WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other

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! use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is August Fern and I am one of your deacons.

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 Today's scripture reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 1 and 2, and verses

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 11 to 32 as printed in your liturgy.

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 A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.

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 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus, but the Pharisees

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 and the teacher of the law muttered, this man welcomes sinners and eats with them.

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 Jesus continued.

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 There was a man who had two sons.

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 The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the estate.

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 So he divided his property between them.

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 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country, and

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 there squandered his wealth in wild living.

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 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he

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 began to be in need.

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 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to the fields

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 to feed pigs.

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 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave

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 him anything.

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 When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have food to

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 spare, and here I am starving to death.

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 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven

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 and against you.

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 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

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 Make me like one of your hired servants.

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 So he got up and went to his father.

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 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion

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 for him.

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 He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.

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 The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

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 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

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 But the father said to his servants, Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him.

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 Put a ring on his finger and sandal on his feet.

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 Bring the fattened calf and kill it.

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 Let's have a feast and celebrate.

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 For the son of mine was dead and is alive again.

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 He was lost and is found.

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 So they began to celebrate.

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 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.

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 When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

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 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

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 Your brother has come, he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because

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 he has him back safe and sound.

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 The older brother became angry and refused to go in.

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 So his father went out and pleaded with him.

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 But he answered his father, Look, all these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed

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 your orders.

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 Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

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 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with the prostitutes comes home,

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 you kill the fattened calf for him?

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 My son, the father said, you are always with me and everything I have is yours.

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 But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive

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 again.

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 He was lost and is found.

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 This is the gospel of the Lord.

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 Praise to you, O Christ.

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 So there was a man who had two sons.

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 It's an amazing opening line.

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 And we know when we hear it, we know instinctively that Jesus is a master storyteller because in

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 our own experience, like families are complicated.

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 Amen?

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 Amen?

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 Families are sometimes dysfunctional.

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 You know, we know how it can go between fathers and mothers and sons and daughters.

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 We don't always see eye to eye.

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 We don't always get along.

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 We don't always live happily ever after.

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 And many of us know that personally.

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 We know it painfully.

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 We also know it biblically and theologically.

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 When you open up the Bible to the very first story, Adam had two sons, right?

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 Cain and Abel and how did that go?

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 It ended in a bloody mess, you know?

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 Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.

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 Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob.

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 Jacob had 12 sons, but of those 12 sons, he loved two of them more than all the rest.

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 And so we don't really have to get much further beyond the first book of the Bible to know that

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 when a story begins where the father had two sons, it's going to be, I don't know, complicated.

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 It's like starting a story with, it was a dark and stormy night, right?

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 And to whom is Jesus telling this amazing story?

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 He says in verse 1,

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 Jesus goes and he associates with the out group.

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 And that means that the spiritually serious and the morally upright are outraged.

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 And they're saying,

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 And why, Jesus, do you welcome like family around your table these people that don't deserve to be there?

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 And Jesus is being severely criticized.

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 And he responds to that criticism with something we also all know about,

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 which is we probably all lost something that we deeply value.

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 Anybody ever lost your phone?

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 Or lost your wallet?

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 Have any of you ever lost your child?

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 Okay, you can ask Catherine about how I lost one of our children at coffee hour.

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 But Jesus launches into a story about a shepherd who lost a precious sheep

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 and a woman who lost her treasured coin.

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 And then he gets to this story,

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 this father lost his two beloved sons.

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 And I want to look at this under a few headings.

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 I want to look at the costly grace for the self-defeated.

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 I want to look at pleading grace for the self-righteous.

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 And I want to look at reconciling grace for the family of God.

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 Costly grace for the self-defeated.

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 Pleading grace for the self-righteous.

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 And reconciling grace for the family of God.

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 Now, we had a staff retreat on Thursday,

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 an elder retreat on Saturday.

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 And I had two Duke games this weekend.

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 So, we'll see about that third point.

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 I don't know if we'll have time for that.

