I have to begin with a confession. The story you are about to read is not mine. I was struggling this time – not sure what to write – when one of our brothers in Christ handed this to me. When I read it, I knew that I had to pass it on to you. It is my prayer that this story – origins and author unkown – will touch your heart as it did mine.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson – a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught a required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take the course during his or her freshman year, regardless of their major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the Gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students failed to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, well liked, and an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team and was the best student in the professor’s class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. “How many push-ups can you do, Steve?” he asked. Steve replied, “I do about 200 every night.” “200? That’s pretty good, Steve,” Dr. Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?”

Steve replied, “I don’t know…I’ve never tried 300 at a time.” “Do you think you could?” repeated Dr. Christianson. “Well, I can try,” said Steve.

“I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it?” asked the professor. Steve replied, “Well…I think I can…yeah, I can do it.” Dr. Christianson said, “Good. I’ll need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind…”

Friday came and 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. Not the normal kind, rather the kind with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday and the last class of the day, and now they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson’s class.

The professor began by going to the first girl in the front row and asked if she would like one of the donuts. She quickly responded, “Yes.” Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?” “Sure,”replied Steve; and he jumped down from his seat to do a quick ten. Afterwards, the professor put a donut on Cynthia’s desk. Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person. “Joe, do you want a donut?” Joe said, “Yes.” The professor once again turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did so, and Joe got a donut.

As Dr. Christianson proceeded down the aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they received their donut. But eventually the professor reached Scott.

Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He too was very popular. But when the professor asked Scott if he wanted a donut, he replied, “Can I do my own push-ups?” Dr. Christianson said, “No, Steve has to do them.” “Well, I don’t want one then,” Scott replied.

At that, Dr. Christianson shrugged and turned to Steve. “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?” With obedience Steve complied and started doing ten push-ups.

Scott objected, “Hey, I said I didn’t want one.” Dr. Christianson said, “Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.” And he put a donut on Scott’s desk. By now, Steve had begun to tire. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could even begin to see a little perspiration forming around his brow. But Dr. Christianson continued to go on from desk to desk.

By the time he reached the third row, the students were beginning to get a little angry. That’s when the professor reached Jenny’s desk. “Jenny, do you want a donut?” Sternly, Jenny said, “No.” But Dr. Christianson simply turned to Steve and asked him to do ten more push-ups so Jenny could also have a donut that she didn’t want. Steve did ten push-ups…and Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. More and more students were beginning to say “No” to the donuts and before long there were donuts left untouched on several desks. Nonetheless, Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row from desk to desk.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to enter when all of the students yelled in one voice, “No, don’t come in. Stay out!” Jason didn’t know what was going on, but Steve lifted his head and said, “No, let him come in.” The professor reminded Steve that if Jason were to come in, he would have to do ten push-ups for him as well. “That’s ok,” Steve replied. “Let him come in, and give him a donut.” So Steve did ten more push-ups.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on the visitors who had entered the room to see what was going on. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his breathing, and there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students were two young women, both cheerleaders, and both very popular. The professor went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a donut?” Linda replied very sadly, “No, thank you.” At that, Dr. Christianson quietly asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then the professor turned to Susan, the last girl. “Susan, do you want a donut?” Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. “Dr. Christianson, why can’t I help him?”

With tears of his own, the professor said, “No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing to it that everyone has been given a donut – whether they want it or not. You see…when I looked at my grade book, Steve was the only one 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 take part in my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I 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 push-up with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him (having done 350 push-ups), his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor. At that, Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, “Amd so it was that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross pleaded to the Father, ‘into Thy hands I commend my Spirit.’ With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He gave up His life. And like some of those in this room, many still leave the gift He gave and walk away.”

Two students helped Steve up off of the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted; but wearing a thin smile. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” said the professor. “Not all sermons are preached in words.”

Turning to his class, the professor said, “My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God spared not His only Son, but gave Him up for us all…now and forever. The price has been paid.”

There’s only one thing left for us to say: “Amen!”

Saved to serve,