JOSHUA TIME 335

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 fromthis school in one year by the unruly students. A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied tothe 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 arejust 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. ButI 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 tohis buddies, "I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird all bymyself." The young teacher told the class th at if they were to haveschool, There would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added thathe would allow the students to make up the rules and that he wouldlist 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? "The rules are no good unless theyare 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 theircoat off. The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked theclass 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 thatlittle Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch. Someone had seenlittleTimmy with Big Tom's lunch! The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the classroom. 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 evenworse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without ashirt 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 woremy 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 howhe 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 wouldnot obey the rul es. 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 littleTimmy's whipping for him?" The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that, Big Tom rippedhis 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 inhalf. 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 inthe classroom. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around theneck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy beggedBig Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love himtill 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 inGlory with Him. We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren'tyou glad He loves us that much? This is a story everyone needs to know. So if you know anyone elsewho may be blessed by this story, please pass it on. God bless you, and keep you safe. Most people's troubles come fromtoo much time on their hands - and not enough on their knees. For the Christian - Prayer is not an option but an opportunity. "In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem howGreat the Lord is