Love

“John 3:16”

One day, a local coach driver found himself in charge of a bus full of school children, on a trip to the nearby mountains to visit a disused mine and museum.

The children enjoyed their visit but the day passed quickly and before they knew it, it was time to get back on the bus and return to school again.

The homeward journey down the steep mountain was especially hazardous, with several dangerous bends overlooking a sheer drop. But the coach driver wasn’t worried! He was familiar with this road and knew each twist and turn like the back of his hand. It was safe enough travelling in a low gear, with one foot constantly on the brake. And the children were happy: They were enjoying the ride and became exhilarated each time the bus handled a tight bend allowing them sight of the sheer drop below. But the sound of the children’s laughter and shrieks of delight changed into screams of panic as it became apparent that the driver was having trouble in slowing the vehicle down!

The brakes had suddenly failed and the bus began to gather speed. The driver frantically pumped the brake pedal but it was no use. The bus began to hurtle downhill out of control. Some of the children began to cry and they all screamed when the bus hit a bend too fast and skidded towards the edge of the cliff, which seemed to reach out in an attempt to swallow them up! It seemed certain that they would all be killed but then, somehow, at the very last second the driver managed to pull the bus around. It scraped against the retaining wall, sending masonry and rubble over the edge of the void, and then it clipped some trees and vegetation which slowed it down a little. But still, the bus continued on its downhill run. It was out of control and gaining speed again.

The near escape brought the driver to his senses and he forced himself to think hard. He had travelled this road many times and he searched his memory to recall how many bends were left and how best he should try to negotiate them in order to save their lives. Suddenly, a feeling of dread consumed him as he realised that coming up was a long straight section of road leading to a very sharp bend, which overlooked the cliff. The bus would pick up speed on the downhill straight and they would be travelling far too fast to take the bend! They would end up over the cliff and would all perish – unless… just maybe, there was still a slight chance.

The driver knew that just before hitting the bend there was a dirt track on the opposite side of the road, which led up a ravine to a wooden cabin. If he could just steer the bus onto the dirt track, it would begin to climb uphill again until eventually they would slow down enough to stop. It was their only chance.

When they reached the straight stretch of road the driver could see the bend ahead and the dirt track… Then, his heart came into his mouth. Across the dirt track there was a young boy swinging on a wooden gate. If he steered the bus onto the dirt track he would hit the boy but if tried to take the bend they would all end up over the cliff. As the impending disaster approached the driver became quiet and tears rolled down his face. He knew what he had to do… The young boy at the gate was killed instantly, but everyone else on the bus was saved!

When the emergency services and local press arrived at the scene, everyone hailed the driver as a hero. His bravery and quick thinking had saved the lives of so many people. Relieved parents and teachers also arrived and they too sought out the driver to thank him personally.

Eventually, they found him leaning over the body of the dead child. He was inconsolable and he wept uncontrollably. The people gathered around him and tried to reassure him that there was nothing else he could have done. “Of course,” they said, “it was horrible and extremely sad that the boy had to die, but what else could he have done. He shouldn’t think too badly of himself. After all, think of all the other lives he had saved.” The driver looked up. “No! No, you don’t understand,” the driver wept, shaking his head. “This boy that was sacrificed, he was my child; my son; my one and only son!”

Based on the Bible verse, John 3:16 - original source, unknown