I Once Heard a Story

I once heard a story about back in the days of Hitler. His soldiers went around Germany gathering up the unwilling Jewish people; Separated the men from the women and put them in concentration camps. Eventually they would be loaded in railcars like sardines, unknowing they were sent off to die. 

Then word got around where the trains were going. One day, one of the older men heard one of the younger men crying. He walked over to him and asked him what was wrong. The young man told him that he missed his wife; they were just married a few months ago. “If it is true about the trains, they are taking us away to die. Then I will never see my wife again.” 



The old man felt sorry for the young man. He put his arm around him; the young man put his head on the old man’s chest and sobbed. The old man shed a tear with him. The next day, the soldiers came to call names, which meant you were getting on the train. After a short while, the rail cars were almost full. 

The soldier called the young man’s name. Slowly, he stood to his feet, raised his chin up, and started walking toward the gate. As he got a few steps from the gate, the old man stepped out in front of the young man. He told the soldier his name and said “Take me; I will take the place of this man.” The soldier said “Fine, it doesn’t matter who it is, just get on the train.” The old man got on the train, turned back to the young man with a gentle smile on his face, as the door was slammed shut. The young man’s name was scratched off as if he got on the train. Due to the soldier’s lack of interest, it was never fixed. 

The young man’s name was never called again. Hitler was killed, the war was over. A short time later, this one young man found his wife. He was so thrilled about what the old man had done for him. He went all over the world telling his story to all who would listen.

I tell you this story as a lead-in to this… Jesus stepped up and took our place as a sacrifice on the cross. 

It might be hard to believe, but as Jesus grew up he never sinned. I’m sure he was given plenty of opportunity, just playing with childhood friends. But Jesus knew something no other man or woman knew. He knew God the Father, the Holy Spirit; he knew heaven. He didn’t know them as humans knew of them. He knew them because he was there. He was in heaven with the Father and His Spirit from the beginning of time. Here on earth as a man, he knew the time was getting close and he prayed “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Not what I will, but what you will.” 

He knew that God was going to put on him all the sins of man, and then turn his back on him. Can you imagine how he felt? God was his Father, heaven was his home. He never wanted to lose that, so he never sinned. They could not find anything that he had done wrong, but they still beat him with their fists and with whips and nailed him to a cross. Being nailed to a cross was the ultimate punishment for a crime. 

But Jesus did this; He laid down his life for us. Just like the old man did for the young man. He did this so we could have a relationship with God the Father. And you should tell all who will listen what Jesus has done for you.