camel eye

A professor taught the required survey course in Christianity at a college. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year.   Many students looked upon the course as required drudgery.

One year prof had an athlete named Steve.  He met with Steve and found Steve did 200 pushups every night.  The prof asked Steve if he could he do 300?  In sets of 10.  Steve had never tried that but figured he might be able to, in sets of 10.  They agreed on a special class project - a party on friday.

Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts:  extra fancy big ones with cream centers and frosting swirls.  Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in class.   The prof went to the first girl in the first row and asked, ‘Cindy, do you want to have one of these donuts?’  Cindy said, ‘Yes.’

Prof turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cindy can have a donut?”   “Sure.”   Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk and the prof put a donut on Cindy’s desk.

Prof then went to the next person, and asked, “Joe, do you want a donut?”  Joe said, “Yes.”  Prof asked, “Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, he came to Scott.  When the professor asked, “Scott do you want a donut?”  Scott’s reply was, “Well, can I do my own pushups?”  The prof said, “No, Steve has to do them.”   Scott said, ‘Well, then I don’t want one.”  The Prof shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?” Steve did ten pushups. The prof put a donut on scott’s desk.  Scott said, “Hey, I said I didn’t want one.”  The prof  said, “this is my classroom, my donuts, and my rules.  Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.”by this time, Steve had begun to slow down. He just stayed on the floor between sets. You could start to see a little perspiration on his face.

The prof started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little antsy.  The prof asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?”  Jenny said, “No.” Then prof asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten….Jenny got a donut.

By now, it’s a pretty uneasy room. All the students were saying “No” and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get those pushups done for each donut. There’s pool of sweat on the floor, his arms are shaking, he’s all red.

The prof started down the fourth row. During the class, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps to see what was going on.   There were now 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

The prof  went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, “NO, don’t come in Stay out!” Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, “No, let him come.” The prof said, “You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?” Steve said, “Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.”

The prof said, “Jason, do you want a donut?” Jason, new to the room, didn’t know  what was going on. “Yes,” he said, “give me a donut.”  “Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?” Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

The prof finished the fourth row, and then started on the visitors. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself.   Sweat was shooting off of him.  There was no sound except his gasping for breathe.

The very last two students in the room were two young women. Prof went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a doughnut?”  Linda sadly said, “No, thank you.”  The prof quietly asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?”  Steve did ten very slow and painful pushups for Linda.

Prof turned to the last girl, Susan. “Susan, do you want a donut?” Susan was crying.  “Prof, why can’t I help him?”  The prof said, “No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He made a deal for your sakes.’

“Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?” As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, he collapsed to the floor.

And so it was, that our Savior on the cross, plead to his Father, ‘into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life.

Many of us leave our gift on the desk; uneaten.  Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.