The “Life” Jesus Gives [Lk 15:11-32]

Although we have been given all the riches in Christ Jesus, still, at times, we choose to wander.

In the 15th chapter of his Gospel, Luke shares 3 parables about something lost. He makes known in the first two verses what Jesus’ overall purpose was in sharing these parables.

1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The first parable was about a lost sheep, the second a lost coin, and the third a lost son. Overall, Jesus’ main point of these lost parables is in vs7 – God rejoices over a sinner who repents; and so should we.

7 …there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.

The first two parables help to set up the third. In it, Jesus portrays the sinners and tax collectors as the younger son. The older son, He portrays as the self-righteous religious leaders. And the Forgiving Father? Well, that is who God is. However, in the mind of a Pharisee, the Father was even worse than the younger son. Their kind of God would never accept, let alone, forgive…such a sinner.

11 “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Early on, Jesus reveals that both sons did not respect, let alone, care for their father. Both chose to wander away, but only one would return.

12 And He divided [distributed] to them the life/ living [Greek: bios].  

That’s how it’s worded in the original language. Both got their share of their father’s life – his living. But why would both choose to walk away and leave the protection and presence of their Father? Well, why would we? What is better than anything Jesus has to offer? Let’s approach this from our heavenly Father’s perspective. Would God ever allow us to take all that we have been given by Him and choose to walk away? Yes, He would. He would also allow us to learn the lessons we must learn that will hopefully bring us back to where He is. At times, He may even step in and intervene in a circumstance or two…just to remind us that He is God, our Father. In this parable, Jesus makes this quite evident.

13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate living recklessly.

This was to be expected – wanderin’ eventually leads to squanderin’. It seems almost as if The Father is partly to blame. Do something to this rebellious punk kid! Spank him! Punish him! Lock him up! But Jesus’ focus now is not on the father. It is on this self-ish, self-seeking, self-consumed, uncaring, spoilt rotten kid. Jesus intended for this parable to challenge our self-righteous perspectives. That boy does not deserve grace. He deserves a swift kick in the butt. But who is this boy in this story? He is of us, when we choose to sin and not repent. Sin can be fun or comfortable for a time. For some, it can be a security or a familiarity that they don’t want to give up…at least not yet. While our God is a patient Forgiving Father, there comes a time when He says – enough is enough! Daddy will now have to step in and do some adjusting of the elements. This is why we must always remember and cling to this fundamental truth – our God is both sovereign and providential. And if He has to bring about some circumstantial intervention, then He will. Why? Because as a Shepherd, He cares for His own. God knows that when we wander, we are prone to squander…what He has ‘by grace’ given to us. We did not nor could we ever earn this favor. But we sure can act as if we did and do.

:12-13 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give to me the inheritance part of the estate.'

So, a wealthy man had 2 sons – a younger one, a spoilt brat who cared little for his father’s reputation. “Give to me!” he says. What do you hear in this demand? What you don’t hear is humility, respect, thoughtfulness, appreciation. Reminds me of how we pray at times – telling God what we want Him to do for us or give to us. Scripture teaches that if we want something from God, we are to humbly request it in Jesus’ name. This is what “Your will be done” means. What about that older son? He would not allow himself to feel the same grace and compassion of his Forgiving Father? In a fit of rage, he refused to accept His Father’s invitation to enter into His celebratory presence.

 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 

So, the Father divided to them…life. Whose life? His own – through blood, sweat and tears…what He worked His whole life to achieve. A short time later, many of those sinners and tax collectors would watch as this Forgiving Father would lay down His own life on that cross. For who? For those who choose to see themselves as the younger son…those who know how the Forgiving Father agonized in that garden on that night He was unjustly arrested, tried and found guilty? The blood that was mixed with sweat that poured from his brow was the same blood that was poured out for us on that cross? It is His blood, sweat and tears that would bring about the life He would give because God so loved.

20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Thank You, Jesus, for the ‘life’ You have given to us here on this earth and one day in glory. Thank You that while we were yet a sinners, You chose to die for us. While we were still a long way off, You saw us and felt compassion for us. And with and by Your grace, You embrace us and welcome us back home.

Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. “Rock of Ages”