I was walking through town the other day when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging a bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three birds, wide-eyed and trembing with fear. I stopped the boy 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," said the boy. "They like birds. I'll let 'em have some fun, too."

I was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"

"Huh?!! Why, you don't want them birds, lady. They don't sing nice. They ain't even purty!"

"How much?" I asked again.

The boy sized me up and said, "Ten bucks?"

I reached into my purse, took out the money and gave it to the boy. In a flash, he was gone. I picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the street where there was a tree. Setting the cage down, I opened the door, and set the birds free.

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Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden and he boasted to Jesus, "You lose, Jesus! Those people you created - you gave them a one-way ticket to hell when you gave them the freedom to run their own lives. Yes sir! I caught Adam and Eve and all their descendants. Set a trap and used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all! They're mine now!" he gloated.

"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 be selfish, how to hate and abuse each other, how to make war. The blood is going to flow."

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked.

'Oh, I'll kill them - if any of them are still alive." Satan laughed.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, you don't want those people. They're worthless. They'll just turn on You. They'll spit on You, curse You and kill You! You don't want those people!"

"How much?" Jesus asked again.

Satan looked and Jesus and sneered, "All Your tears and all Your blood."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

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For you are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Jesus paid to free you from sin and the power of Satan. If you would like to know more about Jesus and His remarkable love for you, read the gospel of Mark and visit a bible-believing church. You will be warmly welcomed.