"The Unknow Father"

“The Good Father”

June 16, 2013

Luke 15:11-32

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.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Well, it’s ‘Father’s Day’. It’s an opportunity to show our love, our gratitude and appreciation for our Dads. Hope you are all doing that this morning. As I thought about Father’s Day I felt kind of imperfect and inadequate as a Dad. Kinda wish I would have done better – unfortunately you can only do the best you can – and I did. And I got two wonderful kids out of the deal – AND five grandkids. Can’t beat that! I couldn’t love my kids any more than I do and I feel loved and respected by them as well. Thanks kids!

As I thought about this message this morning will the mixed feelings of Father’s Day I was led to a wonderful example of fatherhood. Usually we label this section of Scripture, “The prodigal Son” or “The Lost Son” but I want to shift our focus off of the son this morning and onto the dad. Let’s see what we can learn.

First of all, we learn this is a very loving dad. Listen to the Scripture again.

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” Verses 11-12

So here is the situation. Typically, a son would receive his inheritance at the time of his father's death. The fact that the younger brother instigated the early division of the family estate shows he was a little rebellious. He disregarded his father's authority, not to mention it shows he had a selfish and immature attitude. He saw a chance to ‘party’ right now – and forget about the future. He was pretty immature and shallow.