The Old Rusty Bird Cage

I have received the following several times. Each time I have read it I have tears before I am finished. I hope you will understand the true meaning of this story and the reason we have Easter.

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There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor of a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and as in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak….

“I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, “What do you have there, son?”

“Just some old birds,” came the reply.

“What are you going to do with them?” I asked.

“Take ‘em home and have fun with ‘em,” he answered. “I’m gonna tease ‘em and pull out their feathers to make ‘em fight. I’m gonna have a real good time.”

“But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?”

“Oh, I got some cats,” saith the little boy. “They like birds. I’ll take ‘em to them.”

The pastor was silent for a moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?”

“Huh? Why, you don’t want them birds, mister. They’re just plain old field birds. They don’t sing. They ain’t even pretty!”

“How much?” The pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, “$10.”

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy

spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by

softly tapping the bars the birds were persuaded to come

out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird

cage setting by the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell 

this story: 

One day Jesus and Satan were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. “Yes sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me trap, used bait I knew they couldn’t resist. Got ‘em all!”

“What are you going to do with them”? Jesus asked.

Satan replied, “Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke, and curse. I’m gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I’m really gonna have fun!”

“And what will you do when you are done with them?” Jesus asked.

“Oh, I’ll kill ‘em.” Satan glared proudly.

“How much do you want for them?” Jesus asked.

“Oh, you don’t want those people. They ain’t no good. Why, you’ll take them and they’ll just hate you. They’ll spit on you, curse you, and kill you. You don’t want those people!”

“How much?” Jesus asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, “All your blood, tears, and your life.”

Jesus said, “DONE!” Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit.

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The pastor had given his message that morning; nothing more had to be said. What an awesome one it was. It told everything, how people would hate Jesus and spit on Him; yes some people of today do these things to our precious Lord also refusing to believe in Him. Yet He gave His life so that we could live.

How can we ever repay Jesus for what He has done for us? No matter what we do for Him it will never be enough.

Even though we will never be able to repay Him for what He has done for us, we can show our love and thankfulness by obeying His commandments, telling people about Him, share with them what He has done for us, love one another, helping one another, and doing what He asks us to do for Him. Are you willing to try to repay Him for what He has done for you?

I thank God for my life. I may not have a mansion, a fancy car, or fancy clothes but I am one of the richest people in the world. I have the love of Jesus, someone to help me through my difficult times and I have a home in heaven to look forward to. I praise, thank, and glorify Him for everything He has and will do for me.

Happy Easter! May you feel the love of Jesus this Easter and forever!



I would like for you to go to another blog to read the story of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Just click on The Cross.  I am sure you will be amazed at the story Debi has written.  Blessings!