People were mad at Jesus! That was actually a regular occurrence during Jesus’ life. But this time Jesus had really crossed the line. He was preaching God’s Word even to “tax collectors and sinners,” and the Pharisees couldn’t stand it. What business did those people have hearing God’s Word? They didn’t deserve it! So they were mad at Jesus: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). So Jesus told them three stories. The final story went like this: A father had two sons. His younger son got tired of working for his father and asked to receive his inheritance early. He took the money, traveled to a far-off country, and quickly squandered all his money in wild living. Soon that son found himself with nothing. He realized how sinful and foolish he had been. So he decided to go back to his father – the same father he had so selfishly abandoned – and see if he could be one of his servants. The son trudged back home – starving, smelly, with tattered and torn clothes. He was hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. After what he had done, why would his dad want anything to do with him? He didn’t deserve anything but rejection and punishment. But what did dad do? He ran out to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and welcomed him back – not as a servant, but as his son. The father said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24). There is a word for that father’s undeserved love. There is a word for God’s boundless love for me and you. It’s a beautiful word: Grace. Sometimes Jesus’ parable is sometimes called the Parable of the Lost Son. That isn’t the best name. It’s really the Parable of the Father’s Grace. No matter who you are or what you have done, your gracious Father longs and loves to wrap you in his arms and surround you with his grace. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. It’s by grace alone.
Comments