A story making the rounds on e-mail goes like this…

A visitor pulled into a church parking lot. He pulled into a vacant parking place and as he turned off the ignition and was about to get out of the car, someone rapped on his window, and said, 'You took my place. I always park here.' The visitor got out of the car and went in for Bible study. He took a seat in the classroom and an irate member said, 'You took my seat. I always sit here.' Upon entering the worship assembly, the visitor sat down in an empty pew. Again, a visibly disturbed worshipper came up, and said, 'You took my pew. I have been sitting in this same pew for years.' Where-upon, a transformation came over the visitor—with the appearance of nail-scarred hands and pierced side. He lovingly said, ‘I took your place!’

I recently read an article by our brother, Bob Craig, in which he made the point that Jesus took His own place on the cross, as He died for the sins of mankind. He came willingly into this world to live and die as a man, that through His sacrifice, we might have the forgiveness of our sins. In His death and suffering, Jesus was doing what He came to do. Of course, this point is well taken. It is scripturally and doctrinally accurate.

Jesus came to do the will of His Father. In Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, He said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee." (John 17:1). Certainly, in His death, Jesus was doing the will of His Father.

But the scriptures also affirm that Christ bore the sins of many on Calvary's tree. In Isaiah 53:12, the prophet foretold how "...He poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." He who had no sins of His own was dying for the sins of mankind. In this sense, Jesus took our place. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus died for YOU!

But there is another point to this story, i.e., an attitude often portrayed by church members toward those who visit, who may, unknowingly occupy their accustomed places as they assemble for worship. Common courtesy may be forgotten when someone else gets our parking place! Our seat! Our pew! Shouldn't we warmly welcome them with a smile and a friendly greeting, rather than scowl and walk away from them as a spoiled child? Surely, we should treat a visitor as we would treat Jesus, if He were in our presence (cf. Matt. 25:40, 45)!