The love of the Father
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Introduction
Since having children I have really wrestled with the kind of father i want to be. See I grew up with lots of migrant friends. And their parents were so so strict. Especially when it comes to study and achievement.
Like I’ve heard stories of friends who started playing piano at 2 years old. 2 years old! I probably just started walking at 2.
I have heard stories of friends who finished school at 3pm, and then it was tutoring for maths, science, English. go go go go go.
I’ve heard stories of friends who spend their school holidays not at the zoo but it was so strict. it was 9-3pm at coaching college. Can’t get enough of that study.
A mate once said, he brought home his exam chuffed 97% on an exam. He was a bit smug. Dad’s going to be proud. But his dad asked, 97%? Why not 100? You still made careless mistakes?
My friends felt like they were never good enough.
They never received praise.
It was impossible to be welcomed home into the academic heaven of an immigrant parent.
Friends, do you often think nothing you do can ever please God? Why? Well, you still lie, still gossip, still hiding sins, still get angry when you are want to be patient. And you know you can’t hide from God.
So how can you come to him? Why would God want to accept you? you have a huge stinking pile of sin stacked up. And nothing you do no matter how hard you try is good enough. Is that how you think about God? I’m just not good enough for God.
Let me rephrase the question. Do you see God as your judge but not your Father? As Lord got to be obedient but not your Saviour?
In the next two weeks, we’re looking into the heart of God. Nello and I as we having been thinking about our church and praying, we desire for you to see from the Scriptures that God is loving – that’s why he sent our Savior Jesus Christ to save us. but he is also our Lord, we live in obedience to our loving Father. two sides of a coin. he’s our Saviour and our Lord.
This week; the love of our Father. Next week, the call of our Father.
Friends, this morning we find a surprising God. Because He is not like a cop – writing a fine every time you break rules. Got you. He’s not just angry – ready to throw lightning bolts at you when you sin. He’s not like Santa Claus – do good things and good things in return. He’s certainly not a vending machine. Just pray and whatever you ask for and he will bless you with those things.
No no. friends this morning as we come to the Gospel of Luke, I love this Gospel Luke writes so we can have confidence about Jesus. We see a prodigal God. he shows reckless love to people like us, sinners. He sends the Saviour Jesus who has come to seek and save the lost.
We’re in Luke 15:11-32. We’ve come to a parable. It’s a story about two sons. i’m sure you’ve heard of it. Jesus is speaking to a big crowd with the Pharisees in their midst – these are teachers of the law. And they’ve been mumbling about him. he’s telling this story and it’s pointed at them.
So let’s get to the story. We start with the younger son. Let me tell you, he tears the heart out of his father. he’s lost.
1. The Younger Son (15:11-24)
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Imagine this bloke. Life is good. Secure job. A loving Father. There’s no reason to leave home. But he’s got his own dream. A big dream. He wants to explore. He wants out of the family home. He wants to break free. Do whatever he wants to do. but instead of making his own way like a respectable son, earn an honest wage, his plan is just so cunning. It’s just wrong.
He goes to his father. Give me my inheritance now. What? I don’t about you but I’ve heard of this before in other families. it’s caused family breakdowns. heartache. You don’t do that. Why? He’s literally saying, I can’t wait for you to die dad. The audacity of this younger son. Imagine the pain of the father. Imagine raising a child who only has an interest in you is because of your money.
Look at what happens next.
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
He gets what he wants from his father. He gets his inheritance. Then he leaves. He goes to a far country. We don’t know where. And he squanders the money. He’s living it up. It’s reckless living see the words in verse 13. He’s wastes money. He spends it on parties, on prostitutes, whatever pleases the eye. There’s clearly no forward planning. This younger son squanders it all!
And suddenly the money runs out. And all those friends, those women. Gone. He’s on his own. Worse, famine hits this country.
And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Friends, from the abundance of a big inheritance to pigs. he is feeding pigs. Pigs. Remember, Jesus is telling this in a Jewish context. Pigs are unclean. This bloke has hit rock bottom. He is in the pits of despair. He’s even feeding pigs. In fact, he longs for what the pigs are eating. A Jew would never do that. O the foolishness of the young man. that’s what we think isn’t it?
Jesus clearly paints is a very clear picture of sin in this story.
The Father has given his son his inheritance. The father is very generous. But the younger son walks away. He ignores the giver. He splurges all of his father’s money. He doesn’t care. It’s incredibly proud, isn’t it?
