Lost and Found
Notes
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I remember my Dad being really frustrated and upset… he couldn’t find is wallet…
Tell the story (death) - went back to the gas station, and couldn’t find it anywhere.
Who here can relate?
keys, wallet, purse, cell phone, children, etc.?
Its not so much that you lose these items, but that you just don’t know where they are.
I have an awful habit of misplacing things,
I have an awful habit of misplacing things,
I have lost countless coffee mugs, Mandee’s Tupperware, sunglasses,
Mandee often asks me, “how do you lose so much stuff?” to which i always respond, I may lose stuff, but at least i have not lost my wedding ring.
We joke about losing things, but there is actually a very dark and painful psychological reality that takes place when you lose something, when you lose anything.
To lose something is to experience a death.
A death of your relationship to that thing,
a death to the bond of that thing,
and as with any death there is a need to grieve.
to grieve is to emotionally readjust to circumstances that you would not have chosen for yourself.
To grieve a lost pair of sunglasses can happen in just a moment.
To grieve the loss of a loved one may take years.
If to lose something is a type of death, then to find that which was lost is a type of resurrection
When you lose your wallet or purse you begin to grieve the death of those items.
Understanding the context of the lost sheep and lost coin is necessary in order to understand the context of the prodigal son.
There is contextual symmetry between the characters in the three parables:
Shepherd | Woman | Father
There is anxiety of who might have them in their possession,
99 Sheep | 9 silver coins | Older Brother
one lost sheep | one lost coin | younger brother
in the case of my father, his military ID and SS card
There is anxiety of who might have them in their possession, there is the fear of exposed and vulnarable
Rejoicing with those who rejoice
there is the fear of exposed and vulnerable
Rejoicing with Jesus (15:1-2)
Jesus receives sinners with joy and eats with them
there is frustration of having to replace your license, and credit cards, and you think there is no way to replace the gift cards or cash.
all those emotions can be overwhelming.
The Pharisees grumble rather than rejoice
But, when you find your wallet…the feeling of grief, loss, anxiety, fear, all flee as an overwhelming feeling joy and relief comes rushing in as you have found that which was lost.
The feeling of grief, loss, anxiety, fear, all flee as an overwhelming feeling joy and relief coming rushing in as you have found that which was lost.
This is the feeling of resurrection.
This is the feeling of moving from death to life
When we find that which was lost there is rejoicing, to one degree or another
Dad’s wallet (Resurrection)
As we were driving home the grief had set in.
But then i saw it on the side of the road
We rejoiced and stopped to get ice cream as a celebration.
This is what you do when you find something that has been lost, you rejoice, you celebrate!
And this is what we see Jesus doing in the first two verses of .
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus receives sinners, and eats with them.
Here we see sinners and tax collectors wanting to get close to Jesus.
But the Pharisees and scribes were not to pleased with this, they grumbled, saying “this man receives sinners and eats with them”
This is not Jesus sticking up for those who are less fortunate.
This is Jesus received with Joy both tax collectors and sinners by inviting them into a party
This word “receives” is not a word of obligation, but rather its a word that means to welcome gladly.
It is used of welcoming your friends to a celebration, which is exactly what Jesus is doing,
Jesus is gladly receiving tax collectors and sinners into his party where he is enjoying table fellowship with them.
Now, I think its helpful for us to zoom out just a bit and get an idea of whats really going on here.
We have three characters here:
The Pharisees and scribes grumbled
Sinners and Tax Collectors
Jesus
Scribes and Pharisees
The sinners and tax collectors
They grumbled because they think Jesus is making a mockery of their piety toward God.
you see, the pharisees and scribes considered themselves to be righteous before God.
These are men and women who were not part of the covenant people of God.
Sinners
They didn’t think they needed God’s healing, nor did they need to repent, for they thought they were righteous before God.
In fact, in we see People being baptized by John the baptist because of their faith in God, but the Pharisees refused, for they did not think they needed john’s baptism.
So these righteous men grumbled because Jesus, a rabbi, a leader of the people, was eating and drinking with those who he was supposed to despise.
These were people have spent their entire lives in the darkness, they did not know the light of God, for they were enslaved to the power of Satan.
Pharisees
They were lost
And then you have Jesus
I think its interesting that that Luke uses the word “grumble” here.
The light of the world, who has come to seek and to save the lost.
And this is exactly what he doing. He is finding sinners and tax collectors who are lost, dead, and he gives them life.
