THE WHIPPING
There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been
able to
handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one
year by the unruly students.
A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to
the school.
The principal asked the young man, 'Do you know what you are asking
for?
No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just
asking for a
terrible beating'. After a few moments of silent prayer, the young
man
looked at the principal and said, 'Sir, with your consent I accept the
challenge. Just give me a trial basis.'
The next morning the young man stood before the class. He said to the
class,
'Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I
can't
do it by myself. I must have your help.'
One big boy they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to
his buddies,
'I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself.'
The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school,
there would have to
be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the
students to make up
the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard. This was
certainly
different, the students thought!
One young man suggested 'NO STEALING.' Another one shouted 'BE ON
TIME FOR
CLASS.' Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board.
The Teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for
breaking these rules. 'Rules are no good unless they are enforced',
he said.
Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they
should
receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off.
The
teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the class if
they
would stand by this punishment. The class agreed.
Everything went along pretty good for two or three days.. Then Big
Tom
came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his
lunch.
After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that
little
Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch... Someone had seen little Timmy
with Big Tom's lunch!
The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the room. Little
Timmy
admitted he had taken Big Tom's lunch.
So the teacher asked him, 'Do you know the punishment?
Little Timmy nodded that he did. 'You must remove your coat,' the
teacher instructed..
The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said
to
the teacher, 'I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but
please don't make me take off my coat.'
The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and
again
told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man.
The
little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the
teacher
saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he saw
a
frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked
little
Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on. Little Timmy
replied,
My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor. I don't have but one
shirt, and my mother
is washing it today. I wore my big brother's coat so that I could
keep warm
The young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine
protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered
how he
could lay a rod on that little back and without even a shirt on..
Still, he
knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey
the
rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy. Just then Big Tom stood
up
and came down the aisle. He asked, 'Is there anything that says that
I can
take little Timmy's whipping for him?'
The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that Big Tom ripped his
coat
off and stooped and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly
the
teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some strange
reason
after only five licks that old rod just broke in half.
The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob.
He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in
the room
Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck
apologizing to
him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive
him. He
told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking
his
whipping for him.
Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us? That He shed His
precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in
Glory
with Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you
glad
He loves us that much?
This is a story everyone needs to read. So if you know anyone else
who may
be blessed by this story, please pass it on.
May God bless you, and keep you safe... Don't tell the Lord how big
the
problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
A friend is someone that reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