Friends, this is like our world. God has given us everything good in this life. he has given us life. our every breath. He has given us great tasting food. He has given us family. He has given us homes. He has given us work. He gives us money. We have it so good. And yet our world lives like there is no God. it doesn’t thank God. In fact the world lives like God does not exist. And What have we done with what God has given us? We’ve destroyed it. Look at our relationships. Look at our greed. We’re so far away from God. That’s a good picture of sin. Rejecting God the very generous giver. The creator of the world. We’ve rejected God like the younger son. But then he hits rock bottom.
So what does he do? Look at verse 17. This is the right response.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’
Extraordinary little insight there did you notice it? The Bible talks about a number of key concepts. I just mentioned sin. Here we see repentance. It’s crucial to understanding the Christian faith. Repentance. It is the humility to realise grieving that what you have done is wrong. And to turn back. Turn back and say I’m sorry. Notice how the younger son expresses it verse 19. He says he has no thing he can claim from his father. I don’t even deserve to be called your son anymore. I’m aware of it. I’ve acted offensively. I have nothing I can claim from you. I bring my request, I’m at your mercy.
Beautiful picture of repentance. The humility to release I’ve wronged, the sorrow that goes along, the decision to turn back aware I’m owed nothing I’m at the mercy of the father. So he does go back.
Notice how the father responds. It’s simply amazing. what love.
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
The father ran. He picks up his robe and runs to his son. He’s running. He grabs him. He kisses him. He breaks all cultural protocols of the day. Respectable men do not run. And his son who’s probably rehearsed his speech over and over again says verse 21
luke 15:21
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father cuts him off. He is mid speech in, but his father says to his servants
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
It’s as if he is bringing him back into the family. Put on him a new robe. He’s not a slave. He’s not a servant. He’s my son. Grab the sandals, put on the ring he’s going to receive my inheritance. more than that, kill the fattened calf. It’s time to party!
This is how the father treats his rebellious son.
Can you imagine that? that’s reckless love isn’t it? The son realises his has sinned. he repents. But here’s what the father shows. Here’s another word never to forget. Grace. How amazing is God’s grace. This is his unmerited free gift. The Father shows abundant grace. The Father not only forgives the son, but reinstates him to full place of sonship. He chucks him a big party to go with it. he's forgiven. He’s restored. It’s full of joy.
This is an amazing story the reckless love of God. Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. But it’s not the end of the story. it is a set up to make sense of the 2nd son. The older son.
2. The Older Son (15:25-30)
Notice he’s never left home. he’s been by his father’s side. In fact, he’s been working really hard in the field all day. imagine him coming home. it’s a hot day. he’s hearing partying in the house. What’s going on? He smells the BBQ. So he calls the servant. What’s going on? The servant says your brothers back. But this older brother doesn’t want to go in. And just like the Father runs out to meet the younger son. Now he goes out to talk to the older son. He pleads with him to come in. But this just angers him. look at verse 28
But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
Luke 15:29–30 (ESV)
but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
You can feel the anger in his tone can’t you? He is accusing his father of doing wrong. being weak. Being compassionate. He doesn’t even call his brother brother. It’s this Son of yours. notice there he says these many years i have served you, or better translated I’ve been slaving for you. Here the word there. slaving. he’s been doing things not out of love for his father or because he is in a right relationship with his father. No no, It’s obligation and duty. He has expected a different result. by this younger brother coming home. it’s changed his plans. it’s affected his plans for the rest of his life. he wanted the inheritance all to himself. he stayed close to his father. now his brother has put a spanner in the works. his angry with his father because he welcomed his son back. he’s angry because he’s been slaving. I’ve worked so hard for you. You didn’t even give me a party with my mates. You see what he wants? He wanted reward. He wanted respect. He want recognition. Wow look how hard you worked for your family. wow how great are you.
Friends, the younger son was lost. It’s obvious. But he gets found. He comes to his senses. He repents. But the second son was just as lost. He just never thought he was. He didn’t look like he was. But you dig beneath the surface, push comes to shove, he’s actually lost. He thinks his father loves him because he works hard. it's about effort. but he is lost. Jesus has come to seek and save the lost.
Friends, we think like that all the time. All these years I’ve sacrificed for you God. as a good responsible oldest son, i have thought these same thoughts.
God – I’ve missed the AFL grand final for you. that’s a true story. We were at a church conference I was angry I missed the AFL grand final. sounds petty now, but it’s true.
Come on God – I read the Bible 5 chapters a day
Come on God – I don’t take drugs, I don’t gamble. come on God you owe me! Why do you give me this suffering?
