Lent 4, 2019
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
“The Loving Father”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Pharisees thought they were doing what was right in the sight of God . On the occasion of our text the Pharisees didn’t like what they saw in Jesus. “Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2)
How could this Jesus; this Teacher eat with the scum of the earth? This was unheard of. But that didn’t stop Jesus. He spoke with these sinners, He taught these sinners, He ate with these sinners and He would go on to die for these and all sinners.
Jesus continued teaching the people while addressing the Pharisees with a Parable: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:11-12)
What was the son thinking? This was rebellious! What was he doing? We don’t know why the son demanded his inheritance; but we do know that it was asking for a lot. How would we react in the same circumstance? Would we be outraged? Would we be offended? Would we yell in anger? Not this Father! The Son was asking for his share of the estate…and much more.
Inheritance isn’t inheritance until there is a death. Maybe the son didn’t wish his father to die…but he was still asking for a death; a death in their relationship. The father didn’t chastise his son but divided the family’s wealth equally. How much patience this father must have had in dealing with his son’s request.
The son quickly packed up his things and headed out on his own to a foreign country. The son wasted his inheritance on wild living. He was broke, in a foreign country during a famine. He took a job watching over pigs, an animal that was unclean for the Jews, and wished that he could eat the pig feed…but nobody gave him anything to eat. Things were horrible. All of this time the son could have been at home with his family without worry.
“When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.” (Luke 15:17-20)
It seems that the son has finally had a change of heart. Finally something happens in the story that makes sense to the Pharisees. For the Pharisees repentance was a work that man did to earn God’s favor. The son’s plan was to repent to earn his father’s favor and forgiveness…so that at least he would have a good paying job and food to spare.
How often do we treat repentance in the same way? How often do we think that when we act we force God to forgive us and bless us? Often I have heard people tell me that they hold no ill feelings, they forgave, they repented and they will come to church if God will heal them, if God would bless them with something… if God would do what the person desires. We figure that if we repent we have earned something from God. We figure that if we go half way God must come the rest of the way. We even become so bold as to wish God to come half way before we meet Him. But the son earning forgiveness isn’t what would take place. In fact the story would take a dramatic shift for the Pharisees and for us.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:20-24)
Before the son could say a word the father came running to his son. Again, before the son can utter a single word of repentance, the father expresses his complete reconciliation and acceptance of his son publicly. The father brings the best robe (a mark of highest honor like the robe given Joseph from his father Jacob), puts a ring on his son’s finger (a ring that marked the son as having authority), and sandals for his feet (a mark of a son…for in those days it was slaves that had no shoes).
Honor, trust and status - they were all fully restored to the boy as befitted a true son of the family. There were no half measures in the father's welcome. And it hardly needs to be said that Jesus was here attributing to the father in the story a wealth of generosity, and an abundance of goodwill as never before seen from a father!
But everything wasn’t perfect. The older brother was upset at how his father rushed to his younger brother, gave him gifts of love, and hosted a great feast for his return. The older brother even started throwing out all kinds of accusations (which we do not know to be true or false). He refused to enter the feast.
“So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" (Luke 15:28-32) Oh the love of the father for both his sons.
Which son are you? Are you the Prodigal Son that returns and asks for forgiveness in response to the father’s grace or are you the older son that is jealous and unforgiving? In the end it doesn’t matter…for the father is the Heavenly Father and He loves you just the same. Whether you are a sinner that is in church every Sunday or a sinner that hasn’t been here in years.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1) As children of God we are heirs of salvation and heaven itself. And just like all inheritance…it isn’t inheritance until someone dies. The love of the Father for you is so great that He gave Jesus up to death to save you! No matter what sin you may have ever committed. No matter how long you have been away. Your heavenly Father never writes you off, never gives up on you, and is always running to welcome you home as His beloved child. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Sermon has comfort , This is how my heavenly Father will greet me the moment I pass away
Posted by: Betty Montgomery | March 31, 2019 at 08:50 AM
Praise be to God!
Posted by: Darceta Mueller | March 31, 2019 at 08:57 AM