The Son

A wealthy widower and his only child -- a son -- both loved and collected art. Their collection included works of some famous painters -- Matisse, Picasso, Raphael, et al.

During the Vietnam War, the son was drafted to military service where he served as a medic in the US Army, and died while attempting to save injured soldiers. The father grieved deeply after being notified of his son's death.

Shortly before Christmas, and just a month after the son's death, there was a knock at the old man's door. Upon opening the door, a young man stood before him carrying a large wrapped package under his arm.

"Sir, I know you don't know me, but your son and I served in the same Army unit, and I am one of several soldiers whose life your son had saved the day that he died. He carried me to safety, after I was injured by enemy fire. Just as he was about to load me onto a waiting Medevac helicopter, he himself was hit on the chest, over the heart, by an enemy's bullet. He was killed instantly. He often talked about you and your love for art. . ." The young soldier then took the package from under his arm and offered it to the old gentleman as he continued, "I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

Upon unwrapping the package, the father noticed that it was a portrait of his son. It was painted by the young soldier. The old gentleman stared in amazement and in awe at the very life-like painting of his son. It was so exquisitely and precisely done that it captured the son's physical features very realistically and vividly--especially the eyes. As the father stared at his son's portrait for several minutes, tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. He then profusely thanked the young man and even offered to pay him, but the soldier protested saying, "Oh, no Sir. It's a gift. It's my simple way of saying thank you to him and to you. I know that I could never ever repay what your son did for me -- it is because of him that I am still alive and standing before you this very moment!"

The father hung the portrait in a very special spot in the house, and every visitor who came was immediately led to the portrait before being shown the rest of the gentleman's fairly extensive art collection.

A few months later, the man himself died, and shortly thereafter, an auction was held to dispose of his art collection. Many art aficionados and wealthy art collectors came eager to purchase at least one of the many famous paintings in the collection.

To start the auction, the painting of the son was brought out, and the customary auction process began after the drop of the gavel and a brief description of the item to be sold. When the auctioneer asked for the first bid, there was complete silence for a long time until someone shouted, "Skip this one and start with the famous paintings!"

But the auctioneer insisted, "Who will start the bidding on the portrait of 'the son' ?. . ."

There was absolute silence for a long time until another voice was heard, "We came to 

see the van Goghs, the Rembrandts, and the other famous paintings!"

But the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

The room was once again deathly silent until finally a voice came from the very rear was heard, "Ten dollars!" It was the poor longtime gardener at the deceased's estate, who despite knowing that it was actually all that he could afford, nonetheless took the chance to bid on it, hoping that no one else would buy it.

'Ten dollars! Do I hear twenty?'

Total silence for several minutes until someone yelled impatiently, "Give it to the one who bid $10, and let us go one with the real biggies!"

The crowd was become angry and restless. No one was interested in the portrait of the son.

After the almost deafening silence and getting no further bids, the auctioneer intoned, 'Going once, going twice, sold to the gentleman in the rear for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row then shouted, "Very good! Now let's get on with the auction!"

The auctioneer then laid down his gavel and declared, "The auction is over."

"What?!? How about the rest of the paintings?" came a mixture of disgusted and disappointed shouts.

The auctioneer then replied, "When I was called to conduct this auction, I was informed that it was clearly stipulated in the deceased's will that the painting of the son was the only work to be auctioned, and whoever bought the painting would inherit the deceased's entire estate including his whole art collection. So, the man who made the one and only bid for the son gets everything!" -Author Unknown

Just like the auctioneer, about 2,000 or so years ago, God, our heavenly Father offered His Son, Jesus Christ, and whosoever takes the offer is entitled to be an heir of God's kingdom!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall. . .have eternal life. -- John 3:16