From our Locum Minister, Rev Susan Galloway

THE GIFT

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare art works and had everything from Picasso to Raphael. A war broke out and the young man was drafted and later died in battle rescuing another soldier. His father grieved deeply over the loss of his son. One night there was a knock on the door. A young soldier stood outside with a package in his hands. He told the father, “I’m the man your son died to save. He often talked about you and how you both loved fine art.” The package was a painting of his son done by the soldier. “I’m not an artist but I wanted you to have this”.

The father took the portrait and hung it in pride of place above the fireplace. Every time someone came to the house, he showed them this painting first.

When the man died, an auction was organised to sell the works of art in his collection. On the day of the auction, the portrait of the man’s son was the first item to be shown to the crowd. The auctioneer asked, “Who will bid on the son?” The room was silent because no-one wanted this picture. What the people wanted was the famous pictures. The auctioneer asked again “Who will bid on the son?”

Finally a voice sad, “I’ll give you £10 for it”. It was the family gardener and he didn’t have much money. The auctioneer said “I have £10 bid, who will give me £20?” The people were furious and shouted for the famous paintings. The auctioneer banged his gavel, “Going once, going twice, sold to the man in the back for £10.”

The auctioneer then stepped down saying that the auction was over and, due to a secret stipulation in the will, the person who bought the son was to receive the entire collection as well.

This simple story made me think that, although Jesus was a million times more precious to God than this man’s picture of his son, God was willing to sacrifice his son so that all of us might be forgiven and free.

It says in John3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.

Imagine the truth of that for a moment. You are valuable enough to God that He put his Son through humiliation … torment … pain … heartbreak and death. The one who created the earth and the stars loves the same people that spat in his son’s face and rejected his kindness.

Many times in our society, people are told that they’re expendable, that they’re worthless. God disagrees. He has said that he loves you enough to give up his only son for you. That makes YOU extremely valuable!

May you be blessed this Easter and through your life by knowing and
feeling God with you.

Susan