Luke 15:13-24

Text: Luke 15:13-24

Title: When You Hit Rock Bottom

Introduction: In The Free Dictionary, the phrase "Hit Rock Bottom" is defined in this way: to reach the lowest possible level or be in the worst possible situation." Now that I have given the definition to the phrase, allow me to ask the questions? "Is there anybody here who has ever hit Rock Bottom?" "Is there anybody here who is at Rock Bottom?"

In the text for today, which is actually a parable about lostness, there is a young adult fellow who has hit rock bottom. Let's see how he got there! (11-16)

• (11-12) He started on top!

• He was born "with a silver spoon in his mouth." His daddy had money.

• He received inheritance BEFORE his daddy died! He did not have to wait on it.

• (12) (the spiral downward) "In asking not only for his inheritance but also for the right to dispose of while his father was alive, your son had a sharp break with his father, his brother, and the community in which they lived." In that culture, had returned, the village would have been hostile toward the son because of his action of disrespect. The village families would fear that their sons would see this and get similar ideas.

• (13) "Before very long, the younger son collected all his belongings and went off to a foreign land, where he squandered his wealth in the wildest extravagance."

• (14) "And when he had run through all his money, a terrible famine arose in the country, and he began to feel the pinch."

• (15-16) "Then he went and hired himself out to one of that country who sent him out into the fields to feed the pigs. He got to the point of longing to stuff himself with the food the pigs were eating and not a soul gave him anything."

• He is at the lowest of low! But God's grace is still evident. Let's look at the food..."husks" or "pods" in the text refer to "carob pods," a fruit that is sweet and healthful." It was just used as food for animals and was eaten by the poor."

I. (17) He was Reflective

• He realized that "hired servants were not part of an extended family and had no relation to a household or an estate." He realized that "they were usually hired by the day as work was available."

II. (18-20a, 21) He was Repentant

• (18-19) What he said he would do:

• (20a) What he began to do:

• (21) What he did:

III. (20b, 22) He was Restored

• (20b) At a great way off, far in a distance, his Father Saw Him...

• Had compassion on him...

• He ran..."Older men in the Middle East do not run except in an emergency. Hiking up flowing robes in order to run not only lacks dignity, it inappropriately exposes legs to pubic view and hence causes dishonor.

• But the father does run because the son is in immediate danger from hostile villagers. He is not running to welcome his son as Western readings would have it. By hastening to the edge of the village the father preempts hostile village reaction, signaling by his kiss and embrace that the errant son is under his PROTECTION!"

• It does not mean that the son did not do wrong, he's just protected!

• It does not justify the son's mistakes...he's just protected!

• It does not mean that the son was not disrespectful, he's just protected!

• It does not mean that the son's bad choices were overlooked, he's just protected!

• It does not mean that the villagers were wrong, he's just protected!

• (22) Bring the best robe, ring, and shoes...

• The best robe would be one the Father wore for ceremonial occasions. He was covered!

• The robe, the ring, and the shoes would have been signs that the younger son was being acceptedas a member of the household rather than a servant or hired hand!

IV. Conclusion (23-24) Redemptive

• (23) Fatted Calf - kill it - blood, "where there is no shedding of blood, there will be no redemption of sin."

• (24) A change of state... "lost, but now he's found."