October 28, 2019
Luke 15:1-32: Parable of the Prodigal Son
Opening Prayer: Lord, the stories we read in the Gospels are like the stories of our lives. We encounter ordinary things and common relationships, but you always take us deeper, to the core of who we are and who you are. Keep teaching us as we come before your work today. Amen
Context
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Notes
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Reaction
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Two Pre-Parables:
Lost Coin
Lost Sheep
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The prodigal son comes at the end of a longer discussion on forgiveness which is interwoven with the ideas of finding things that are lost and redemption.
* A woman hunts for a lost coin. When she finds it she celebrates with friends.
* The shepherd leaves his flock to find the stray sheep, and rejoices when it is found.
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*In this case the woman is looking for something precious, but it is just an object.
* In this case the precious item is something alive, an animal
This leads us into a story about a precious person being lost and found. A buildup of importance.
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Parable: WHAT???
Moments
Places in the story that make you feel uncomfortable or question what is happening. |
* The arrogance or stupidity of the youngest son leaving the family.
* The father’s forgiveness. Should the father forgive or not?
* The father giving a party and the reaction of the eldest as angry, this doesn’t seem to be very kind
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This story is about family dynamics that probably happened all the time in Jesus’ time. Some children were stay at home, others wanted adventure.
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Characters:
Younger Son
Father
Older Son
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*Asks for his inheritance and leaves.
* Losses everything. Money, means of work, and identity.
* Remembers himself. Decides to return home and admit to his father that he was wrong
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* Father is joyous at his son’s return. Dresses him nicely and throws a party for him
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The son is angry at the father. He assumes the worst about the younger son and comments on it. But also complains that he has never received any recognition from his father even though he has worked so hard. Is he underneath worried about his own inheritance?
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* The son is not asking for more than his legal share. Probably a lot of children asked for their inheritance to start businesses
* He became a pig-herder which is something that Jewish people did not do. Essentially he has forgotten that the is Jewish.
* He feels shame at who he has become and he embraces his wrong doing. The fact that he will ask to become a servant shows that he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions.
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Relief at knowing that your son is alive. Discussed how parents who have their children listed as MIA would feel. Never knowing if their children are alive or dead. So it is understandable that the father would go overboard a little.
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The father assures him that his inheritance is still what it is and tries to get him to understand his joy at knowing that his son/brother is alive.
But this also shows a problem with the father who has possibly not shown the elder son that he is appreciated. The warning might be that we need to show those who are with us and working for us how much we do appreciate them. We need to celebrate what we have, not wait for a special occasion.
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Proclamation-
Good News-
Message
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* Noting that the father is a figure for God: We receive welcome and forgiveness if we come back after we are lost.
* Children do things and we forgive them.
* Celebrate what you have lost and found. But also celebrate the good that is there.
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* It is important to note that forgiveness is a give and take process. The son had to feel what he had done wrong and then repented of his actions. He had learned humility. He actually didn’t expect to be forgiven – it wasn’t a privilege or an entitlement.
This story is not about cheap grace but about working on our grace.
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