And then you have the Pharisees
Men who think they are saved, they think they are found, they think they are righteous.
Yet they grumble when God himself saves those who were far off, those who were lost.
What a dismal reaction from the Scribes and Pharisees
That would be like my brother not wanting to eat ice cream because he didn’t think my dad’s wallet should be found.
We see other stories in the bible where the Jewish leaders grumble against God.
Luke used the same Greek word that in the LXX refers to Israel’s grumbling in the wilderness (; , , ; ; ; , , , ; , ; , ; ).
They grumbled at God
because they did not have the food they wanted
because they were tired
because they thought God was not trustworthy
And it was because of their grumbling and unbelief that that generation was not able to enter into the promised land.
That generation stayed in the wilderness,
They came right up to the boarder of the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey, yet they were not allowed to enter.
The wilderness was to be their resting place, outside of the promised land, outside of the kingdom.
Luke is specifically associating the scribes and Pharisees, and even the whole generation of Jesus’ day, with the rebellious generation that could not enter the promised land because of their unbelief, but instead had to stay in the wilderness.
For the Pharisees to “grumble” at Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners was an expression of their unbelief in Jesus, and a refusal to enter into his Kingdom.
29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,
30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
So here are the scribes and Pharisees standing on the outside of the party, on the outside of the kingdom of God, grumbling because they don’t like that in God’s kingdom sinners and tax collectors get a seat at the table.
However, Jesus, in his grace and mercy offers the scribes and pharisees an invitation to come into the party
Though, the invitation would require the Pharisees and scribes to repent of of their pride, humble themselves, embrace the sinners and tax collectors, and follow Jesus.
Nicodemus is a perfect example of a pharisee who placed his faith in Christ.
Religiously proud folks were invited into the party, but to do so would mean they would have to humble themselves and admit they were no better than the sinners and tax collectors.
Jesus’ invitation to the scribes and Pharisees comes in the form of a parable told in three parts
Look at verse 3
3 So he told them this parable:
is often seen as containing three different parables,
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 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.
13 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.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’
20 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.
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.’
22 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.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29 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.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
The parable of the lost sheep
the parable of the lost coin
The parable of the lost son
However, this is not the case. It is not three separate parables, but rather it is one parable with three parts: its a parabolic trilogy
The Parable
The Parable
What are the three parts?
the story of the shepherd seeking the lost sheep
the story of the woman seeking the lost coin
and the story of the father seeking his lost son
The three parts to the parable can stand alone, however, they are designed to be read together as one three-part parable (15:3). The parts of the parabolic trilogy illume one another.
To understand the last part of the parable, about the prodigal Son, we first have to see it as connected with the first two parts of the parable.
There is contextual symmetry between the characters in the three parables:
Each part of the parable has the main character
Shepherd
Woman
Father
Each part of the parable has something that is not lost
99 Sheep
Nine silver coins
One Son
And each part of the parable has something that is lost
Lost Sheep
Lost coin
Lost son
And as anything that is lost and found, there is a death and resurrection pattern as well.
This is a death and resurrection pattern in the parable
A death occurs when the sheep, coin, and son are lost, but that death is followed by a resurrection when the sheep, coin, and son are found.
And we see in each part of the parable there is a celebration when that which is lost is found.
So we must remember, that the parable told is one parable told in three parts,
Shepherd | 99 Sheep | One lost Sheep
Women | nine silver coins | one lost coin
We can know this for sure because of verse 3
3 So he told them this parable:
Father | two Sons | one lost son
Parable here is in the singular, he did not tell them these parables, but rather he told them this parable.
Shepherd | Woman | Father
99 Sheep | 9 silver coins | Older Brother
one lost sheep | one lost coin | younger brother
As we go through this three part parable, we must remember that the parable is Jesus’ speaking to the grumbling pharisees and scribes who were not happy about Jesus rejoicing with and eating with the lost sinners and tax collectors.
Understanding the context of the lost sheep and lost coin is necessary in order to understand the context of the prodigal son.
SO lets look at the first part of the parable,
There is contextual symmetry between the characters in the three parables:
1. Shepherd - Woman - Father
2. 99 Sheep - 9 silver coins - Older Brother
3. one lost sheep - one lost coin - younger brother
The Lost Sheep
The Lost Sheep
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
This is the death, one of his sheep is lost.
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
So what does the good shepherd do? he goes to find that which is lost.
What man of you, here Jesus identifies the man character of this part of the parable, the man who is the shepherd.