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 But, costly grace for the self-defeated.

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 Let's just go through the story.

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 It says in verse 12,

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 the son says to his father,

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 Father, give me my share of the estate.

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 Which is the equivalent of saying, drop dead, Dad.

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 Father, I can't wait for you to die.

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 In fact, I don't want you.

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 I want your money.

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 It's an act of deep disrespect.

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 And any respectable father in the ancient Near East

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 would have disowned his son on the spot.

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 He would have just driven his son out of the family.

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 But this father is a gracious father.

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 And he gives his son what his son wants.

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 Surprisingly, he says to his son,

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 Your will be done.

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 Right?

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 And it lets him go.

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 And it says that he divided his property

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 between his two sons.

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 Literally, it says he divided his bios.

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 He divided his life.

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 He tore his life apart.

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 And it costs the cost of land,

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 the cost of his place,

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 the cost of his honor and his standing.

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 The father bears the agony of,

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 and the shame of,

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 his son's rejected love.

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 Verse 13,

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 Not long after that,

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 the younger son got together.

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 All he had,

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 he set off for a distant country,

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 and there squandered his wealth

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 and wild living.

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 In other words,

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 he liquidated everything into cash.

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 And he went and tried to have it all.

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 He tried to have a life without limits.

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 And in doing so,

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 he wasted his life.

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 All of his gifts,

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 all of his potential,

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 he just burned it to an absolute crisp.

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 And it doesn't take very long

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 for him to hit rock bottom.

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 And Jesus says in verse 14,

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 After he'd spent everything,

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 there was a severe famine

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 in that whole country,

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 and he began to be in need.

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 So he went and hired himself out

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 to a citizen of that country

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 who sent him to his fields

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 to feed pigs.

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 He longed to fill his stomach

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 with the pods that the pigs were eating,

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 but no one gave him anything.

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 How do you like Jesus' analysis

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 of our human condition?

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 All of us have made this same bid

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 for independence from God,

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 this bid to be autonomous from God.

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 We had no appreciation for the love

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 in God's heart

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 of the security we had in his home.

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 And instead, we demanded to be free,

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 to live on our own as we want to live.

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 And Jesus says that self-will

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 that's in all of us

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 can often degenerate into self-indulgence

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 and we end up, in various ways,

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 squandering our lives.

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 And if you're a Jew,

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 the absolute worst thing

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 that can happen to you

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 is that you become a slave.

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 And that you become a slave of a Gentile.

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 And that you become the slave

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 of a Gentile pig farmer.

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 This Jewish son smells like pigs

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 and he's starving for pig slop.

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 Jesus says he's bankrupt,

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 he's hungry,

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 he's alone,

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 he's at the absolute depths of misery.

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 And two times in the story,

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 we hear this father describe his son

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 in verse 24 and in verse 32.

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 The father describes his son

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 as dead and lost.

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 The apostle Paul says that all of us,

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 we're dead in our trespasses

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 and in our sins.

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 That we've all wandered away from God,

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 we have flouted his authority,

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 we've rejected his and rebuffed his love,

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 we've wasted his gifts.

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 We've alienated ourselves from God

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 and we've also alienated ourselves

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 from our true selves.

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 We're exiled even within ourselves.

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 We have no hope

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 because we have no God anymore.

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 But Jesus says he came to his senses.

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 He came to his senses

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 and what wakes him up

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 is this memory of his father.

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 That his father is actually a wealthy father

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 and he's not only a wealthy father

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 but he's a generous father.

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 It says in verse 17,

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 when he came to his senses,

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 he said,

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 how many of my father's hired servants

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 have food to spare

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 and here I am starving to death.

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 Everyone you meet

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 carries within their heart

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 some memory of the father,

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 some memory of their true home.

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 And everybody we meet is,

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 their heart is desperately restless

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 until they come and find their rest

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 in the home of the father.

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 And verse 18 says this,

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 he says,

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 I will set out and go back to my father

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 and say to him,

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 Father, I've sinned against heaven

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 and against you.

