The Prodigal son

1. The Prodigal Son – 1st December 2015
“ In the same way, I tell you,there is rejoicinginthe presence of the angelsof Godover one sinner
who repents” (Luke 15: 10),
Today youngpeople are strikingoutatsocietyineverykindof waytoday. Some of it isviolent,some is
destructive,some of itisjustplainrebellion,andsome of itisjustified.Thisisthe storyof a youngman
whoran away fromhome. In thispassage Jesustellsthree littlestoriestoillustrate spiritualtruths. He
tolda story of a lostsheep. He tolda story of a lostcoin. He tolda storyof thislostson,and inall three
storieshe ispicturinga lovingfathersearchingforthatwhichislost,andthat Fatheris God. You see
God issearchingforus evenif we are lost. God lovesusandis searchingforus andthissearch takes
Him all the wayto the Crosswhere He givesHisSonas an atoningsacrifice tosave usfrombeing“lost
forever”. We can learn “Thisislove: not that we lovedGod,but that he loved usand sent his Sonas an
atoningsacrificefor our sins” (1 John4:10). That is how much God lovesus.
Therefore the prodigal son itisalsoa story of how we are lostfrom God. The Bible teachesthatwe are
like the lostsheeporthe lostcoinor the Prodigal son. Withoutconsciouslydoingsoinactualitywe also
walkawayfrom God. Outsin andsinful nature drivesusawayfromGod. Our sinmakesus rebel against
God. But althoughwe mayhave run away fromGod, He still lovesus. He wantsus back, andHe is
willingtogoto anylengthto getus back…givesussalvationandaneternal life withHim. He won’t
compromise intellingushowtoget back. He doesnot give a whole listof thingsthatwe needtofulfill.
Justone way… althoughsome people try otherways…the onlywayisthroughJesusChristourLordand
saviour. We can learnthis from Acts 4 “Salvationisfoundinno one else, for there isno other name
under heaven givento mankindby whichwe must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
In the parable of the Prodigal son,one dayhe goesto hisfatherandsays: “I am tiredof living thisway —
all the disciplineandthe hardwork — and I am eighteenyearsof age. Iwouldlike tohave my
inheritance nowandIwant to go “my way” because Iam goingto make it big one day” He had heard
aboutall the differentthingsandhe decidedhe couldliketo doit byHimself. Andhisfathersaid,“Son,I
don’tadvise it,butif you are determinedtogo,goahead.” Sothe suntook hisinheritance andwalked
away fromthe protection of hisfather. Thishappenswidelyinthe worldtoday. Peopledue totothe
sinful nature of the worldand losttodayare found exploringaworldthat at timesthey can’teven
understand,andare searchingformore immediate andecstaticand socalled“happy modes”of living.
But actuallytheyare lost,confused,andfrustrated,and eventuallywhenthe luckrunsoutthenthey
start searchingfora way back. We can learn:“Whoeverseeks goodfindsfavor,but evil comes to one
who searches for it” (Proverbs11:27).
The son was from an affluenthome, hadagreatfinances,discipline inthe home,andthere fora great
deal of love. We can almostsee thishappeninginsome hoestoday.Imagine hisfathergatheredthe
familytogethereverydayforprayerand Bible reading,andthe one sonsays,“Oh,I don’twant to talk
aboutGod. I don’t wantreligion andcan’twaitto getaway and live a“free life”.”How manypeople are
like thattoday?Some of us may cross awayfrom God’sthresholdandevenlostforever? The Goodnews
that Jesusbroughtisaboutsavingus whoare lostand as to how we shouldabide bythatteachings.
JesusHimself said. “FortheSon of Mancame to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
One day I saw a bigmarquee thatsays,“Unsatisfied.” Theywere promotingasongthat the Rolling
Stonesmade sofamous,“I Can’tGet No Satisfaction?” ashumanbeingsall of usmay seek

2. satisfaction…butcanwe evercompletelyfinditbyourselves.Unfortunatelyno…butitismade possible
throughbelievingandfaiththroughJesusChrist.Althoughwe maybe downtroddenandevenseepedin
sin,we have a way outand that isby acknowledgingoursinfulness,repentrevertandretrace oursteps
back to God.
As statedinthe parable the youngman whowas tryingto findfulfillmentsatisfactionandhappiness,
eventually losteverythingthathe possessedtothe pointthathe hadto eat whatthe pigswere
given…nobodywasthere toliftafingerinhelpinghim. We hearof similar‘richestorags’storiesinthe
worldtoday.Whenhe was sufferingthenhe thoughtof hisfatherandthathe hadeverythingthatwe
wantedthroughhim.We can read inLuke 15: “Whenhe came to hissenses, he said,‘How many ofmy
father’shired servants have foodto spare, andhere I am starving to death! 18
I will set out and go back
to my father and sayto him: Father, I have sinnedagainstheaven andagainstyou. 19
Iam no longer
worthy to be called yourson; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20
Sohe got upand went to his
father”( Luke 15: 17 – 20). He walkedawayandinhis plighthe decidedtogoback home andask his
fartherfor forgiveness.We canreadthisin the same passage: “Butwhilehe wasstill a longway off,
hisfather saw him andwas filledwithcompassionforhim; he ran to his son,threw his arms around
himand kissedhim.21
“Theson saidto him,‘Father, I have sinnedagainstheaven andagainstyou. I
am no longerworthy to be called your son.’
Jesusspoke of thisparable toteach usabout the grace of God that we are blessedwith. “Butthefather
saidto his servants,‘Quick! Bringthe best robe and putit on him. Put a ringon hisfinger andsandals
on hisfeet. 23
Bringthe fattened calfand kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24
For thisson ofmine
was dead andis aliveagain;he was lost andis found.’Sothey beganto celebrate. AsChristianswe
mustknowthat God loves.Itiswe who deviate fromourrelationshipwithHim.ButHe Love isso great
that whenwe revertbackto Him…andwhenHislostsheepare found He will celebrate andthere is
rejoicinginheaven! Luke15: 10, “ In the same way, I tell you,there is rejoicinginthe presence of the
angelsof Godover one sinner who repents.”
“ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10),