The Prodigal Father

Sermon: The Giving Father

Mary Vs. Eve Opener Joke

One week a Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her class the Christmas story, how Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and how Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. After telling the story the teacher asked, "Who do you think the most important woman in the Bible is?" Of course, the teacher was expecting one of the kids to say, "Mary." But instead, a little boy raised his hand and said, "Eve." So the teacher asked him why he thought Eve was the most important woman in the Bible.

And the little boy replied, "Well, they named two days of the year after Eve. You know, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve."

As we enter into our Christmas Week, we are reminded about what Christmas is about. It is about…

“….God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that all who believe in his name should not perish but have everlasting life.”

….A Father who gave His only begotten Son to mankind, as a ransom for sin, and to establish the church, a new kingdom that would rescue mankind from its preoccupation with self.

….A startling miracle where God would clothe Himself with human flesh, enter into our suffering and pain, and walk where we walk. Where He would show His love not just in commandments but through His own self-sacrifice.

This morning’s sermon is about that kind of love. Our series this month has been about “living for giving” and has focused so far upon our response to God’s love. Today, however, I hope to show you a word picture that Jesus gave us of the Father’s love for you and I, that really demonstrates what Christmas…the incarnation of Christ is all about.

Open your bibles to Luke Chapter 15

11 To illustrate the point further, (the point of why Jesus spent time with the notorious sinners) Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ’I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. 16 The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ’At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man."’ 20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. F70 ’ 22 "But his father said to the servants, ’Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ’Your brother is back,’ he was told, ’and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 "The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ’All these years I’ve worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.’ 31 "His father said to him, ’Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’"