Luke 15: 11-32
The third story of Jesus is compelling as He talks about kingdom priorities
Background
- Jesus is travelling and is seeing lots of people
- People have heard of him and are coming to him
- Religious leaders are in the crowd and not pleased
- They ignore needy people and Jesus did not
- Their accusation - ‘he welcomes and eats with sinners’
- Invitation to eat together - assumptions
- Spend time getting to know someone
- Permission to be together in relaxed manner
- Potential to open up and share life stories
- Usually reserved for friends
- Jesus used this time to begin a conversation and friendship
Loses – Def:
- Vrs 1-7 lost – missing, unable to return without help, wrong turn, can’t find way back
- Vrs 8-10 lost – misplaced, inattention, safe place but forgot where
- Vrs 11-32 lost – willful leaving, wandering, turn away, choice to leave, run away
Luke 15: 11-32
Parable of Lost Son
1 The youngest son chooses to leave the safety of home – vrs 11-20
- Requests his inheritance and leaves
- Wastes everything he has been given
- Needs to work because he lost it all
2 The Father always had the desire to see the lost son return home – vrs 20-24
- Willing to let the son leave even though concerned
- Continued to have healthy home
- Looked down the road for the return of his son
3 The older brother had issues with the idea of ‘welcome home’ – vrs 25-32
- Didn’t look for or want it aby part of restoration
- Resisted or argued against the Fathers ‘open arms’ policy
- Didn’t join in the celebration
Application
- People who have been part of the kingdom think about what they have lost and the possibility of returning
- The Father is always anticipating lost people to return and runs to greet them and celebrate the joy of the kingdom
- The issue of the older brother confronts each of us as we deal with our own baggage
- Jesus does not have issues with forgiveness but sometimes we do
- Jesus does not hold back on ‘welcome home and come on in’ or celebration
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