When God Ran

-- W.B.K.

In Luke 15: 11-31 we have the parable of the Lost Son as told by Jesus.

I. This parable has a two fold purpose in its meaning.

A. It portrays Christ’s love and compassion for lost individuals. (Luke 15:1-30).

1. George Murray said that this parable is "the most divinely tender and most humanly touching story ever told on earth."

2. Charles Dickens described it as "the finest short story ever written."

3. It also has been described as "the Gospel within the Gospel."

4. In the story we see the story of redemption as only Jesus could tell it.

B. Yet this story also has a strong rebuke to the Pharisees and teachers of the law for their harshly critical attitude toward sinners. (Luke 15:25-31)

a. Jesus shows the heart of God in this story. He wants to communicate to us how much he loves lost people when they find their way home.

i. He rejoices! He throws a party!

ii. The Bible tells us that even the angels in Heaven rejoice!

iii. The caution or warning here rings out to all of us who know Christ.

1. Never become jealous over God’s response to lost people who come to their senses and come home to a royal party.

2. Jesus instructs us to always rejoice with the Father over lost sheep’s return to the homeland.

a. Do not become angry because God rejoices over the lost sheep who found their way home.

iv. We need to have an attitude of rejoicing over the lost coming home. Lets reread a section of the story again out of the message.

“All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’ “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’”

v. So how do you respond when a lost brother or sister comes home?

1. Get angry?

2. Annoyed?

3. Jealous?

4. Self centered?

5. Scarred?

6. Fearful?

7. Self righteous?

a. Do a self inventory right now! Be honest evaluate how you respond to a new believer who has just come home.

II. The Parable of the lost Son can be outlined in three stages.

A. The rejection of Home, and his Father

1. We first have the request of the younger son for his inheritance. (Luke 15:12)

12 The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.