Lenten Series
Week 3 | Sunday, March 3rd
Luke 15:11-24
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son reveals the tender heart of our heavenly Father for His people, even those who have turned their back on Him to go their own way. This story is placed in Luke 15 with the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. All of these parables emphasize the compassion of our Father who longs for those who have lost their way to be found.
In the Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin we are not told how or why the sheep and coin became lost. Nor are we told the key to being found. In the Prodigal Son we learn the son became “lost” because of his free will decision to turn aside from his father and go his own way. This is a picture of sin. Because we are not robots and not forced to follow the Lord we can freely choose to go our own way. In the story of the Prodigal Son the Father does not stop his child from walking away.
And you may know the story, the son squandered his wealth with loose living, spent everything he had, a famine came and he was literally starving to death. Then we learn the key to being found. “But when he came to his senses” he determined to return to his father and tell him that he had sinned. This is a picture of repentance. Next we see the amazing reconciliation of the relationship between the lost son and his father…. “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” He called for a celebration of great joy. “For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again, he was lost, and has been found. And they began to be merry.”
This is a story for our Lenten journey. It is a story of God allowing our free will and our choosing to go our own way. It is also the story of repentance and confession of renewal and rejoicing. It is the story of the Father’s heart of compassion and His unfailing love. It speaks of the value of every individual in the Father’s eyes, of His patience and faithfulness. If you have walked away from your heavenly Father, He is waiting with this same heart of compassion for you to turn back to Him. When He sees you turn, He will run to embrace you. So great is His mercy, so great is His love.
In the Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin we are not told how or why the sheep and coin became lost. Nor are we told the key to being found. In the Prodigal Son we learn the son became “lost” because of his free will decision to turn aside from his father and go his own way. This is a picture of sin. Because we are not robots and not forced to follow the Lord we can freely choose to go our own way. In the story of the Prodigal Son the Father does not stop his child from walking away.
And you may know the story, the son squandered his wealth with loose living, spent everything he had, a famine came and he was literally starving to death. Then we learn the key to being found. “But when he came to his senses” he determined to return to his father and tell him that he had sinned. This is a picture of repentance. Next we see the amazing reconciliation of the relationship between the lost son and his father…. “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” He called for a celebration of great joy. “For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again, he was lost, and has been found. And they began to be merry.”
This is a story for our Lenten journey. It is a story of God allowing our free will and our choosing to go our own way. It is also the story of repentance and confession of renewal and rejoicing. It is the story of the Father’s heart of compassion and His unfailing love. It speaks of the value of every individual in the Father’s eyes, of His patience and faithfulness. If you have walked away from your heavenly Father, He is waiting with this same heart of compassion for you to turn back to Him. When He sees you turn, He will run to embrace you. So great is His mercy, so great is His love.
Dear Heavenly Father,
If we have walked away from You, give us the grace this Lenten season to come to our senses and return. Thank You for Your relentless love that moves with compassion toward every individual who turns back to You. Thank You there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Help each one of us to become ambassadors for Christ representing Him well and bringing reconciliation to a broken world.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
If we have walked away from You, give us the grace this Lenten season to come to our senses and return. Thank You for Your relentless love that moves with compassion toward every individual who turns back to You. Thank You there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Help each one of us to become ambassadors for Christ representing Him well and bringing reconciliation to a broken world.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen