During
the Civil War a man from the South named Willie Lee became a member of a Confederate
group called Quantrill’s Raider’s. They used guerilla warfare tactics, raiding
small towns and villages sympathetic to the Union and then disappearing in the
night. The Raiders were successful in avoiding being captured for a span of
about two years.
One
night, in 1864 the Union forces were tipped off and were lying in wait for
them. They were successful in capturing all of the Raiders but one, a teenage
boy who escaped. The rest were sentenced to be executed before a firing squad.
Word of the execution traveled over the countryside and a sizable crowd of
spectators gathered to witness the fate of this notorious group. Little did the
Union soldiers know that the teen who had escaped made his way back to the
scene and was present in the curious crowd.
As
the Raiders were lined up facing the firing squad, just before the shots rang
out, the young boy ran out of the crowd and up to the commanding officer. He
yelled, “Stop! I think you should know that I am one of them. But you didn’t
bring me here. I came by own choice.” He then pointed to one of the men in the
line and said, “This man is my friend. He has a wife and children, and I have
no one. I’d like to take his place, if you will let him go.” The officer in
charge replied, “If that is your desire, I will grant it.” The teen walked into
the line, in the place of his friend and was executed with Quantrill’s Raiders.
Later
the redeemed man, Willie Lee, came back to the awful scene of death, uncovered
the grave, and found the body of his friend.
He put it on the back of a mule and took it to a little cemetery near
Kansas City, where he was given a proper burial. At the time, he marked the
grave with a rude wooden slab. Later, however, the grateful man erected a
15-foot marble monument inscribed with the words: “SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIE
LEE / HE TOOK MY PLACE IN THE LINE / HE DIED FOR ME.”[1]
This
true story went on to inspire Gordon Jansen, author of approximately 300 songs,
to write the words of the Southern Gospel classic, “I Should Have Been
Crucified.” Jansen was also deeply moved by the passage in Isaiah 53 where the
prophet predicted some 700 years in advance of Christ all that the Suffering
Servant would endure, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet
we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for
our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement
that brought us peace, and with his wounds we
are healed” (Is. 53:4-5, ESV).
As
we approach Good Friday, let’s ask God to help focus our minds on the events of
that day some 2,000 years ago. By the way, isn’t it ironic that we call it “Good
Friday” when what happened on Calvary was so terrible? Actually, humanity’s worst
deed was, at the same time, God’s master plan.
The
Bible says that “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (Is. 53:10 NKJV). This
means the crucifixion of Jesus was not a mistake. Nor was it an afterthought. It
was part of God’s rescue mission from the very beginning. Before there was a
solar system, much less a planet called Earth or a garden called Eden or a
couple known as Adam and Eve, a decision was made in the councils of eternity
that God Himself would come to Earth as a man and would go to a cross and die
in the place of all sinners.
We
call it “Good Friday” because the greatest good imaginable resulted—the satisfying
of the righteous demands of God Almighty as Jesus died in our place. He bore
our sins and we received His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).
Max
Lucado adds these thoughts, “It wasn’t right that spikes pierced the hands that
formed the earth. And it wasn’t right that the Son of God was forced to
hear the silence of God. It wasn’t right, but it happened. For while Jesus was
on the cross, God sat on His hands. He turned His back. He ignored
the screams of the innocent. He sat in silence while the sins of the world were
placed upon His Son. And He did nothing while a cry a million times
bloodier than John’s echoed in the black sky: “My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me?” Was it right? No. Was it fair? No. Was it
love? Yes.”[2]
I was guilty with
nothing to say
And they were coming
to take me away
But then a voice from
Heaven was heard that said
"Let Him go and
take me instead"
Crown of thorns, the
spear in His side,
And all the pain
should have been mine.
Those rusty nails
were meant for me,
But Jesus took them,
and let me go free!
I should have been
crucified,
I should have
suffered and died.
I should have hung on
the cross in disgrace,
But Jesus, God’s Son,
took my place.[3]
[1]
Lindsay Terry, Stories Behind 50 Southern
Gospel Favorites, Volume 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2005), 130-133.
[2]
Max Lucado, The Gift for All People:
Thoughts on God's Great Grace (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1999), 73.
[3] Gordon
Jansen, “I Should Have Been Crucified,” Benson Music Company, (1971).
Is the story of Willie Lee actually true?
ReplyDeleteRoss, the story of Willie Lee is incredible and as far as I know it is true! For more information I would suggest that you check out the two references that I cited at the bottom of the post. They are reputable source and can give you more detail. Hope this helps. Thanks for reading. -DM
ReplyDeleteGreat, thanks Derrick it'd be great to find a photo of the marble monument, it's certainly a very moving story.
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