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 I'm no longer worthy

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 to be called your son.

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 Make me like one of your hired servants.

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 And at first that sounds like good news

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 but the closer you look at that,

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 it's actually a self-serving,

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 self-salvation project

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 because he doesn't actually care

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 that he's broken his father's heart.

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 He just wants to eat better.

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 He just wants his misery to end.

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 He just wants to get his life back on track.

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 And he thinks that

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 my biggest problem

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 is that I lost all the money.

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 And if I hadn't lost the money,

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 I would have never sinned.

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 And so I'm going to solve my own problem

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 with my own effort

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 by getting some job training

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 and hiring myself out as a servant

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 and recovering the money

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 and earning that lost inheritance

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 and I will save myself.

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 The problem isn't the money, is it?

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 The problem

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 is that he's dishonored his father.

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 The problem is he's become estranged

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 from his father.

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 The problem is that he's made himself

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 into a hostile enemy of the father.

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 And despite the fact that

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 he deserves to be cut off from his family,

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 despite the fact that he's trying to save himself,

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 the father sees his loss

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 as so great and so valuable

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 that he cannot contemplate

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 the permanence of that loss.

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 He cannot acquiesce to the loss.

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 And so we hear in verse 20

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 that he got up and he went to his father,

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 but while he was still a long way off,

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 his father saw him

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 and was filled with compassion for him.

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 And he ran to his son

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 and threw his arms around him

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.520
 and kissed him.

00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:12.880
 See, day after day,

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.160
 this father had gone out

00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:16.320
 and he had scanned the horizon

00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.360
 for his lost son.

00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:18.820
 Right?

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.160
 He's longing for his son.

00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.380
 He's patiently and vigilantly

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:25.600
 looking for a sign of his son's return.

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.559
 And as soon as he sees his son

00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.960
 as a speck on the horizon,

00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.399
 what does this father do?

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.820
 It's a beautiful picture

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:35.600
 of free but costly grace

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.220
 because the whole village

00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:38.860
 knows the shame of this son.

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.299
 Right?

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.480
 The whole village is expecting

00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.019
 this pillar of the community

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:45.240
 to stay put on the front porch

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.580
 and have the son come groveling back up

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.580
 to the house.

00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:49.299
 Right?

00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:51.719
 Or if this father moves at all,

00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:53.819
 for him to kind of slowly

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:55.819
 in a dignified way

00:13:55.819 --> 00:13:56.759
 move out to go

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.019
 and punish his son

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:59.079
 in the eyes of everybody.

00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.519
 But this father shows compassion

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:04.079
 by doing what?

00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:05.479
 Running.

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.139
 We call this the parable

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.919
 of the prodigal son,

00:14:08.979 --> 00:14:09.839
 but really we should call it

00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:11.459
 the parable of the running father.

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.439
 The kissing father

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.459
 because he takes his,

00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:17.279
 the bottom of his robe

00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:17.939
 and his hands

00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:19.360
 and he does what traditional

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.820
 Middle Eastern men

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:22.460
 would absolutely never do

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.160
 in public

00:14:23.160 --> 00:14:24.280
 and he starts running

00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:25.860
 to reach his son

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.620
 before his son

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.500
 can reach the village.

00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.680
 And by racing down that road

00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:31.260
 in an undignified manner,

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.420
 by making an absolute fool

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.320
 of himself,

00:14:35.640 --> 00:14:36.620
 this father is taking

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.540
 all the shame

00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:38.740
 and all the humiliation

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.400
 that would otherwise

00:14:40.400 --> 00:14:41.660
 be heaped upon his son.

00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:42.820
 He's having it heaped

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.820
 upon himself.

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:46.060
 And he knows that

00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:47.560
 this visible demonstration

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.760
 of costly grace,

00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:50.900
 of sacrificial reconciliation

00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:53.080
 with his son in public

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:56.120
 will silence all those voices

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.879
 in the village

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.340
 that are ready to heap

00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:00.240
 criticism and contempt

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.600
 upon his boy.

