The Son
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare
works of art. They had everything in their
collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would
often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went
to war. He was very courageous and died in battle
while rescuing another soldier. The father was
notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there
was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the
door with a large package in his hands. He said,
“Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for
whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives
that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a
bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.
He often talked about you, and your love for art.”
The young man held out a parcel. “I know this isn't
much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your
son would have wanted you to have this.”
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of
his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe
at the way the soldier had captured the personality
of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn
to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.
He thanked the young man and offered to pay him
for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what
your son did for me. It's a gift.”
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every
time visitors came to his home he took them to see
the portrait of his son before he showed them any of
the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a
great auction of his paintings. Many influential
people gathered, excited over seeing the great
paintings and having an opportunity to purchase
one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The
auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the
bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for
this picture?”
There was silence...
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We
want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”
But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for
this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100,
$200?”
Another voice angrily. “We didn't come to see this
painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the
Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!”
But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The
son! Who'll take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.
It was the long time gardener of the man and his
son. “I'll give $10 for the painting...“ Being a poor
man, it was all he could afford.
“We have $10, who will bid $20?”
“Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.”
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want
the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once,
twice, SOLD for $10!”
A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let's get on with the collection!”
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I'm sorry, the
auction is over.”
“What about the paintings?”
“I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this
auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.
I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be
auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would
inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!”
God gave His son 2 000 years ago to die on the
cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today
is: “The son, the son, who'll take the son?”
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets
everything.
For God so loved the world he gave his only
begotten Son, who so ever believeth, shall have
eternal life...that's love!