Parables of Jesus
Welcome Home
Luke 15:11-32
April 26, 2009
A family had put the carcass and scraps from their turkey dinner in a trash bag and set it outside next to the back steps intending to clean up and then put the bag in the can after making sure that nothing else needed to go in the bag. But in the midst of the cleanup, everyone forgot about the bad.
Upon leaving the house to go to worship, the family stepped out the back door to find that some animal had gotten into the trash and strewn it all over the backyard. Not having time to clean it up at that moment, they decided that it would have to wait until they returned from worship.
During the service, the pastor called the kids up for the children’s sermon. He had a big black trash bag with empty pop cans, papers, and wrappers, which he dumped out in front of the kids. His lesson was intended to be about taking care of the earth that God has created. He began with a question, “What does this look like?”
One of the young boys to the embarrassment of mom shouted out, “It looks like my backyard this morning!”
One of the main themes that we find in a lot (although not all) of Jesus’ parables is God’s grace. Specifically, they often point towards God’s limitless grace. That was a central part of last week’s parable: Grace demands our response.
I want to start with a clip from a movie called 3:10 to Yuma. Here is the story. Rancher Daniel Evans, who lost part of his leg in the Civil War, is a broken man who owes a large amount to a powerful man in Bisbee. When the notorious outlaw Ben Wade is captured after the heist of a stagecoach, Dan offers to assist in escorting the cold-blooded killer to the city of Contention, where Wade will board the 3:10 PM train to Yuma and await his trial. In return, Dan would receive $200, enough to save his land and provide a better life for his family. In this scene, Evan’s family reluctantly hosts the Wade for dinner where the family’s faith clashes with the beliefs of their guests.
[Show clip]
Grace is for everyone.
This I think is part of the message that Jesus is conveying not just in the parable that was read earlier but in the two previous parables as well. Jesus has been meeting with and eating with tax collectors and sinners. This is something that the righteous Pharisees believe is a huge problem. Their belief system has as an important part of holiness is ritual purity especially at meals. Jesus seems to be undermining their core beliefs. So Jesus launches into three parables of “lostness.” The last is often called the “Prodigal Son” although perhaps a better title is “A Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Sons.” Because as the story progresses both sons are lost in their own ways.
The first son becomes lost in the ways of the world forsaking his family, his responsibilities, and eventually his dignity. He decides to forsake his legacy as a son of his father. The elder son while staying and doing his duty fails to see himself as a son. He thinks of himself more as a servant that does what is right to get what he thinks that he deserves. When his brother returns, the elder brother can’t receive him as the father has and has a hard time accepting the compassion and grace of his father. The father reminds him that his is and always has been a son. The father reminds him that the most important thing is that he now has a brother again and that is a cause to rejoice.
Grace is for everyone.
The purpose of the parable
• To defend Jesus’ association with sinners
These parables are often called “How Much More” parables because Jesus tells the stories of humans who exhibit certain traits and then a phrase is used (“How much more” or “In the same way” of the NIV) does God search for the lost, or give good gifts to His children, and so on. In this case Jesus is emphasizing the great love and compassion that God displays for those who are lost. God is especially on the lookout for their return so that God can welcome them home. When one does return, they are the most important person present. God does not give a “grudging acceptance” as perhaps the Pharisees might (if they even accept such people as it is not clear whether the elder son actually decided to join in the celebration) but God creates room for every person who is found.
In effect, God is saying to everyone, “Welcome home!! Welcome home!!”
This declaration has several implications:
Welcome Home
• Return to ourselves
Grace lets you be who you are supposed to be even though you do not deserve to or may not want to. Only when we return to God and God’s ways will we even have the opportunity of becoming who we are supposed to be.
