The Tale of Three Brothers

An adaptation of The Three Little Pigs by Joseph Jacobs 1898

Everyone can remember the story of The Three Little Pigs and The Big Bad Wolf but could that story have a hidden meaning from a Christian viewpoint? Let’s examine that in this twisted tale of The Three Little Pigs.

As you may recall, Mother pig sent her three little piglets out into the world to “seek their fortune”. Mother pig worried about her piglets for each had their own distinct personality. The first little pig did not believe in God at all, the second little pig, while not dismissing the idea there actually could be a God just never got around to knowing God. The third little pig though was a devout Christian and looked to God each day for strength and wisdom and as the little pig left his Mother he was not afraid because he knew God would protect him from any harm.

The big bad wolf (Satan) watched as they went their separate ways and before long he approached the first little pig. He said, “Little pig, little pig, if you will worship me I will give you pleasures beyond anything you can imagine”. And the little pig answered, “alright but just make sure I get everything I want”. The big bad wolf replied, “yes of course, everything you want”. Before long the little pig had everything he could possibly want but before he could enjoy any of the pleasures, he died. Satan claimed his soul.

The second little pig was walking down the lane whistling to himself when he came upon the big bad wolf resting against a tree. The little pig said, “hello, who are you”? and the big bad wolf replied, “Little pig, little pig, if you will worship me I will give you pleasures beyond anything you can imagine.” “Why would you do that?” the little pig asked. “Because I am your friend and friends help each other but you have to promise you will worship only me”. “Do you mean all I have to do is worship you and I will receive everything I want” asked the pig. “Of course” said the big bad wolf. Before long the little pig had everything he could possibly want but like his brother before him he did not enjoy any of the pleasures because he too died. Satan claimed his soul also.

The third little pig was walking down a dirt path humming to his self a tune the sounded like “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf”? and the sun felt warm and it was a beautiful day. As he turned the corner he noticed the big bad wolf resting against a tree. The little pig said, “hello, who are you”? and the big bad wolf replied, “Little pig, little pig, if you will worship me I will give you pleasures beyond anything you can imagine”. The pig replied, “It is written that I shall have no other god’s before me” which completely took the wolf by surprise. With a wave of his hand there appeared before the little pig some of the most beautiful pigettes he had ever seen and the wolf said, “They can all be yours if you will worship me” and the pig replied, “if a pig looks at a pigette with lust in his heart he has committed adultery”. Then the wolf waved his other hand and there appeared before the little pig mountains of gold and silver and the wolf said, “This can all be yours if you will worship me” and the pig replied, “My treasures are stored up in Heaven, not on this earth”. The wolf couldn’t understand what was happening, it had always been so easy before to claim souls of pigs and with one last act of desperation the wolf waved his hand once again and there before the little pig were mighty mansions that glittered with gold. The wolf said, “This can all be yours if you will worship me” and the pig replied, “I already have a mansion in heaven that Jesus prepared for me long ago and one day I will live with Him”. Upon hearing the name of Jesus, the wolf fled leaving the pig with its soul.

Which of the three pigs’ best describes you? Are you like the first little pig and don’t know Jesus or maybe have heard about Him but didn’t care? If you can relate to the first little pig then it is my hope that you come to know about God and His love, grace and mercy and will eventually receive Him as your Savior. Perhaps you are like the second little pig, you know about Jesus, you have heard about Jesus but you just never got around to accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and receive His grace and mercy. If so then I urge you to profess your sin and ask God for His forgiveness and receive His grace and mercy. God does not want even one pig to lose their soul but for all pigs to come to Him and receive Him as their Savior and receive eternal life.

Now only the third little pig remains and if you are following the same path like him then you know that Jesus is waiting for you. As you travel life’s path be wary for there may be a big bad wolf just around the corner. The wolf will tempt you with your deepest desires, whether it is drugs, money, sex, alcohol or fame. When the big bad wolf comes around, and he will, turn to your Savior for strength and comfort and with God’s love shielding you from harm the big bad wolf can never touch you.

What is the hidden message in the tale of The Three Little Pigs? By their own choice the first and second pig had not received Jesus as their Savior and just as it was in the original story their houses (faith) were weak and could not stand up against the wolf, (Satan) and they were devoured, (lost their soul). The third little pig though had a strong house, (faith) and after all of the huffing and puffing the wolf did, (offering many temptations), the pig was not tempted because of the strength God had given him and the wolf (Satan) was defeated. How strong is your house?

Written by John Bailey