No one would leave 99 unattended sheep in the wilderness alone to go find just one lost sheep.
So why would Jesus say this?
parables are not historical stories, rather they are stories rich with symbolism.
And they are often hard to understand, as the disciples said in
Unless the 99 sheep represented the grumbling generation who was left in the wilderness and were unable to enter the promise land.
unless the 99 sheep was then a symbol of the scribes and the pharisees who considered themselves righteous, not needing to repent.
If the pharisees do not accept Jesus’ invitation, they will be like the 99 sheep who were left in the wilderness, while the shepherd goes out in search of the one.
And what happens when he finds the one sheep that wandered off?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
This is what Jesus has done for us, he has found us in the wilderness of sin, he takes our sins and our shame and lays it upon his shoulders, and rejoices as he brings us back to his table. l
Here is the death and resurrection pattern.
This is the resurrection, he finds his lost sheep, he lays it on his shoulders, and rejoices.
The sheep was gone, a symbolic death, and then it was found, it was taken upon the shoulders of the good shepherd and brought back to life.
Isn’t it interesting that when the good shepherd found us, he also laid us upon his shoulders in order to bring us back to life?
He bore our shame and our guilt, he took upon his shoulders our death in the form of the cross.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Here, the shepherd celebrates the resurrection of his lost sheep by throwing a party. And he invites his friends to join him.
Jesus is rejoicing for he has found his lost sheep in the form of sinners and tax collectors, and now the question is will the pharisees and scribes join him in his celebration?
Jesus then tells them that the joy Jesus is inviting them into reflects the joy in heaven
Jesus then tells them that the joy he is inviting them into reflects the joy in heaven.
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
And the ninety-nine righteous persons who needs no repentance represents the 99 sheep that were left in the wilderness.
So the question for the pharisees and scribes, will you join the party in rejoicing that the lost sheep, the sinners, have been found?
The lost coin illustrates the same point
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15.
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Lost Coin
The Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
As with the lost sheep we see a women who searches for her lost coin, and when she finds it she invites her friends and neighbors to join her in rejoicing for she has found the coin she had lost.
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Again, we see that the rejoicing over the lost coin is a reflection of the rejoicing that goes on before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
8-
Now Jesus moves into the final part of the parabolic trilogy: the lost son.
As with the lost sheep we see a women who searches for her lost coin, and when she finds it she invites her friends and neighbors to join her in rejoicing for she has found the coin she had last
The Lost Son
The Lost Son
Here, in the third part of the parable, Jesus elaborates and expands the themes we have seen in the first two parts
Jesus receives sinners with joy and eats with them
The Pharisees grumble rather than rejoice
The Younger Brother’s Journey (15:11-24)
1. The Younger Brother’s Journey (15:11-24)
The Older Brother’s Journey (15:25-32)
The Older Brother’s Journey (15:25-32)
And each of these journeys we see both a death and resurrection
The story starts in verse 11-12
Luke
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 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.
The parable starts by highlighting the younger sons disdain for his father
by the younger son coming to his father and asking for his share of the inheritance, is in essence for the son to wish death upon his father.
He is saying, I wish you were dead so that I can have whats coming to me.
The father divided up his property (wealth) between his two sons.
The Younger Brother’s Death
13 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.
14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
The younger brother has left his home, he has left his father and his brother, and he heads into a far country.
He turns his back on his father, and moves toward the wilderness
This is the path toward being lost, this is the path of death.
What we will see in this story is that the in the Fathers presence, there is life. Outside of his presence, there is only death.
So as the younger son leave his fathers presence, he moves toward death.
I
Things do not go well for the younger brother
he quickly spends all the money on reckless living
to make things worse, a severe famine arose in that country
It didn’t take long before the younger brother was in great need, so he got a job working for a pig farmer, and he was sent into the fields to feed the pigs
Things continued to get so bad that the younger brothers began to starve, and actually longed to eat the pigs food.
The son is now completely lost. And the fact that he is eating food with pigs, says he has embraced the life of a gentile. He is now fully identified with the sinners and tax collectors at the beginning of the chapter.
Eventually, the younger brother got enough sense to return to his father…
Look with me at 17-19
17 “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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’
I could see the younger son rehearsing this the whole walk home.
“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”
Here he is thinking he is not worthy to be called a son.
He thinks his sins are to severe, he has fallen to low, the smell of pigs still upon his clothes and their food on his breath…
There is no way he is righteous enough to be called a son…
There is no way he would be able to sit at his fathers table again.
