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Main Scripture: Luke 15: 31-32 NIV
'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.' (Luke 15:31-32 NIV)BACKGROUND OF THIS CONTEXT:
Jesus was in the house of Pharisees, and He keeps on telling parables to them, Jesus didn’t miss any chance to share the story of the famous “The Prodigal Son”. The father here has two sons. The other son rebelled to his father and took his part and wealth (inheritance). The older son was with the father at all times. Knowing how the father agreed to his son’s request made this story more remarkable. The Pharisee didn’t get what the Lord was saying to them. Basically, the parable of the lost son is a story and life of two different person:1. The youngest son as the sinners, portraying the tax collectors at that moment;
2. Then the eldest as the self-righteous people basically the Pharisees in the story.
Now, I considered this as God to His lost children, a redemption to a lost child and a reminder for us. In verse 13 we see how the son resist from his father’s authority.
“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." (Luke 15:13)
God’s patience and respect
So instead of rebuking his son, he just patiently gave his part and let his son go. Does it mean that the father doesn't love his son anymore? Does that mean God doesn't love us when God allows us to go apart from Him? God’s love is really hard to comprehend. He is sovereign. He is still in control. He gave us free will to make decision so that He can see how much do we really love Him. We think that we can do anything apart from God."In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." (Ephesians 1:11)
"He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything." (Luke 15:13)
In our desperate moments, we are compromising God. We are conforming to the world and we don’t care anymore about what is right and wrong.
"And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you." (Leviticus 11:7)
This is because we are slaved in sins. We are too attached in our selfishness, our pride, desires. We are just leaning in our own understanding and strength. And in desperation we seek something, we are willing to give up everything. Our pride, our honor, and reputation as long as we survive.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (Luke 15:21)
We see here how the son recognized that he has sinned to his father and sinned against heaven. This a great sign of humility. Humble enough to look for someone that can save us in this lost world. We need a light in our darkest hours.
God of Mercy
"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:24)This is the grace of God through Jesus Christ that despite of being dead in our sins, He still loved us because He wanted us to be part of His Kingdom.
Through the grace of God, we are now saved by faith as the Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It is not based in our deeds and works. Unlike his older brother:
"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." (Luke 15:29)
This is what Jesus Christ described the Pharisees, and the reality is this could be us.
So his older brother only focused on himself, justifying that he is righteous and better than his younger brother. When his brother arrived, he found no joy, only bitterness. The bible tells us:
"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:9-11)
Conclusion:
This story tells us about our life, our walk in Christ. This also reminds us that the good news and salvation is for all sinners, like you and me. Let us be reminded that we can’t control our life nor our future, only God can. Let us remember how God loves us. He gave us a chance to live with Him through the life of Jesus Christ who suffered a punishment that we should have had suffered.'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole."' (Galatians 3:13-15)
We are now living in Christ.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
So what should we do?
Therefore my brothers and sisters who are still looking for the answers.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
Acknowledge that we are sinners, that we must admit that we need a Saviour and acknowledge our nothingness apart from God. That we always need Christ. Let us go back to our first love - Jesus Christ. Because through the blood of Jesus Christ we have been reconciled with God.
"And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:20)
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
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