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.680
 And when he runs to his son,

00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:06.379
 he throws his arms around him

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.560
 and he showers him

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:08.580
 with kisses

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.020
 before he can even begin

00:15:10.020 --> 00:15:11.560
 that well-rehearsed

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.400
 self-salvation speech.

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.820
 The scriptures actually say

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.980
 that he kissed him much.

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.780
 He kissed him eagerly.

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.700
 He kissed him often.

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.340
 He kissed him affectionately.

00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.980
 And just as the son

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.760
 had totally rejected his father,

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.820
 the father now totally accepts,

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.940
 totally forgives,

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:33.680
 totally restores his son.

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.620
 You see, these spiritually serious

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.200
 and morally upright people

00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:40.240
 are complaining about Jesus

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.620
 and they're criticizing Jesus

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.940
 for welcoming and eating

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:43.919
 with sinners

00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.019
 as if they're his family.

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:47.000
 And so Jesus tells this story

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.919
 about a father

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.080
 who takes the form

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.960
 of a servant.

00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.440
 This father who comes

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.720
 out of the house

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.060
 and down from the house.

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:57.980
 This father who runs

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.340
 outside of the village

00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:02.440
 in abject humiliation

00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:06.000
 and he takes all of the shame

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.300
 on himself

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.800
 to seek and to save

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:10.960
 and to reconcile the lost.

00:16:11.020 --> 00:16:12.300
 And what is Jesus describing?

00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.720
 He's illustrating

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.940
 what the father

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.140
 has sent him to do.

00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:17.880
 Right?

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.460
 Because elsewhere

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.640
 in the gospel of John

00:16:19.640 --> 00:16:20.380
 in John 14,

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.020
 Jesus says,

00:16:21.400 --> 00:16:22.600
 anyone who has seen me

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.820
 has seen the father.

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:26.260
 Jesus is saying,

00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:27.640
 I've come acting

00:16:27.640 --> 00:16:28.680
 in my father's stead.

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.700
 I've come as my father's representative.

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.740
 I've come so that

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:33.200
 you can see that

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.680
 in and through me

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:38.100
 the father's costly grace

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.780
 is being demonstrated.

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:43.120
 And Jesus didn't just run

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.080
 outside the village.

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.520
 Jesus came all the way

00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:46.620
 from heaven to earth.

00:16:47.900 --> 00:16:49.120
 He not only emptied himself

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.120
 of his heavenly glory

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.600
 but when he went

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.420
 to his cross,

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.559
 Jesus was treated

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:55.579
 as an absolute outcast.

00:16:56.719 --> 00:16:58.439
 Suffering the infinite cost

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.899
 of his own life

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.679
 so that we

00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.939
 could be brought

00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.000
 into God's family

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.779
 by grace.

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:07.859
 By free but costly grace.

00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:10.279
 All of that inheritance

00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.299
 that we squandered,

00:17:11.399 --> 00:17:12.299
 all of that potential

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.299
 that we wasted,

00:17:14.139 --> 00:17:15.180
 Jesus came to pay

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.779
 that unpayable debt

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.779
 on the cross

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.940
 and in our place.

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.059
 And there he cried out,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.819
 my God, my God,

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.399
 why?

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:24.500
 Why have you forsaken me?

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.519
 And you see,

00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:28.259
 Jesus took that forsakenness

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.960
 upon himself

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.960
 so that we could have

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.820
 the hug

00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.860
 and the kisses

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:33.180
 of the father.

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.000
 Verse 21 says this,

00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:37.360
 the son said to him,

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:37.680
 father,

00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:38.860
 I've sinned against heaven

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.500
 and against you.

00:17:39.560 --> 00:17:40.580
 I'm no longer worthy

00:17:40.580 --> 00:17:42.340
 to be called your son.

