Many years ago Rev. George Thomas put an old, rusty bird cage up on the pulpit on Easter Sunday. Looks and murmurs from the congregation followed as they tried to figure out what he was doing. With a gesture to the cage, he began to explain that last Saturday he had been walking through the town and came upon a young boy swinging the bird cage around.  As he got closer, Rev. Thomas could see there were several very frightened birds inside. He spoke to the boy as they were about to pass, saying, "What do you have there, son?" "They're just some stupid birds” came the reply. "What are you going to do with those birds?' Thomas continued. "Oh, take 'em home and have some fun with 'em," the boy said with a smile, adding “maybe pull their feathers out or try to get them to fight. It'll be fun."

The pastor shuffled his feet nervously, "But those birds don't belong to you.”  Oh, yes they do. I caught 'em fair and square. They're mine and I can do what I want to with them," the boy said with a nod of his head. "Well," said the pastor cautiously, “what are you going to do when you get tired of playing with them?" The boy's face broke into a smile, “Don't worry. I got a couple of cats. They'd love 'em.”  Rev. Thomas got quiet. He looked at the birds and the boy.

He cleared his throat. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" he asked. The boy looked at the birds and then the man. "Mister, you don't want these birds... they're just field birds. They don't sing. You can't eat 'em. They ain't even pretty to look at," the boy replied. "Still," said the pastor, "how much?"  The boy's face broke into a smile. You could tell he thought the pastor was crazy. The boy thought of as much money as he had ever imagined and answered, “Twenty dollars.”  The pastor eyed the boy and slowly reached for his wallet.  He emptied his wallet, counting out a ten, a five, and five ones—exactly enough.  He gave the money to the boy, saying, “I’ll pay the price.”  Well, as soon as the money touched the boy’s hand, he took it and was gone.  The pastor picked up the bird cage, swung the little door open, and watched as the birds climbed out and flew to their freedom.  He smiled as he picked up the empty cage and headed home.

At that point, Rev. George Thomas took the old bird cage off the pulpit and set it down beside him.  He said, “Now let me tell you another story that happened many, many years ago. It seems Jesus was walking down the road and saw Satan with an old, rusty cage. As he got closer, he could see it was full of people..."

I think you know the rest of the story.

(I Peter 1: 1 8,19) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed ... but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Let us thank God for saving us! Why don’t you join us this Sunday to thank Him in person and to worship him!