Once upon a time there was a pastor in a small church in New England.
One Easter Sunday, he arrived at the church, bringing an old rusty cage which he placed on the platform. The pastor began to speak:
I was walking around town yesterday when I seen a little boy coming towards me, swinging that bird cage. In the back of it, there were three small wild birds, trembling from the cold it was outside. I stopped the young boy and asked him:
- ” What have you got there, little one ?”
- ” Just a few old birds ” he replied.
- ” What will you do with it? ” Asked the pastor.
- “I will bring them home and have fun with them. I will tease them by removing their feathers so that they fight. I’m going to have a lot of fun! ” Replied the boy.
-” But, you will be very tired of these birds one day or another. What will you do? “
-” Oh, I have a few cats and they like birds. I will give them to them. ” Said the young boy.
The pastor was silent for a few moments, then continued:
-” How much do you want for these birds, child? “
-” What? But why do you want them, sir? They are just old birds. They don’t sing. They are not even beautiful! “
-” How many? “
The young boy tested the pastor to find out if he was crazy by asking him:
- ” 10 dollars?”
The pastor reached into his pocket and pulled out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the young boy’s hand, who left very quickly.
The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of an alley where there was a tree and some grass. Putting the cage on the ground, he opened the door and gave the cage a few small taps to persuade the birds to come outside so that they were free.
Well, that’s what explains the empty cage on the grandstand. The pastor then proceeded to tell this other story:
One day Satan and Jesus were having a discussion. Satan had just returned from the Garden of Eden, rejoicing and boasting:
I just got hold of the whole world. Set a trap for them, I know they won’t be able to resist. Catch them all! “He sneered.
-” What are you going to do with them? “asked Jesus.
-” Oh, I’m going to have fun with them! I will teach them how to get married and divorced, how to hate and abuse other people, how to drink and smoke so that they destroy themselves. I will show them how to invent guns and bombs to kill others. I will really have a lot of fun! “
-” And what will you do when you no longer want them? ” Asked Jesus.
-” Oh, I am going to kill them! ” Replied Satan proudly.
How much do you want for them? “Jesus asked.
-” Oh, you don’t want these people. They are not good. Why would you take them if you know they’re only gonna hate you! They will spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don’t want them! “
-” How much? ” Jesus asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus with a sneer, then answered:
-” All your blood, your life. “
-” Ok “
And he paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage. He opened the door. bear and went away
Do not ignore any longer what Jesus has done for you, and believe!
