Senior Pastor's Ponderings...
Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare are both part of the chorus of literary geniuses who expressed admiration for The Parable of the Prodigal Son as brilliant literature. Besides being one of the most celebrated written works of all time, the message of this story is one we can’t afford to miss. Beginning September 8 through October 27, we will be exploring this passage of scripture.
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Of all of Jesus’ parables, this one is the most richly detailed, powerfully dramatic, and intensely personal. The parable is not a warm and fuzzy feel-good message, but it is a powerful wake-up call with a very earnest warning.
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A parable is a single metaphor or simile conveyed in story form. It is first and foremost a comparison. Someone has said, “Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.” Although several lessons may be learned from a parable, Jesus’ parables had one central truth He wished to convey. There’s a good reason this short story pulls at the heartstrings of so many hearers. We recognize ourselves in it.
Jesus lays out the essentials of the Christian message, the gospel in Luke 15 with three parables: The Lost Coin, The Lost Sheep, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Many lifelong Christians feel they understand the basics of the Christian faith quite well and don’t think they need a primer. Nevertheless, one of the signs that you may not grasp the unique, radical nature of the gospel is that you are certain that you do (Dr. Timothy Keller). What is Jesus really saying in this chapter of scripture? Jesus never called the Parable of the Prodigal Son by that title --- note how he starts the passage, a man had two sons. The story is much more than the story about the younger son, but also the older son and also about the father of the sons. What Jesus says about the older brother is one of the most important messages given to us in the Bible. The parable might be better called the Two Lost Sons.
Do you understand the love of God for you? I want to expand that further in this parable by noting the reckless love He has for the son who has spent his inheritance and welcomed him back home. The welcome of the father angered not only the older brother but I would suggest the wider community as well. “God’s reckless grace is our greatest hope, a life-changing experience,” and the subject of the fall sermon series! Don’t miss it! It will encourage your heart and your faith!
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