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 has 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."
That 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't 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. Hesitantly 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 know. So if you know anyone else who may
be blessed by this story, please pass it on. God bless you, and keep you
safe. Most people's troubles come from too much time on their hands and not
enough on their knees. God answers Knee Mail!