Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Part One: The Father’s Love:
Tonight we shall look at the Father. The Father is the picture of God: it is how Jesus describes Him.
Jesus is speaking to the sinners and corrupt ones of his day. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law are also listening. They begin to complain. You see to sinners the Good News of the Gospel will always be welcomed. But to the religious people the Good News of the Gospel will always be criticised. Why? Because the religious want to hold power over people, but the Gospel sets them free.
What do we learn about God our Father from this parable?
Father God is Loving
12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Now this young son asks Him for his share of the inheritance. In Jewish families the children had to wait for this share to come after the death of the father. But this son is impatient. He does not want to wait. It is like saying to his father, “I wish you were dead!”
In Jewish society, there were laws regarding how inheritances were divided. The oldest brother got a double share (Deuteronomy 21:17), while the other brothers got a single share.
The Jewish father would rebuke to son, maybe even beat him, and send him out to work. This is what the Pharisees expect to hear!
Despite the breathtaking--and insulting--audacity of the younger son's request, the father grants it!
Amazing!
This reflects the amazing love that God shows toward us. Even when we are acting as selfishly as the prodigal son, God loves us.
Your Father in heaven is loving!
Father God is Trusted
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
When the prodigal son is at his lowest, who does he think he can turn to? Not the person he is working for or his friends who helped him spend all the money. He remembers he can turn back to God (more of this on Wednesday).
20: So he got up and went to his father.
Why? He can trust Him. Even though he is going to throw himself on the mercy of his Father, He knows his father can be trusted to do the right thing.
My friends, if you have wondered far way from God you can still trust Him! He won’t reject you or send you away.
Father God is Looking for You
20b:“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
20b… his father saw him…
This earthly Father is looking for the son. He has not stopped spending his days looking at the horizon, looking at the edge of his property, to see the familiar figure walking back to him.
God is still looking for you. He is looking to the horizon. He is looking for the repentance that will bring you back to HIm.
Repentance in the Bible is the Greek word: metanoia. It is a military word that means to turn around and go in the opposite direction that the army is marching.
But it is more than just going in a different direction. It’s is also about going towards something. It’s about being deliberate and purposeful. To change your mind.
God is looking for repentance today. The heart that says that you are turning back to God:
Psalm 51:17: My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
Father God Runs Towards You
20: …he ran to his son…
We read those words so quickly but there’s more to it than this. You see for the Jewish man to run in public was not dignified, it was not acceptable behaviour. Because they wore long coats and shirts, they would have to tuck these into their underwear to run. This behaviour would be regarded as improper.
Jesus is teaching a very important point here: God does not wait for you to come all the way. He needs you to take the first step. He then runs to you!
Even if you think you are taking the first step, God already made the first move by sending Jesus to die on the cross for you! He makes it possible for you to have new life through Christ.
Take the step of repentance today and you will see God run to you!
The Father is Forgiving
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Now the prodigal son has a little speech all ready. But the father does not let him bring it. Instead he does some amazing things for him.
You see forgiveness is shown to the son. God shows you forgiveness too. He does four things for him, God does the same for you:
- He gives him the best robe: robe was the sign of honour and wealth. It was also the one that the father wore for special occasions (remember this son has wasted everything and has no robe of his own). Often the colour of the robe would tell the local people which family you belonged to. When we repent God gives us the mark that identifies us as part of His family (Romans 8:15-17)
- He puts a ring on his finger: this speaks of authority. In those days the rings was a signet ring with the family sign on it. When they sent a letter they would seal it with hot wax and press the ring into it, so that the person knew it was genuine. God does the same for you: He gives you the authority of the Kingdom (Romans 8:16)
- He puts sandals on his feet: this was a sign of not being a servant anymore, servants did not wear sandals or shoes. Only those who were free wore sandals. God does the same for you, He sets you free band gives you the sign of freedom (Romans 15:17)
- He holds a celebration feast: the father throws a feast, kills the fatted calf, and celebrates. God does the same when you come back to Him (Luke 15:7)
The Father Intervenes
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
Now the older brother is angry that the father is so lavish in his love for the younger son (we will take more of this older son next month).
But let’s notice something, the father has to tell the older brother to accept this younger brother back.
If you feel that the church will reject you if you come back, know this, God has prepared the hearts of the people to welcome you! Father God intercedes for you!
Wrapping this up:
Maybe you feel that you have gone too far from God but there is a truth here: God rejoices over that which is lost and found. Jesus actually tells three parables in this chapter about things being lost and found and the rejoicing that happens when they are found (coin, sheep, son).
Give your life to Jesus now by repenting of your sins. If you’d like to do this, say this prayer with me:
Jesus thank you for dying on the cross and taking my punishment for sin. Some into my life and be my saviour and Lord. Father God forgive me of my sins. Make me the person you want me to be. I give you my life now in Jesus name, Amen.
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