A cross with a single cutDownload!

One day, a man in Armenia was arrested and put in jail. The reason: he believed in Jesus as his Savior. To be reminded daily of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he had a cross hanging in his apartment.

The man was brought before the judge. “If you do not renounce your faith in Christ, you must die,” the judge declared. “Will you renounce it?” “No,” he replied. “I will sentence you to death, just because of this ridiculous cross. How can a man as wise as you believe in a crucified man?” He replied, “I believe in him and will continue to do so!” 

The man was led back to his cell, where he was to await his death sentence. Somehow, however, the judge had come to respect the man because of the courage with which he stood by his faith. He thought it over. Then he took a sheet of paper and a pair of scissors and hurried over to the prison. The man was surprised when the judge suddenly appeared in his cell. The judge explained, “I’m giving you a chance to save your life. Here is a sheet of paper and a pair of scissors. If you can show me tomorrow morning how to cut a cross out of this paper with a single straight cut, I’ll spare your life.” 

Again and again, the man studied the sheet of paper, pondering and praying. By the time it was getting light outside, he had an idea. “Yes, that’s how it’s done,” he whispered. Just then, the cell door opened and the judge appeared, asking, “Well?” “You see, Your Honor,” he replied, taking the paper and folding it several times. Then he took the scissors, made a straight cut, and unfolded the paper again. “Here is the cross you want. But I have other parts as well: the rocks of Golgotha on which the cross stood, the criminals on Jesus’ right and left, the spear of the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus’ side, and the sign that read INRI. And finally, there are two pieces of paper left; these are the dice used by the soldiers to cast lots for Jesus’s robe.”

The judge was stunned and gestured toward the door: “The cut of this cross has given you life. Go home.”