Yesterday, as I was driving to church, I asked God to speak to me while I was there. Isn’t it amazing when you ask, and He gives?
In Sunday school, we have been watching videos- Ray Vander Laan’s That the World May Know Bible study series. This Sunday we watched Israel’s Mission, session 5, which went through several parables of Jesus found in Luke 15.
The Parable of the Lost Son
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.’”
Shortened version: A father gives his younger son his inheritance. The son wastes the money in a far country, becomes poor, and feeds pigs. He returns home to ask for a servant’s job, but his loving father runs to forgive him and throws a joyful celebration instead.
Important points:
If you take in inheritance and you lose the inheritance to the Gentiles, you are permanently expelled from your father’s house. Certain local traditions and customs were enforced. There was even a public shunning ceremony if you broke this. The father knew this law, and so did the son. The father was to remain at home and let the community pass judgment.
All the father wanted was to get his child back. The father wanted to welcome his son home. He loved his son, and it didn’t matter what sin he had committed; he wanted his son to come home to him. The son hit rock bottom and looked to God for help. God met the son where he was and brought him home.
When the son was coming back, his father ran in his robe to meet him- he actually sprinted. In the ancient Middle East, men wore long tunics or robes. Running meant lifting the fabric, which exposed bare legs and was viewed as a shameful and undignified act for an adult man of status. And to think he wasn’t only running; he was sprinting. During this sprint, he intentionally gave up his dignity. He lifted his robe and sprinted to absorb the community’s shame and welcome his child back before anyone else could reject him.
Wow, what this father did for his son who had left, had sinned, and was then shown grace by his father- his father actually took the shame of his son.
Isn’t this what God does for us? When we are lost, when we question, when we are in the wilderness, when we are following the ways of the world, when we have the love of money, when we forget we are to serve, God goes to get us back. It doesn’t matter how we come back to Him; He will pull up His robe and sprint after us.
It is never too late to run home. God is waiting to sit at the table with anyone and everyone. He wants to get His people back.
Our job as Christians is to help get people back to Christ. Are we doing that? Are we inviting people to our table? Are we caring for the sick and the poor? Are we meeting people where they are?
This week, invite someone to church. If you are uncomfortable with this task, pray and do these things every week:
- Start every day in the Word
- Serve others just as Jesus served
- Fill your cup because you can’t fill other cups until you fill yours
As Father Mike says, you pray for me, I’ll pray for you
As Tara Leigh Cobble says, he’s where the joy is
And from me, Cupcake loves you, and so does Jesus.
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