Easter AM: Rejoicing in Resurrection Life - Prodigal's Resurrection

Title: Rejoicing in Resurrection Life

Key verses: ,

What does death mean her? Clearly, the father is not speaking about physical death and life. The father is implying that the son was dead to the father. He was separated. There was a divide that rendered the relationship ended.

What was Jesus speaking this story to & why? Jesus Christ is delivering this story to among the Pharisees who are murmuring that Jesus is associating with the tax-collectors and the sinners of the day.

Who are the characters in the story? The father in the story is typical of God, our Heavenly Father. The prodigal son is typical of the publicans and sinners who are repenting. The elder son is typical of the Pharisees who becomes angry.

A look at the rest of the chapter reveals:

The lost sheep & rejoicing

The lost coin & rejoicing

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Luke Chapter Fourteen: Lost and Found (Luke 15:1–32)

In the first parable the lost sheep is recovered outside the fold, in the second the lost coin is recovered inside the house, and the third and climactic parable incorporates both motifs: the father must await the return of a rebellious son, and he must seek the return of a resentful one.

This context gives us an understanding that the passage is about rejoicing that takes place over

the lost individual’s being found

the undelivered being delivered

the unsaved becoming saved

the unfollowing becoming followers

But what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?

But what does it mean to be saved?

But what does it mean to be delivered?

But what does it mean to be found?

The Master & the Great Supper

Those who were bidden rejected.

It is Christ’s way of teaching that the Pharisees & Israel were bidden but they rejected.

What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ? (Salt - discipleship)

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Luke The Cost of Discipleship (14:25–35)

The believers for whom Jesus is more important than family and friends, even their own lives, who take up their crosses as living martyrs, and who forsake the claims of possessions are savory salt who bring joy to God and make palpable differences in the world. Christians who are not salty are not Christian at all, more useless than those who never claimed to follow Jesus in the first place.

Understanding what it means to be lost

Understanding what it means to be saved

this will be critical so we understand more fully the prodigal's resurrection and the salvation of Lazarus...

Opening of .... the prodigal story is beginning to show itself here.

Salvation is NOT some:

Haphazzard commitment

Little prayer you spoke to an invisible God

Salvation is:

Responding to the bidding of the Great Master to come

Repenting of all excuses and sin that would prohibit you from coming

Rendering your allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Receiving resurrection life

(a) Restoration of relationship that was severed

It is where you and I look see that any allegiance [father, mother, brother sister, land, wife, property, material] other than Christ is nothing less than a pig-sty, I am awakened to my condition and the the Father’s love, and in repentance and faith come back to Him.

It is where our heavenly Father looks to us and says, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again...”!

BUT not everyone rejoices in resurrection life.

Not everyone rejoices with the Father

Not everyone feasts with enjoyment

ILL:

In 1871 the New York Herald sent Henry Stanley to Africa in search of the missionary, David Livingstone, who was long overdue. After unbelievable hardships, the journalist found the explorer in central Africa, where he spent four months with him. Stanley went to Africa a conceited and confirmed atheist, but Livingstone’s influence, gentleness, genuineness, goodness, and zeal won Stanley. Stanley became a Christian, saying, “I was converted by him, although he had not tried to do it.”

Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 183). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

they are not spiritually alive. Why or how do you know this? See

Ill:

5612 Rolls-Royce Reasoning

Driving his new Rolls-Royce through the Alps, an Englishman had his composure jolted when a front spring broke as he was making a tight curve at high speed. After limping into the nearest Swiss town, he explained his problem by phone to Rolls-Royce, Ltd., in England. The next day a company representative appeared, replaced the spring, and the Englishman purred on his way.

Back in England, realizing that no bill had come through from Rolls, he called to ask them to check their records for “Swiss repair of broken spring.” A few minutes later, a most correct Rolls manager was on the phone. “There must be some mistake, sir. There is no such thing as a broken spring on a Rolls-Royce.”

