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The Prodigal Son
What you just watched, was a dramatic account of a story that Jesus used to illustrate a message.
Jesus often taught using stories, one of these stories was called the parable of the prodigal son.
Before we read the story, I want to set the scene.
Here’s the passage in Luke which sets the scene in which Jesus decides to share this story.
Let’s read it together:
Jesus was an attractive, and charismatic teacher.
He attracted people who wanted to hear truth, and people who wanted to pick apart and persecute His message.
While I’m not in any way comparing myself to Jesus, I do know what it is like to have people come to listen to you, just to gather intel to feed to people who are enemies of God.
Jesus had all kinds of people interested in listening to what He had to say.
So now that we understand the context of people who were in the crowd, let’s read the story Jesus decided to tell to illustrate the point He was making at that moment.
There is so much to dissect in this, let’s start with the description assigned in later years to describe this story.
Prodigal.
It means, Recklessly extravagant, or having spent everything.
It’s an adjective.
Jesus is telling a story of two sons, one who is reckless and extravagant, and another, who is moralistic and loyal.
Today, and perhaps for the next week or so, I will show you how both are sinful.
For this series I’m going to rely heavily on the book, The prodigal God, by Timothy Keller.
It is available in our bookstore, it is also available as an audio book.
Check it out, Reverend Keller illustrates a new look on the parable not always recognized, but clearly what Jesus had in mind when He told this story.
Here are some truths Reverend Keller relays:
Gospel over Religion
Religion operates on the principle that people should obey, and therefore become accepted by God.
Conversely, the gospel of Jesus operates on the principle that we are accepted because of what Jesus has done for us, and therefore we obey in order to become more like Him.
Religion, is NOT the gospel of Jesus Christ
Because God never designed, nor did He want a system of bondage, but rather a system where people who lived in Him, would have hearts who didn’t sin to begin with...
Faith is not designed to be drudgery
Morality and religion…is just as much of a sin, as immorality and irreligion in this story.
Jesus wants us to need Him.
Jesus is not our boss
In this story, the elder brother obeys simply to get the blessing.
Elder brother types, who are captured by the moralistic and legalistic trappings of religion, are just as wrong as the people who are sinful and ignoring God’s will for our lives.
People who do good things, for the wrong reasons…are just as wrong as people who ignore God and His ways.
Jesus is not our boss, He is our savior.
Jesus is our Savior
Without Him, we are nothing.
No amount of moralistic posturing, will atone for our shortcomings.
Both the Good & the Bad, are lost
All are equal… none of us are better than any other.
Why is it that we think that drinking too much on occasion is somehow better than prostitution?
Why is it that we think that
Don’t get captured by legalism
Let us not be captured by legalism.
In this coming week, I encourage all of you to real Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32.
Become familiar with the story Jesus told, as I’ll draw upon this illustration next week as well.
There are illustrations to be drawn from the father, the elder son, and the younger son.
Look to Jesus, not religious leaders, to define your path.
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