03/08/2017
Years ago a young man ......had quarreled with his father .....and he left home.
He continued to keep in touch with his mother, ......and wanted very badly .....to come back home for Christmas, ..... but he was afraid .....his father would not allow him.
His mother wrote to him .....and urged him to come home, ...... but he did not feel he could..... until he knew .....his father .....had forgiven him.
Finally, .....there was no time .....for any more letters.
His mother wrote and said .....she would talk with his father,..... and if he had forgiven him, .....she would tie a white cloth.... on the tree .....which grew along the railroad tracks ......near their home.
If there were no white cloth, .....it would be better..... if he went on.
So the young man started home.
As the train drew near his home .....he was so nervous ......he said to a friend who was traveling with him, ....."I can't bear to look.
Sit in my place ......and look out the window.
I will tell you .....what the tree looks like ......and you tell me .....whether there is a white cloth on it."
So his friend changed places with him..... and looked out the window.
A few moments later the friend said,..... "Oh yes, I see the tree."
The young man asked,...... "Is there a white cloth tied to it?"
For a moment ......the friend did not say anything.
Then he turned, and in a very gentle voice said,
(Slow) "There is a white cloth tied .....to every limb!"
In a sense, .....Jesus is the white cloth our heavenly Father ....tied to the tree.
To the tree.... To the cross of Calvary .... signaling .....that it is safe for us .....to come home.
