for us and died in your place. We should be as Jim and say to the Lord, “I’ll love you forever for taking my licking for me.”
This old story illustrates what Jesus did for us when He died on the Cross.
There is a verse of Scripture that I consider “the North Star of theology.” It is 2 Corinthians 5:21. Here it is in the New International Version:
It’s story time in my blog today. This story has been around a long time. I’ve shared it with congregations near and far, time and time again. During the weeks before Easter, we should think about Jesus and the price He paid to purchase our redemption. This story illustrates the love of God for each of us. Here’s how it goes:
Many years ago there was a school which no teacher could control. The boys were very rough. A young teacher applied, and the old director said, “Young feller, do you know what you are doing? Every teacher we have had for years has had to take a beating.” He replied, “I will risk it.”
When the new teacher started. One big student, Tom, looked at the him and said, “I can lick him myself.” The teacher said, “Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school, now, I want a good school, but I need your help. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard.” One fellow yelled, “No stealing!” Another yelled, “On time.” Finally ten rules appeared. “Now,” said the teacher, “a law is no good unless there is a penalty. What shall we do if someone breaks the rules?” “Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on.” “Are you sure, boys. Are you ready to stand by it?” They all agreed to the new rules. Then school started.
In a day or so Big Tom found his dinner was stolen. Upon inquiry the thief was located a little hungry boy, about ten. Then 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!” “O teacher, don’t make me!” He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The lad had no shirt on and a very bony body. “How can I whip this child?” thought the teacher. Everything was 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.” Just then Big Tom jumped to his feet and said, “Teacher, I will take Jim’s lickin 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 5 hard strokes the rod broke! The teacher 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 am sorry I stole your dinner, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I’ll love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I’ll love you forever.”
Jesus Christ took our whipping for us and died in your place. We should be as Jim and say to the Lord, “I’ll love you forever for taking my licking for me.”
This old story illustrates what Jesus did for us when He died on the Cross.
There is a verse of Scripture that I consider “the North Star of theology.” It is 2 Corinthians 5:21. Here it is in the New International Version:
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.