Brother Tim taught theology. He would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve was kicked out of his sixth period class and no other teacher would take him in, so he went to Brother Tim’s class. He was told that he couldn’t be late, so he would arrive just before the bell rang, sit in the back row and leave as soon as he could.
One day, Brother Tim asked Steve to stay after class. He said, “You think you’re pretty tough, don’t you?” Steve replied, “Yeah, I do.” Then Brother Tim asked him, “How many push-ups can you do?”
Steve said, “I do about 200 every night.” “200? That’s pretty good. Do you think you could do 300?” Brother Tim asked. “I don’t know…I’ve never done that many before.” “Well, do you think you can?” “I can try,” said Steve. “Can you do 300 in sets of 10?” Brother Tim asked. “Yeah, I think I can do it.” “Good!” Brother Tim said, “I need you to do this on Friday.”
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front row. When class began, Brother Tim pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these were the fancy kind with creamy centers and ample frosting. Of course, everyone was excited.
Brother Tim went to the first girl in the front row and asked, “Janet, do you want a donut?” She replied, “Yes.” Brother Tim then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Janet can have a donut?” “Sure.” He jumped down from his desk and did a quick ten. When he was done, Brother Tim put a donut on Janet’s desk.
Brother Tim then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe, do you want a donut?” He said, “Sure.” Brother Tim asked, “Steve, would you do ten push ups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did ten push ups, Joe got his donut, and so it went down the front row. Steve did ten push ups for every person before they got their donut.
Then Brother Tim came to Scott, who was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for girl friends. When Brother Tim asked Scott if he wanted a donut, he replied, “Well, can I do my own pushups?” Brother Tim said, “No, Steve has to do them for you.” “In that case, I don’t want one,” said Scott. Brother Tim turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have the donut he doesn’t want?” As Steve began to do ten pushups, Scott protested, “Hey! I said I didn’t want one!”
Brother Tim 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 placed a donut on Scott’s desk.
By now, Steve had begun to slow down a bit. You could see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Brother Tim started down the third row. The students were beginning to get a little angry. Brother Tim asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?” She answered, “No.” Brother Tim then asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten and Jenny got a donut. Many students said “No” so there were many uneaten donuts on their desks. Steve was putting forth a lot of effort getting through ten pushups for each donut. A small pool of sweat began to form on the floor beneath his face.
Brother Tim asked Bob to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in each set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those unwanted donuts. So Bob began to watch Steve closely.
Brother Tim started down the fourth row. Some students had wondered in and stood along the back wall. When Brother Tim noticed this, he started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. He went on to the next student and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time completing each set of ten pushups.
Steve asked Brother Tim, “Do I have to make my nose touch the floor on each pushup?” Brother Tim thought a bit, “Well, they’re your pushups. You can do them any way you want.”
Just then, Jason came to the door. All the students yelled, “Don’t come in!” Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, “Let him come in.” Brother Tim said, “You realize that if Jason comes in, you will have to do ten pushups for him.” Steve nodded. Brother Tim turned to Jason and asked, “Do you want a donut?” “Yes,” said Jason.
“Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?” Steve did ten pushups very slowly with much effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut as he sat down.
Brother Tim finished the last row, then he started on those standing in the back. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each pushup as he struggled to lift himself up. Sweat was dripping off his face and by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room. The last two girls in the room were popular cheerleaders. “Linda,” Brother Tim asked, “Do you want a donut?” Too choked up to talk, she shook her head, no.
“Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Brother Tim turned to Julie, the last student in the room, “Julie, do you want a donut? Crying, she asked, “Can I help him?” Brother Tim, with tears of his own, said, “No, he has to do it alone. Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Julie can have a donut?”
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, aware that he had done all that was required of him, having completed 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor, his strength entirely spent.
Brother Tim then concluded the day’s lesson.
“And so it was, that our savior, Jesus, cried out, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Knowing that he had done everything required of him, he collapsed on the cross and died.”
“Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.”
“And so it was that our savior, Jesus said, ‘Now it is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over his spirit. Knowing that he had done everything required of him, he collapsed on the cross and died.”