Illustrating Christ’s Substitutionary Atonement for Us

Following Jesus’ example, Kids for Christ has utilized object lessons, dramatizations, and short skits, such as The Garcia Skit: “A few years ago, a man named Garcia lived in a country ruled by a dictator. Garcia was the leader of a group of people who were trying to overthrow the dictator. His group lived in tents in the country and was constantly moving. They also kept their families with them. One night, Garcia’s lieutenant told him someone had broken into the supply tent and stolen some food. Garcia was outraged because food was in short supply and had to be rationed. He gathered all the families and told them that from then on, anyone caught stealing food would be publicly whipped.

Not long after that night, the lieutenant came to Garcia and told him more food had been stolen. But the thief had been caught. And it was Garcia’s mother!
Garcia had a problem. If Garcia whipped his elderly mother, she would probably die. But if he did not punish her, he would lose the authority and respect of everyone as their leader.
Everyone wondered what Garcia would do. He pronounced the crime-stealing food, and the punishment was to be publicly whipped. Then Garcia did something that shocked everyone. He took off his shirt from his own back and ordered his lieutenant to whip him instead of his mother!
Garcia’s justice was satisfied. At the same time, his love for his mother was proven. The penalty was paid; justice was carried out. But Garcia had been punished because of his love for his mother.”
We are like Garcia’s mother. We deserve to be punished for our sins. But God spared us that punishment by sending Jesus to die in our place and to pay the full price for all our sins.”