May 05, 2024

BEYOND WORDS: THE SON WORTH SAVING

THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL

May 05, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is probably the most well known of any of Jesus’ parables. In it, He pictures a son who asks for his inheritance (in effect, saying the father will be as good as dead to him in the future). Because he is the younger, he is entitled to one-third (or possibly less, depending on siblings), and the father generously gives it. Eventually, after he loses it all on sinful living, he “comes to himself” and in repentance returns to the father, asking that he be made a servant. The father joyously accepts him back as his son, to the jealousy and frustration of the older son, who has never caused any problem. Which person are you like? Join as we find one more person in this tale, who plays a great role!

Focal Passages: Luke 15:11-32

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL:

  • Can someone please paraphrase the parable of the “Prodigal Son”? How much of the inheritance would the younger son receive? How do you see the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented in this parable? Why does it so well illustrate the Christian life?
  • Read 15:20. When the father saw the son returning, how did he react? How is that like God when we have sinned and repented? Read verse 21. How did the son react? What is the analogy as a Christian? Is true repentance able to be witnessed? What had the son done that showed genuine repentance?
  • Read vv. 22-23. What were the next things the father did for his son? Who did the robe probably belong to? What did the ring and the sandals signify? When we get to heaven, what are a few things which we are going to receive?
  • Read vs. 24. What reasons did the father give the servants for the celebration?
  • Read Luke 15:5-7. How does this parable illustrate the joy of the father in vv. 11ff?

THE HUMAN RESPONSE:                                                                                                                         

  • Read vv. 25-27. What had the second son been doing as all the excitement above had taken place? What was his first indication that something out of the ordinary was going on? How much of the family inheritance was he going to receive? Would he get any less now that the younger son has returned?
  • What was the significance of the fatted calf? Did the older son expect it to be his? Do you think he had ever asked his father if he could kill the fatted calf for friends?
  • Read vs. 28a. Why was he so angry? What were some of his problems?
  • What was at the root of his anger? Can you imagine him coming in, jubilant and rejoicing that his brother had come home?
  • Currently, the entire globe is watching a similar scenario to this play out on the world stage—almost to the details. What family is experiencing this, and who are the players? Could there be any better analogy than what we are watching daily? And yet, who has our sympathies?

THE NONSENSE OF LOVE:

  • Read VV. 28b. What did the father say to the older son? Read vs. 29. How did he answer? Again, do you think he had ever asked to have his friends in?
  • Read verse 30. What is so “cheap” about the phrasing “this son of YOURS”? Read Gen. 3:12,13b, How were these verses like the older brother’s response to his father? Why do we always want someone besides us to be the person to blame?
  • Do you get the sense that no matter what the father said, the son would not have come into the celebration? At what point do we give up trying to force love from someone, and simply be ready to give it when it is desired?
  • Read the focal passage, vv.11-24, once more. Who is one more character in this story? What is his role? Does he take sides? Does he do all that is his duty?
  • Why should we be like him?

TAKE AWAYS:

  • You have to identify which son you are most like:
    • 1) The younger son, running from righteousness and running to sin, or                                        
    • 2) The older son, entitled because of your own actions and words?
  • Repent either way—neither are right!
  • Celebrate the lavish grace God bestows on us as His sons and daughters!

Close:

                  If we want to be totally honest with ourselves—sometimes not as easy as it sounds—most of us would find it rather hard to come into the celebration and embrace the brother who had gotten such a warm welcome from the father, while we, (the older brother), had done nothing except obey! On the other hand, perhaps we have been, at some point in our life, the younger brother. Perhaps not losing money so much as costing the family grief and heartache, then being forgiven. The hurt we may have caused could take years to be forgotten by our own heart, even though we were forgiven by parents. Or—a third possibility—maybe we were gladly reunited with a sibling and experienced the joy the younger brother should have received. Are any of these you?

In the background of all of this is the servant: the man who provides everything the father asks for, never disobeys, always ready to serve the younger—or older—son as well as the father. He knows his place, does his duty, and is not mentioned as responding. He serves with joy because that is what is expected of him. Is that the way we live our Christian lives? It should be!

By Sandy Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                May 05, 2024

 

 

 

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