00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.160
 But the father said

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:43.660
 to his servants,

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.000
 quick,

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.880
 bring the best robe

00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.660
 and put it on him.

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.960
 Put a ring on his finger

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.140
 and sandals on his feet.

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.480
 Bring the fattened calf

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.059
 and kill it.

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.700
 Let's have a feast

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.319
 and celebrate.

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.500
 And you see,

00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.480
 Jesus was stripped

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.620
 of all of his dignity.

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.819
 Jesus was covered

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.920
 with the filth

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.299
 of all of our sin

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.180
 and our shame

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.640
 so that we could be clothed

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.420
 with that robe

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.559
 of his beautiful

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.220
 and perfect righteousness,

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.539
 a dignity

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.319
 and a status

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.019
 and a standing

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.259
 that we absolutely

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.120
 do not deserve.

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:19.459
 See,

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.500
 Jesus had his hands

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.219
 and his feet

00:18:21.219 --> 00:18:23.479
 nailed to that cross

00:18:23.479 --> 00:18:23.979
 of shame

00:18:23.979 --> 00:18:25.119
 so that we could receive

00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:26.619
 that signet ring

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.919
 of the father

00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:30.139
 that says we're his sons

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.000
 and we're his daughters

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.500
 so that we could

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.759
 have those feet

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.539
 that are barefoot

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.199
 like slaves

00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:37.939
 so that our feet

00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:39.199
 could have sandals

00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:39.759
 put on them

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.519
 and we could know

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.519
 that we belong

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.139
 in the father's house.

00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:45.199
 That we have

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.100
 the father's power.

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.120
 We have the father's

00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:48.720
 authority.

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.120
 We have the father's

00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:51.600
 acceptance in his love.

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.500
 You see,

00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.299
 Jesus went

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:56.039
 and he drank

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.759
 that cup

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.660
 of God's

00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.500
 eternal justice

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.360
 so that we

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.539
 could drink

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:01.960
 the cup

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.860
 of the father's joy

00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:04.039
 so that we could feast

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.140
 at the father's

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.140
 banqueting table.

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:07.759
 And friends,

00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.640
 there's no other way

00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.519
 to come back home.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.779
 There's no other way

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.100
 for the father

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:14.000
 to bring us in.

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.039
 Jesus had to go

00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.779
 and he had to

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.740
 experience

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.460
 the darkness.

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.180
 He had to

00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.460
 come into that

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.500
 uttermost place

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.440
 of despair

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.359
 and spiritual

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.539
 alienation

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.200
 in our place.

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.740
 He had to take

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.899
 the full curse

00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:30.000
 of our human rebellion.

00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:31.299
 He had to experience

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.359
 our cosmic

00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.960
 homelessness

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.240
 and alienation

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.180
 so that we

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.440
 could enter back

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.799
 into the village

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.920
 where we belong

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.299
 under the protective

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.000
 care

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.740
 of the father's

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.240
 acceptance

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.359
 so we could be

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.039
 welcomed back

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.420
 into our

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.500
 true home.

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.039
 And when you,

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.460
 when you,

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.720
 are you moved

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.059
 by that?

00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:55.940
 When you see

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.259
 what it costs

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.140
 for the father

00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:58.940
 to do this

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.339
 for you,

00:19:59.420 --> 00:20:00.519
 when you see

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.640
 what it costs

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.240
 for Jesus

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.960
 to come

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.700
 and to bring us

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.440
 back into the

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.200
 father's house,

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.799
 to bring us back

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.920
 into our true home

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.619
 where we can

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.900
 finally fully be

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.840
 at rest,

00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.440
 does that move

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:12.920
 your heart?

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:16.019
 Can you believe,

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.780
 can you even

00:20:17.780 --> 00:20:18.880
 half believe today

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.640
 that the hug

00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.200
 of the father

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.340
 is for you?

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.460
 That his kisses

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:26.480
 are often

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.220
 and they are

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.860
 affectionate

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.680
 and they are

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.640
 for you?

