In South Korea today there is freedom of religion, but it has not always been so. During the year of the Japanese occupation, Shinto shrine worship was compulsory. Even children in school were required to bow before the shrines, and older Christians who refused were sent to prison.
At last the Japanese withdrew and the Christians were free to worship God again, free to hold jobs and to send their children to the public schools.
Mr. Sohn of Sunchon was one of these. Released from prison, he soon resumed his old work in charge of a leper hospital in Sunchon and sent his two sons back to school.
Like their father, the two boys were faithful and out-spoken Christians and were soon the leaders of a band of Christians in their school.
But peace had not really come to Korea yet. Rioting began in the southern districts. As the older son of Mr. Sohn was praying in his room, the door was thrown open by one of his own classmates who shouted, "Here is the most obnoxious Christian boy! Take him!"
Rioters poured into the room, beating and stabbing Elder Son with bamboo spears. He was dragged to the people's court and sentenced to be shot. As Elder Son was dragged away to the place of execution, Younger Brother threw himself in front of him, crying, "Don't kill him! Kill me instead!"
The rioters shot both boys to death.
The day after the double murder the national army occupied Sunchon and order was restored. Many of the rioting students were arrested, and among them was the one who caused the death of the two Sohn boys. He was tried and sentenced to be shot.
Mr. Sohn heard of the sentence and, even though still grieving for his own two boys, he hurried to the army headquarters to beg the commanding officer to pardon the boy.
At first the answer was, "NO!" But he pled so earnestly that at last the officer consented and released the boy to Mr. Sohn.
Then Mr. Sohn took the wretched boy who had caused the death of his own two beloved sons into his own home. He fed him and cared for him and above all told him how Elder Son and Younger Brother had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how they had trusted themselves to Him for time and eternity, and that, thought they were dead, they were with their Lord Jesus and alive forevermore.
Such love and grace—is it any wonder that the boy soon became a Christian just like the "most obnoxious Christian boy" he had hated?
What a little picture this is of God's love and grace! He sent His own beloved Son into the world, yet the world hated Him and cried, "Away with Him!" Now what does God say to the world that crucified His Son?
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12). Sons of God! Even as Mr. Sohn saved the life of that poor Korean boy and took him into his own home, so God now accepts all who will receive Him.