Often people talk about “hitting bottom.” But we don’t have to hit a dehumanized and degraded bottom like the younger son. At any time, we can say, “I’ve had enough. I’m tired of fighting against God. I’m tired of struggling to do things my way. God, here is my life. Take me.” Your “bottom” is just that: your bottom. You decide how far down the scale you go. You can choose to come home. God is ready for you, now! Right now!! God is ready for you. Come home to him; return to yourself.
• All people are God’s children
This is part of the limitless grace. All people have created to be a part of God’s family although not all people choose to come home. The point is that we don’t decide that for others. The Pharisees tried but they were out of line. According to these parables, sinners are not to be shunned but sought after and found. People aren’t projects. They aren’t quotas to be filled. People desperately need to know and see not only that God cares for them but that we care for them as well. Do people really see that? Do they believe that we care for them? Do we make the effort to go where they are and meet them where they are at? Or do we just simply wait to see if they might drop by?
The shepherd brought the lost sheep home to show his friends. The woman called her friends together after she diligently searched for the coin until it was found. She didn’t just hope that the coin would show up. The father ran out to meet his son. The father had obviously been watching and anticipating his return. Who knows? Maybe he had even been keeping tabs on his son. The point is that the father ran out and brought the son back to the family and into their house.
There is a huge rivalry in college basketball between the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. The story is told that at one of the games between the two schools, an elderly woman was sitting alone with an empty seat next to her. Someone approached her and said, "Ma’am, I have rarely seen an empty seat in Rupp Arena, let alone at a game between these two teams. Whose seat is this?"
The woman responded that she and her late husband had been season-ticket holders for 28 years, and the seat had belonged to him.
"Well, couldn’t you find a friend or relative to come to the game with you?" the observer asked.
"Are you kidding?" she replied. "They’re all at my husband’s funeral."
• Joy is not optional
Often Christians can be a glum lot. Some of the most critical people that I have known attend church faithfully. That ought not be the case. Like last week, Jesus is challenging the Pharisees to change their narrow thinking and adopt God’s attitude toward the repentant sinner. We need to constantly be searching and seeking those who are lost to invite them to come home not to “church” but home to God. However, we can remind them that there is a celebration in heaven as well as during worship just for them. Part of worship should be a time of celebration as we remember our own homecoming that is assuming that you have had one. If not then today is your day. In effect, Jesus is saying, “God is having a party!!! Are you going to come?”
A lot of trucks have a sticker on the back that says, “How’s my driving? Call xxx-xxxx to report.” This is supposed to make the driver accountable. In Ireland, most people drive very, very courteously. They have roundabouts instead of lights (they do have some lights) where people have to courteously let others in the circle. This is something that probably would not work over here. Our guide told us that most people drove very well and were courteously except for one group that he called “white van man.” These were people who drove company vehicles which were frequently unmarked white vans and they didn’t care how they treated the vehicle let alone what havoc they cause with others. Because not even a company name or logo was on these, they were anonymous drivers.
If God would place sticker on your back that asked, “How’s my living?” or “How’s my attitude?” What would others say about you? Joy is not optional. If the angels in heaven through a party rejoicing, shouldn’t we? If a shepherd might rejoice at finding a sheep, should we rejoice when a lost one returns? Shouldn’t we rejoice at being found? Shouldn’t we be some of the greatest partiers on the planet?
If you feel adrift, don’t wait to become completely lost… Decide that this is your bottom. Return to him. Return to yourself.
Sometimes it is enough to simply renew your commitment and love for the Lord as you worship. If your attitude hasn’t been the greatest, change it. Maybe it has been fine, then commit yourself anew that you will be show love, compassion, grace, mercy and joy in everything you do. Commit to seek out and find the lost instead just waiting for them to come to you. Find what is lost and upon returning how much more joy will we all share when you do so.
Have you seen the show, “Extreme Home Makeover.” A powerful example of helping people and answering the question, “Who is your neighbor?” At the end of the show, Ty always closes with two words. It is the same two words that God is saying to each and every one of us today: Welcome Home, Welcome Home!!