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.460
 Jesus is telling us

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.920
 about costly grace

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:38.360
 for the self-defeated,

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.600
 people who've

00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:41.860
 wasted their gifts,

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.100
 people who've

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:43.740
 squandered their

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.200
 potential,

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.500
 that they too,

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.080
 even them,

00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:48.519
 can have a fresh

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.800
 start and a new

00:20:49.800 --> 00:20:50.200
 beginning.

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.200
 But he's not just

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.759
 telling us about

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.840
 the costly grace

00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:54.800
 for the self-defeated,

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.660
 he's talking about

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.960
 pleading grace

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.080
 for the self-righteous,

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.039
 pleading grace

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.759
 for the self-righteous.

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.880
 He says in verse 23,

00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.800
 bring the fattened

00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:04.600
 calf and kill it,

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.340
 let's have a feast

00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:05.900
 and celebrate,

00:21:06.020 --> 00:21:06.820
 for the son of mine

00:21:06.820 --> 00:21:07.700
 was dead and is

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.320
 alive again,

00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.160
 he was lost

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.320
 and is found,

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.900
 so they began

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.620
 to celebrate.

00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.560
 You see this father,

00:21:12.780 --> 00:21:14.640
 he's so overjoyed,

00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:16.020
 he's so overjoyed

00:21:16.020 --> 00:21:17.700
 when just one person,

00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:19.060
 one sinner repents.

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.640
 The son who had

00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.860
 been spiritually dead

00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:24.020
 has been raised

00:21:24.020 --> 00:21:24.740
 to life.

00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.760
 The son who'd been

00:21:25.760 --> 00:21:27.040
 morally lost,

00:21:27.780 --> 00:21:28.500
 he's been found

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.940
 and he says,

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.980
 so let's spare

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.740
 no expense

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.500
 to celebrate.

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.579
 The best meat,

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.180
 we're gonna barbecue,

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.759
 we're gonna invite

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.759
 all the village

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.839
 to come

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.359
 and we're gonna have

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.519
 a feast with music

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.720
 and dancing

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.299
 and glad rejoicing

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.500
 because the father

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.619
 is so happy

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:48.019
 that his son is home

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.039
 safe and sound.

00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.940
 Now many people

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.960
 stop right there

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:54.160
 and they call this

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.660
 the parable

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:55.519
 of the prodigal son

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.039
 but how many sons

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.079
 does his father have?

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.980
 He has two sons

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.740
 and we haven't even

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.400
 gotten to his main

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.019
 point yet

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:06.180
 because Jesus

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.240
 is telling the story

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.279
 for the spiritually

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.559
 serious and the morally

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.140
 upright,

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.539
 these older brothers

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.120
 and sisters

00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:14.039
 who see the father's

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.980
 costly grace,

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.620
 they see his

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:17.500
 uncalculating generosity

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.839
 toward these undeserving

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.160
 younger brothers

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.559
 and younger sisters

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.120
 and instead of rejoicing,

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.480
 they're muttering

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:27.099
 and instead of joy,

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.900
 they feel anger

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:31.220
 and Jesus is saying

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.920
 that these brothers

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.180
 represent two different

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.059
 kinds of people,

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.900
 two different kind

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:36.319
 of ways to live,

00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.519
 right?

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.279
 Two paths

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.819
 of finding happiness

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.319
 and worth,

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.220
 two different ways

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.779
 of addressing

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:43.279
 what's wrong

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.880
 with the world,

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.660
 two different ways

00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.319
 of defining

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:47.120
 what's right

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:47.680
 and what's wrong

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.839
 and the younger brother

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.660
 represents

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:52.380
 that rebel spirit,

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.480
 that free spirit,

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.020
 right?

00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:55.660
 His is the way

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.540
 of self-discovery.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.340
 He says the world

00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:59.040
 would be a better place

00:22:59.040 --> 00:22:59.940
 if tradition

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.920
 and authority

00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:02.880
 and all the barriers

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.040
 to personal freedom

00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:05.480
 were just removed,

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:06.680
 right?

