Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-32

Guys, this is so worth your read:

¹¹To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.

¹²The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

(It always starts with selfishness)

¹³“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.

(Next, we distance and isolate ourselves from those we love most. And we go wild.)

¹⁴About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

(After the wild fun runs out, we begin to crave The Real.)

¹⁵He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

¹⁶The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

(We become hungry for The Real. But we’re not positioned in the right place for someone to give us The Real.)

¹⁷“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!

(We come to our senses – this is good!)

¹⁸I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

(We trash our distant behaviors and we return to those who love us the most. We return to The Real.)

¹⁹and I am no longer worthy

of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

²⁰“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

(My favorite part! Even though we screwed up, our father has been looking for us! He is filled with compassion, and runs TO us. Not AWAY from us. We are embraced and kissed!)

²¹His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.

²²“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.

(Guys, the robe had the family crest on the back. It was symbol of full sonship. You belong here!

The ring was a signet ring – it was also used to sign important family documents – it restored the son to all rights and gave him full authority again on his father’s estate.

And sandals – oh yes. I believe they represent a new journey. A new direction!)

²³And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,

²⁴for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

(Your decision is celebrated! Please let me know if you make this decision… I will be the first to celebrate and party with you!)

²⁵“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,

²⁶and he asked one of the servants what was going on.

²⁷‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

²⁸“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,

²⁹but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.

³⁰Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

(Yes… someone close to you my be jealous of your victorious decision. Jealous of your Father’s celebration over your decision. You might even lose some relationships. They might have been relationships with the wrong people, anyways.)

³¹“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.

³²We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

(You were dead. But you’ve come back!)

Return of the Prodigal – Rembrandt

Guys, this is one of my favorite passages of all time.

It’s the perfect example of what your Father God does for your when you come to your senses, turn away from destructive behavior, and return to His way of doing things.

He restores you FULLY. He’s looking across the horizon for you right now waiting to run to you! No matter what you’ve looked at. No matter how many times.

— Mark