When we think about reunions, we usually picture something happy. A soldier returning home or finally seeing a family member you haven’t seen for a while. But, what if you saw someone that had wronged you. That wouldn’t be as happy of a reunion. Today we will discuss the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus told this story to demonstrate the joy we should share when God welcomes home a wayward child.

Forgiveness Granted

Luke 15:20-24

20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

So we are starting in the middle of the story. If you remember the rest of the story, the son asks his father for his inheritance. His father was still living, so he wanted his portion early. He takes the inheritance and squanders it. He’s out starving on the streets when he decides to return home.

He leaves full of arrogance, but returns full of humility.

The first sentence in verse 20 is extremely powerful. It outlines exactly what we should do when we lose our way. When we’ve allowed distractions and other things in our life become what’s most important, the only step we have to take to get back is to “get up and go to our father.”

The beautiful thing is, we just have to take that first step. We may feel like we’ve drifted too far away from God to make it back to Him, but as the second part of verse 20 says, we don’t have to make it all the way back to God. He’s going to come meet us.

The father doesn’t need an explanation from the son. He was just glad his son had returned. God reacts to us in much the same way. Once we repent and return to him, our sin is washed away like it never happened.

The father then goes on to restore his son by bringing him a fresh robe and sandals.

When thinking about repentance, do you typically view it with fear or hope?

Do you feel like you’ve drifted too far to get back to God, or do you look forward to being restored by God through repentance?

Resentment Expressed

Luke 15:25-30

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Here we see the older son. He represents a Christian who never really went out and sowed their wild oats. They always remained faithful, unlike someone who comes to know Jesus later in life.

Do we sometimes have resentment for someone who “got to sin” their entire lives and now that they are saved, get to go to the same heaven we do?

The older son is understandably upset. In his eyes, his father is rewarding the younger brother’s bad behavior, while having taken him for granted.

Like the older brother, we probably sometimes feel that God owes us something for remaining faithful, but it doesn’t work like that. God doesn’t owe us anything. God’s salvation isn’t earned, it’s freely given. It is God that has been wronged, and so it is for God to forgive and offer grace. We are no more deserving than anyone else.

We shouldn’t let jealousy replace the joy we should feel for every soul coming to Jesus.

Reality Defined

Luke 15:31-32

31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

I think a lot of churches lose sight of the purpose they should serve in God’s kingdom. We get rapped up in existing only for the edification of our own members. A lot of churches aren’t welcoming to people like they should be.

If you were someone who had never been saved and you came to our church, how would you feel? Would you be comfortable? Would our church make you feel welcome?

We should rejoice every time a sinner walks through the church doors, welcoming them with open arms. As the old cliche goes, the church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints.

Find one person this week that you can pray for them to accept Jesus.