—Tide

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1266). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

his anger and resistance shows he doesn't care about spiritual life - he was angry

his response shows (not a grace consideration) a works/merit belief - these many years do I serve thee

his response shows expectation of gain for moral righteousness - neither transgressed I at any time they commandment

his response shows resentment for lack of gifts from the father - he wasn't in love with the father's but with personal gain - yet thou never gavest me a kid

he wasn't in love with the father's but with personal gain - yet thou never gavest me a kid his response shows a selfish, personally superior consideration - this thy son was come, which hath... his response shows a bitterness/resentment towards the father - thou hast killed... his response is inconsiderate of resurrection life - for this thy brother was dead...

his response shows a selfish, personally superior consideration - this thy son was come, which hath...

his response shows a bitterness/resentment towards the father - thou hast killed...

his response is inconsiderate of resurrection life - for this thy brother was dead...

What must see here is that it is not son’s response that caused the father to love him.

, ,

The father’s love was not only towards the younger repentant brother, but it was also towards the elder brother -

In this account, the elder brother stands to lose more of the overall portion now as the father’s goods would be split again, including the younger brother who had already squandered his living.

The elder brother uses his goodness to hold the father in debt.

He stands to lose something materially - that he has been using his moralism to earn all of these years.

Forgiveness may be free for the one receiving it, but it comes at a cost to the one granting forgiveness.

Having never really understood his father’s love and his own need for forgiveness, this elder brother is absolutely unwilling to grant this forgiveness - as a personal cost.

Transition: But this all points us to the “TRUE Elder Brother”

The true elder brother, the firstborn among many brethren.

firstborn among many brethren

To those who will hear the great master bidding you to come to the feast, you must become a true follower of Christ - giving your allegiance to Him.

It is a rejection of materialism & moralism.

It is a rejection of sensualism & self-righteousness

Ill:

Bonhoeffer insisted that people whose lives remained unchanged by God’s grace didn’t really understand its costliness, and therefore didn’t really understand the gospel.

Keller, T. (2008). The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (1st ed., p. 123). New York: Dutton.

Transition: So why does Jesus tell these stories? What is he doing?

Elisabeth Elliot [These Strange Ashes] recounts an apocryphal story (not in the Bible!) about Jesus that conveys the difference between a results-oriented selfishness and a faithfulness born of love.

Transition:

One day Jesus said to his disciples: “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.” He didn’t give any explanation. So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn’t give any regulations for weight and size! So he put it in his pocket. Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey. About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands and all the stones turned to bread. He said, “Now it’s time for lunch.” In a few seconds, Peter’s lunch was over. When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up. He said again, “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.” This time Peter said, “Aha! Now I get it!” So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger. But he said, “I can’t wait for supper.” Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up. Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, “Now everyone throw your stones into the water.” They did. Then he said, “Follow Me,” and began to walk. Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, “Don’t you remember what I asked you to do? Who were you carrying the stone for?”

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith Anger and Superiority

Elisabeth Elliot recounts an apocryphal story (not in the Bible!) about Jesus that conveys the difference between a results-oriented selfishness and a faithfulness born of love.

One day Jesus said to his disciples: “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.” He didn’t give any explanation. So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn’t give any regulations for weight and size! So he put it in his pocket. Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey. About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands and all the stones turned to bread. He said, “Now it’s time for lunch.” In a few seconds, Peter’s lunch was over. When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up. He said again, “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.” This time Peter said, “Aha! Now I get it!” So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger. But he said, “I can’t wait for supper.” Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up. Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, “Now everyone throw your stones into the water.” They did. Then he said, “Follow Me,” and began to walk. Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, “Don’t you remember what I asked you to do? Who were you carrying the stone for?”

Keller, T. (2008). The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (1st ed., pp. 50–52). New York: Dutton.

Keller - “The older son is lost, outside the feast of the father’s love, yet he’s got almost nothing on his list of wrongdoings. He says, “I’ve never disobedyed you,” and the father doesn’t contradict him, which is Jesus’s way of showing us that he is virtually faultless regarding moral rules. So how does a person who is lost, yet who has not sins on the list, get saved?

It is found in those who have grown up in the father's home

It is found in those who have conservative, moral living

It is found in those who show insecurity by attacking others (verbally or non-verbally)

It is found in those who do not manifest the father's worth & love

It's the person who looks good in their service

It's the person who lives upset because of another brother in the household

It's the person who thinks they deserve more than they've received because they've worked harder

"I deserve to be treated better..."

