Who will take 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.
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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 this package. "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 of art he had collected.
The man died a few months later. Having no remaining relatives 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.
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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 longtime 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?" The crowd shouted, "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" 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 real paintings!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the other paintings? What do you mean?" "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 every thing!"
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel 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!
Any questions or comments?
