Thoughts for another day

March 23, 2009.

Today's verse: Is. 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: (NIV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

They literally dragged Timothy Sullivan and shoved his body into the dark and dinghy cell. Soon the inmates gathered around him. His body was completely bruised, there were welts and cuts all over his back and smudges of blood everywhere. Soon someone brought a piece of cloth and put it on him. They were all thinking how he came to be alive after such whipping. They sat and said a prayer.

The Nazis had worked hard on their victim, rather proxy victim because Timothy had volunteered to be whipped according to the rule, instead of Diego Tadun, an old man who would, after just one swish of the whip, have gone under. After a long time, he got up slowly wincing with every little action. His fuzzy mind remembered how the old man had pleaded with his eyes to them, yet none came forward. Then something inside told him: go Timothy, step forward; and he did.

He yelled when the whip made of solid leather thongs cut thru his skin. After the fifth lash, he was knocked out. He didn’t even know when the 20th was given to signal the end. Brute force coupled with the rough thongs had done their work and every inch of his back was tattered flesh. But inside Timothy was happy. He knew his Lord and Master would be happy. Diego came over with a little napkin and wiped his back with smuggled wine to provide a little relief. His tears, fell on Timothy’s body and Timothy held his withered hand.

His mind went back to the day when Jesus lay helpless at the whipping pole. 39 ghastly lashes by the Roman brutes. Jesus had done it for Him and the rest of mankind. If Jesus though innocent could do it, thought Timothy, certainly I can and that’s what he had done. Timothy now knew how love transformed men. How his love for God & Diego had made him accept the punishment. Now he knew how much God loved him, because of which He gave His only Son to redeem him and mankind with the only condition that they believe in Him for eternal life. But Timothy thought, Lord, how many believe? How many bend their knee. And he felt as if God were telling him, you did your bit Timothy, so will others for I am counting on them. And someday, the world will be transformed and I will reign over it.