Kisses of the Father.
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Read: Luke 15:11-24
My father was a good man! As any man, he had weaknesses that eventually destroyed him.
Although I was a good boy, I do not recall my father giving me a kiss. I am not saying he never did, I just do not recall!
The kisses of a father are usually more meaningful than any other kiss…
Definitely, we have a cultural problem! Our Hispanic culture has been influenced by “machismo”. In such “macho” culture, men are not taught to express tenderness to male children.
This passage shows a loving father that receives his rebellious and sinful son, with kisses . The story depicts the way the Heavenly Father receives the repentant souls that come to Him. It is our story and the story of our Father’s love for us.
The wickedness of the son.
The wickedness of the son.
How do we know he was a wicked son? Several marks made it evident:
The marks of his wickedness.
The marks of his wickedness.
v. 12-13
He demanded from his father what he thought was his right: “give me the share of the estate that falls to me”. Literally, he was ordering his father to do it (the verb in active imperative).
He was like many young people from our generation, they do not ask, they order their parents! “You have to give me…!”
Parents, do not let any of your children to order you or demand from you!
He was a spoiled and selfish son interested only on himself. He did not care about the father or the family. As long as he got what he wanted, who cares about the others.
His main priority was seeking material things: money. What moves our generation? Money! What moves many who claim being God’s children? Money! Money first, God second! Job first, church second!
Isn’t it interesting that the verse does not show any the father’s words??...
The father gave him what he asked for (that was not the custom, but he did!)
Money ruined him.
Money ruined him.
First of all, having money affected his thinking.
“Money can be a good servant or a cruel master.”
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
He probably thought:
“I do not need my father...” “I am old enough!”, “I can do it on my own.”
“I do not have be under his rule...”
“I want freedom… to do what I want, not what he want!”
“I want to enjoy life… have fun, life is short...”
I’ll go where he will not see me...
That’s the way man think when he does not love the Heavenly Father.
We all have been in the same situation at a point in our lives.
A bad attitude toward the Father produces bad actions.
He became distant..... abandoned his own people
Not many days later, he left! (premeditated)
He lived a sinful life (pleasures, drinking, prostitutes...)
He wasted his father’s money.
Anyone who lives in the pleasures of this world, wastes his money and wastes his life.
The Consequences of his wickedness.
The Consequences of his wickedness.
“when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country” 14
His sins brought needs to his life.
His sins brought needs to his life.
He did not think about the future, he spent it all.....
When you are away from the Father and think only in the present, the consequences are inevitable: Those who live unruly lives always suffer the consequences.
"¡Después de un gustazo, un trancazo!"
Do not ever think you can live out of God’s will and that you will not pay a price for it: "For those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines"
He went through times of need!
Physical need, not having what to eat.
Spiritual needs: “he was sent into the fields to feed swine.” 15 That was abomination for a Jew!
His sin took him to the lowest levels.
His sin took him to the lowest levels.
v. 15-16
He lived with unbelievers! How do we know? They had swine), begging for help
He lived with the pigs (abomination, defilement).....
He could not find satisfaction in life.
He desired the pigs’ food..... No one would give him anything, no one fulfill his needs.
That’s exactly the condition of those who are without Christ.
The moment of Self-Reflection.
The moment of Self-Reflection.
v. 17-19
A moment for self-examination.
A moment for self-examination.
He made a self-exam of his life.
He thought about his condition due to his sin, and about his possible condition with his father.
If we would just examine our life more often…
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
A moment for acknowledgement of sin.
A moment for acknowledgement of sin.
He acknowledged his sin: “I will go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;” 18
From his heart first… “I should not be in this situation, but I have sinned!”
That’s the beginning of the journey back home. There are no shortcuts. We must start from there.
He made a good purpose for his life: Going back to the Father} Purpose
v.20 - "he got up and came to his father"} Action
Many have the purpose… but never not take action, and keep on living with the pigs, in a dirty life.
‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
The Kisses of the Father.
The Kisses of the Father.
v. 20-24
“Kissed him” (active indicative) insinuates that it was not only one kiss, but many!
Kisses full of compassion! “His father saw him and felt compassion for him.” 20
The father could see where the child was coming from and what he had done. I am pretty sure his appearance spoke volumes. That was the past!; how he was coming back… (present); and how he would be later... (future)
Our heavenly Father sees what we were and did, what we are, and what we’ll be.
It’s necessary to come back to Him though! -> "he came to his father" 20a
It was the father who ran and embraced him and kissed him. That’s what God did for us, Jesus ran to this world to rescue us.
Those were:
- Kisses of forgiveness..... The father kept silent to the confession (cf. v. 22)
- Kisses of acceptance v. 21 “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” “You are my son!”
- Kisses of restoration v. 22 “put the best robe on him, and a ring, and sandals” Thru the sacrifice of Jesus, God made us new creatures!
- Kisses of joy v. 23. “Let’s celebrate!” We can make God happy!
- Kisses of love... Do not be afraid of coming back to Him, He wants to welcome you!!
CONCLUSION:
Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”