So he will plead to become a servant
The son goes back to the father, not yet trusting in the grace and love of his father, but as a man still trying to earn his own way into the fathers good graces.
APPLICATION**
APPLICATION**
You know, its very easy for us to identify with the younger brother here.
We come to our senses and see clearly how we have been living in rebellion to God, we see our sins, and we feel the weight of our depravity.
And we think we can only receive grace according to our own righteousness.
We forget how powerful the grace of God really is,
his grace transforms prodigals into sons and daughters.
We don’t have to pay penance nor atone for our sins before we are brought back to his table, but rather his grace ushers us right into the very life and joy of God
God’s grace is shocking, unnerving, and extends beyond the boarders of acceptable into the realm of overwhelming and extravagant.
And the Younger brother is about to get a taste of this grace
look with me at vv. 20-24
20 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.
This father, rushes to his son, embraced him and kissed him
This father, who’s son had wished was dead
This father, who’s son had despised and disrespected
This father, who’s son walked away, now comes running to this son and embraces him in his arms and kisses his neck.
The son, no doubt overwhelmed by the compassion of his father, still does not get the grace of the father… for he insists of telling the father that he is not worthy to be called his son.
Look at 15.21
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.’
And I love how the father responds
He could have said, it is good to see you, I am glad you’re ok, I will allow you to be my servant.
He could have said, i would love to bring you back, but i’ve already given you everything that i can give you, i have nothing left for you.
But thats not what the father said,
22 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.
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
He doesn’t even acknowledge the sons words
22 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.
instead he speaks to his servants - those whom the son thought he would be worthy to become, and says,
bring the BEST rob, and put it on him
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.
The father knows the son is not worthy to be treated as a son, and to be honest he not even worthy to be a servant.
But the love of the father does something that the son did not deserve, the love of the father dressed the younger son with a rob, ring, and shoes.
The Father brought the younger brother into his presence, the father brought the younger brother to his table to feast with joy.
As soon as the father clothed his son he brought him from death to life.
Luke 15
The younger son has been resurrected!
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
Look at verse 24
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The father is now celebrating with a lost sinner who has become a resurrected son.
This unrighteous son has been found, and now is dwelling in the presence of his father.
He was dead, but where the father is there is life, and now the younger brother has been given new life.
Like the shepherd with the sheep
like the women with the coin
so the father with his son invites everyone to come and celebrate that the father has found his son.
Now, the party caught the older brothers attention
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
25-
Like the pharisees, the older brother drew near to the house where there was a party celebrating a sinner being found.
The question is, how will the older brother respond?
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
The father wanted the older brother to come into the party, but he refused to go in.
29 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.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
29 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.
Luke
28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
29 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.
30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
28-
The older brother could not believe that the father would celebrate such a wicked sinner as his younger brother.
The older brother was confident in what he has done for the father,
“these many years i have served you, and never disobeyed your command”
The Father Responds
31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
31
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found
And here the story ends.
Will the older brother join the celebration?
You see, by the older brother not going in he is proving that he is as lost as the younger brother was.
He is as far away from the life of the father standing right outside the tent as the younger brother was when he was in a far away land.
I can imagine Jesus telling this who story to the Pharisee, these older brothers, and coming to the end and waiting for them to respond.
will the pharisees realize that life with God is found in the presence of Jesus? will they realize that they are just as lost as the sinners were before being found by Jesus?
This story ends open ended, therefor it leaves us with many questions. ANd these questions are question we need to ask ourselves
Do we see life as bring found only in the presence of God?
The younger brother looked for life in all the pleasures of the world and found only death.
The older brother looked for life by being a ‘righteous’ obedient person, by obeying all the rules.
However, life is not found in the pleasures of the world or being a holier than though moralist.
life is only found in the presence of God.
Life is only found around his table
Life is only found through Jesus Christ.
Church, we must set our eyes on Christ. We must embrace his overwhelming grace that has been poured out on us in Christ.
There is nothing in the world that will bring the joy of celebrating in the presence of God. And there is no amount of good works you can do that will earn you a seat at his table.
We are all sinners saved by grace. We are all prodigal sons who have been brought from death to life.
The Younger Brothers Death
The Younger Brother’s Resurrection
The Father Rejoices in His Son’s Return
The Older Brother’s Journey (15:25-32)
The Older Brother’s Death
Will the Older Brother Be Resurrected?