Come on God – why am I still single? Look how much I’ve slaved for you. Why do i have a marriage like this? we do that.
Come on God – why is my family the way it is I’ve been so faithful. Come on God. look at me. Pay up. It’s just manipulation. This is what the older son tries to do to his Father. We do good things because we expect God to reward us. This older brother is lost. He just didn’t know it. he didn’t know the heart of God. and here’s the sting.
Jesus is actually speaking to the Pharisees, the religious leaders, the respectable ones in the crowd. These are the good people in the synagogue. he hits them between the eyes.
You just don’t get it. You are lost. You don’t understand the love of the father. You too Jesus the Savior. You think that your obedience is good enough to please God. Friends, the reaction as Jesus told the story was hostility and anger. And it makes you wonder, why is Jesus so intense about it? It’s because they are lost. You get forgiveness when you realise you are lost. How can he get this older brother, respectable responsible brother to realise he is lost? How do you get them to see their efforts won’t get them saved? Jesus pushes and prods the hornets nest. Because the heart of God is love.
3. The Love of the Father (15:31-32)
And you see it in verses 31-32. Jesus loves for the lost. The lost younger son. The lost older brother. Verse 31
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
See the heart of God? he loves the lost. He wants the lost to be found. He wants to celebrate life with people. that’s his heart. The older brother has missed this altogether. He doesn’t know his father at all. He’s thinks about himself. He should be thankful that his brother has come back. It should be a family celebration.
But it’s not.
And this story is left hanging. What happens to the older brother? I reckon Jesus is offering an invitation. The story is not over. he’s saying if you are like the older brother type; COME! COME! Turn back. Even if you think you keep the rules really you know you are heart is far from God. Be right with God. Repent, turn back to God.
Because the whole message of the Bible, particularly Luke there’s a verse Luke 19:10 says
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
In fact the whole chapter 15 is about lost and found. There’s 3 stories about lost and found. Lost sheep jesus is the good shepherd who found the lost sheep. The lost coin, the determination of this person to find the lost coin. It’s about Jesus finding lost people in their sin. and here you have the two sons. The older brother should’ve know the heart of the father. Not to slave in the field, but the heart of the father is to be reconciled with his lost son. He wants all people to be found. Jesus is the Saviour. he saves lost people.
Friends, Jesus left the glory of heaven. God sent his son to earth to look for lost people. he is the saviour.
That’s why he set his face to go to Jerusalem in Luke 9:51
Jesus sets his face knowing there in Jerusalem he would be betrayed.
He would be rejected.
Beaten battered. Tried falsely and nailed to a cross for him to die. He died in our place. He swapped places for us. it’s as if the pure robe Jesus had was stripped off and he was naked for you and me. He had no sandals on the cross but his naked feet nailed to the true. His ring relationship with his father, he took our punishment judgment for you and me. So that we could wear his ring of inheritance. So we can have a new clean pure robe and be called sons and daughters of the living God. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why he died. That’s why he came back to life. So that we can come home. it’s only through Jesus that we can have a right relationship with God. that we can live eternally with him. he is the Saviour. This is the heart of our loving God. he sent Jesus the saviour of the world.
Friends, He came to find you! He will save you, if you trust in him. That’s how passionate he is for us who are created by God. he wants to see lost people come home.
So have realised you are a sinner? Come back home to your heavenly father. Repent. God loves you so much that he sent his son Jesus, the saviour to die and rise for your sins. Stop living foolishly. Come home. He will show grace. Come home. Friends, don’t stay outside like the older brother. come into the party. God wants you to come home. Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. he is the Saviour.
Friends, if Jesus is your saviour, be reminded of the love of the Father. we come to Jesus receiving him as Saviour and then for some reason we think we stay in because of our efforts. It’s not. He has saved you. Jesus has taken your sin upon himself. Trusting that he died to save you. You don’t do anything to stay in, but trust in him. You live as his child, safe and secure by faith alone. You’re in. you live for him knowing you are already saved. Be reminded that Jesus is the Saviour.
Come home, be reminded and get on board with the Father.
if Jesus is here to seek and save the lost. he’s the Saviour - he wants all people to be saved. So get on board with God’s plans. Don’t be a mumbler grumbler. see the reckless love of our Father. we will get all types of people here at epping. love them by speaking the Gospel, opening your homes. be on about reaching and saving the lost. that’s the heart of our Father. that’s what’s most important, Jesus died to save the lost. He’s the Saviour. Let’s get on board with the Father’s plans.
Let’s pray friends.