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 Vietnam 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?" There was silence. Then a voice in 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, the Raphaels. 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. "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 in 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!"