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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 Viet Nam 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 his 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 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;

A voice from the back of the room shouted,
We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one;
But the auctioneer persisted, Will someone
bid for this painting? Who will start the
bidding? $100, $200?;

Another voice shouted angrily, We didn't
 come to see this painting. We came to see the
Van Goghs, 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
longtime gardener of the man and his son.
He raised his hand shouted; 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. $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 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
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.

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