I read this beautiful story somewhere: 

With the term drawing to a close, the class was unruly. Their behaviour was intolerable to everyone. It was Rassie who sprayed the teacher’s snow-white dress full of ink. She ran to the principal’s office in tears. 

But when she got there, there was no ink on her clothes, because Rassie had used disappearing ink. We never saw the teacher again. 

A new teacher arrived and had a serious talk with us. He kept us in line because there was only one rule. The punishment was 10 hits on the back. 

The teacher had only been with us for a day or two when one of the boys noticed that some of his food had disappeared from his lunchbox. Some of the others also complained that some of their food had disappeared. 

Because I was the smallest kid in the class, the teacher asked me to hide in the cupboard during recess, and would you believe it, everyone had barely left when Jan came back into the classroom. He glanced around to see if anyone saw him and then opened Rassie’s lunchbox. He took a sandwich and an apple and put them in a paper bag. 

Jan has always been a weird guy. Always distant and a bit shy. He didn’t look well and always wore his jacket, even in the heat. 

Sir was clearly upset that it was Jan who stole. I think he felt sorry for him, but rules are rules, and Sir told Jan that he had to take off his jacket to receive his well-deserved ten hits. 

Jan refused and later broke down in tears. Sir then took him outside. They returned after five minutes. Sir was also upset. He then said that the reason why Jan wouldn’t take off his jacket was because he wasn’t wearing a shirt, because he didn’t have a shirt. 

The reason why he stole the food wasn’t for himself, but because his father had lost his job and there was no food in the house. The food was for his little brother and sister. He knew it was wrong to take it … 

A silence fell over the class. Sir didn’t quite know what to do, but rules are rules. 

Rassie raised his hand and asked Sir if he could get the 10 strokes on Jan’s behalf. 

Sir was clearly taken aback: “The rule says that if someone does something wrong, 10 penalty strokes must be given. It doesn’t say on whose back it should be.” 

Rassie took off his jacket, bent down, and the 10 strokes each left a mark. 

That day, not a single person in the class had dry eyes. 

10… He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 

Scripture
1 John 4:7-21 

Reflection
Do you understand God’s love for you?
Do you understand Jesus’ act of love on the cross for you?
How does it motivate your walk through the world? 

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I should’ve died, but because You died in my place, I can go to heaven. Help me to live out this love in the world. Amen.