"I deserve a visit because I have been a member for..."

"I deserve the fatted calf..."

It's the person who doesn't think they should have been treated a certain way

It's the person who doesn't really relish the love of the father

It is found in the active Sunday school teachers, deacons, trustees, musicians, school board members

It's the employees at MCS who gossip and stir up strife

It's the socio-economically sound individual

"Those are MY hard-earned tax dollars"

"I have a right to expect a better education for my children."

It's the ones who are hospitable to those of like kind and socio-economic status.

It is found in those who hold to idols of mother, father, sister, brother

It is found in those who have good homes where there is no cursing or wrong entertainment

It is found in those who attend private schooling or home schooling

It is found in those who assess righteousness based on materialism

There is no:

You cannot rejoice in resurrection life, if you’ve never truly experienced it.

You cannot rejoice in resurrection life, if you’ve never truly received it.

You cannot rejoice in resurrection life, if you’ve never truly repented for it.

What you must do:

What you must do is, pretend like Resurrection is fun.

What you must do is, pretend like you have this life.

What you must do is find other ways to make you seem happy. Fill your day with:

food

egg hunts

family

…all the while missing...

the great feast of the father’s love

what’s been right in front of you all along

what your soul is really longing for

the real joy there is in the Savior

1. Be confronted with the cost of discipleship

Defeating elder brother moralism begins with the right belief of what it means to follow Christ (salt discipleship)

2. Be penitent

Defeating the elder brother moralism requires a recognition & repentance of blinding self-righteousness (a more subtle pig-sty)

3. Believe

Defeating the elder brother moralism requires a belief that the father is worthy of trust because of who He is

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith Slavishness and Emptiness

Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. So he took it to his king and said, “My lord, this is the greatest carrot I’ve ever grown or ever will grow. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.” The king was touched and discerned the man’s heart, so as he turned to go the king said, “Wait! You are clearly a good steward of the earth. I own a plot of land right next to yours. I want to give it to you freely as a gift so you can garden it all.” And the gardener was amazed and delighted and went home rejoicing. But there was a nobleman at the king’s court who overheard all this. And he said, “My! If that is what you get for a carrot—what if you gave the king something better?” So the next day the nobleman came before the king and he was leading a handsome black stallion. He bowed low and said, “My lord, I breed horses and this is the greatest horse I’ve ever bred or ever will. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.” But the king discerned his heart and said thank you, and took the horse and merely dismissed him. The nobleman was perplexed. So the king said, “Let me explain. That gardener was giving me the carrot, but you were giving yourself the horse.”

Closing Ill:

Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. So he took it to his king and said, “My lord, this is the greatest carrot I’ve ever grown or ever will grow. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.” The king was touched and discerned the man’s heart, so as he turned to go the king said, “Wait! You are clearly a good steward of the earth. I own a plot of land right next to yours. I want to give it to you freely as a gift so you can garden it all.” And the gardener was amazed and delighted and went home rejoicing. But there was a nobleman at the king’s court who overheard all this. And he said, “My! If that is what you get for a carrot—what if you gave the king something better?” So the next day the nobleman came before the king and he was leading a handsome black stallion. He bowed low and said, “My lord, I breed horses and this is the greatest horse I’ve ever bred or ever will. Therefore I want to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.” But the king discerned his heart and said thank you, and took the horse and merely dismissed him. The nobleman was perplexed. So the king said, “Let me explain. That gardener was giving me the carrot, but you were giving yourself the horse.”

Keller, T. (2008). The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (1st ed., pp. 60–62). New York: Dutton.

Easter AM: Rejoicing in Resurrection Life - Prodigal's Resurrection

Title: Rejoicing in Resurrection Life

Text:

Intro:

What is the broader context of this passage?

Proposition: Don’t walk out of here as an elder brother today!

Why would someone not rejoice in the resurrection life? (Prodigal Elder Son)

What principles can be drawn from this?

1. The Father's desire is for true repentance of the lost

Lead in:

2. The Father sent Jesus Christ to seek and save that which was lost - (that’s what Jesus is doing in the opening of the chapter - )

Illustration for transition:

3. The Lord exposes the mask of religious moralism

How is elder brother moralism seen today?

Application: