Key Text: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 The father shows extravagant love in welcoming his returning son, who was “lost” and puts on a feast. This would have surprised the son who half expected he could just be received back as a hired servant. This also surprised the older son/elder brother, who resentfully refused to join in the celebration. The parable to the prodigal (i.e. wasteful) son has many layers that reveals our “lostness”, how God pursue us and finds us, and how we can be thankful for the reality of His amazing grace. How We Are Like the Younger Brother People can pursue happiness, fulfillment, adventure, self-discovery at the expense of a relationship with God. This reveals an attitude of ungratefulness and rebellion, and ultimately leads to poor stewardship of what God has given us. When a crisis hits, we may come to our senses, realized our “lostness” and become “homesick”. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”. Expecting rejection and a condescending “I told you so!”, we are surprised by God’s extravagant grace, being restored in relationship and place in His kingdom through festive joy and celebration! In God’s family, we don’t get what we truly deserve – – and get what we don’t deserve – . How We Are Like the Elder Brother People can pursue happiness and fulfillment through moral , living responsibly and out of a sense of duty, yet still miss the delight of a relationship with God. Where the younger brother sinned through wasteful living, forsaking the commandments, and living immorally, the older brother sinned through (pride) and self-righteousness. While the younger brother was “lost” away from the father, the elder brother was living “lost” and disconnected from his father. When we see God’s grace extended to others, instead of joining in the celebration, our resentment is exposed both towards God and the people “who don’t deserve it”. By refusing to enter in the party, we indict God with being , too merciful, and neglecting to our faithfulness. How Jesus is the True Elder Brother In the three parables of Luke 15, there are two similarities and one unique difference: Similarities: 1) Something/someone is lost: a sheep, a coin, a son. 2) all lost items/persons are found Difference: in the first two parables someone diligently search for what is lost. In the third parable no one actively searches for the lost son. Why the difference? In Genesis 4 we read about Cain murdering his brother. Instead of being his “brother’s keeper” he is angered by him and kills him, failing in this important responsibility as a brother. The implication of this parable is that Jesus is indicting the religious leaders that they have failed in their responsibility to show mercy to their younger lost brothers (Tim Keller makes this observation in his book, The Prodigal God) In Jesus bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom to the “outsiders” and “sinners” Jesus is fulfilling the role of the true elder brother going after the “younger” lost brothers. Jesus is the true Son of man and Son of God who came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10) On the basis of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, God extends grace and mercy to people, extending welcome and forgiveness to the repentant and celebrating their return “home” (i.e. salvation in God’s Kingdom). What God the Father Wants You to Know He loves you no matter who you are or what you’ve . He (pursues) you to restore your God given identity and place in His family. forgiveness through what Jesus did: dying for our sin, brokenness, and rebellion. (we must believe to receive!) fullness of life through what Jesus did: rising from the tomb, conquering death, restoring us in relationship with God He wants your , not just your duty. Delight is son/daughter mentality. Duty without delight is a slave mentality. He invites you into his of showing mercy and grace to others, so they too would know his extravagant love.