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.140
 And he says,

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.260
 I'm gonna be the only one

00:23:09.260 --> 00:23:10.300
 who decides what's right

00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:11.400
 and what's wrong for me

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.280
 and I'm gonna go find

00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:12.700
 true,

00:23:13.280 --> 00:23:14.500
 my true self,

00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.780
 I'm gonna go find happiness

00:23:15.780 --> 00:23:16.860
 by living the way

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.820
 I wanna live

00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:19.840
 and that's one way.

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.760
 But the other way

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.319
 is the way

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.000
 of the older brother,

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.359
 he's responsible,

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.119
 he's honorable,

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:27.859
 his is the way

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.980
 of moral conformity.

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.680
 He says the world

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.059
 would be a better place

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.400
 if all of us

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.339
 had more self-control,

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:33.900
 if all of us

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:35.259
 had more discipline,

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.099
 if we all just put

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:38.160
 other people ahead

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.619
 of our own individual

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.200
 fulfillment

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.079
 and self-expression.

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.379
 He says,

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.140
 I'm not gonna do

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.240
 what I wanna do,

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.539
 he says,

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:43.960
 I'm gonna do

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.000
 what God wants me to do,

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.680
 what my parents

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.220
 want me to do,

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.119
 what other people

00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.339
 want me to do

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.480
 and Jesus' question

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.259
 when we look

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.119
 at these two brothers

00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.879
 is to say,

00:23:52.399 --> 00:23:53.839
 which way is more

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.500
 self-centered

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.959
 and which way

00:23:56.959 --> 00:23:57.439
 is more

00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.679
 self-destructive?

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:01.559
 Because the reality is

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.079
 both of these sons

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:04.439
 are alienated

00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:05.219
 from their father.

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.379
 Both of these sons

00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:10.519
 shockingly

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.819
 are spiritually dead

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.739
 and morally lost.

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.500
 Both of them

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.959
 need the father

00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:16.539
 to go out

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.619
 and invite them

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.539
 into the feast.

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.119
 And the younger son

00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:22.619
 comes into the feast

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.500
 but the older son

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:25.000
 does not.

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.079
 On the outside,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.759
 that older son,

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:30.740
 he seems all put together,

00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.480
 he seems like

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.319
 there's nothing wrong

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.639
 with him

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.700
 but on the inside,

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.299
 Jesus says,

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:34.899
 he's actually

00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:36.859
 full of sin.

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.539
 And Jesus says,

00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.200
 do you see

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.420
 that older son

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.879
 in yourself?

00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.540
 Does Jesus'

00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:46.520
 description of his heart

00:24:46.520 --> 00:24:47.960
 resonate

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:49.640
 with what lies

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.380
 beneath the surface

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.240
 of your own heart?

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.540
 Listen to what

00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:54.820
 verse 28 says,

00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.340
 the older brother

00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.120
 became angry

00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:57.280
 and he refused

00:24:57.280 --> 00:24:58.320
 to go in.

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.580
 You see,

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.380
 there's a fire

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:01.540
 of self-righteous anger

00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:03.400
 that's burning

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.120
 on the inside

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.260
 against his brother's

00:25:05.260 --> 00:25:05.980
 unforgivable

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.180
 irresponsibility

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.940
 and against the father's

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.740
 uncalculating

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.620
 grace

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:12.059
 and generosity.

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.539
 And this older son,

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.379
 he actually feels

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.279
 not just superior

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.339
 to his younger brother,

00:25:16.459 --> 00:25:17.319
 he feels superior

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.159
 to his father.

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.179
 He's openly

00:25:21.179 --> 00:25:22.319
 insulting his father,

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.279
 he's refusing

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.559
 to join in the father's

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.379
 feast

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.259
 and we can see

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.259
 like his relationship

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.959
 with the father,

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.619
 he seems fine

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.859
 but his relationship

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.759
 is broken.

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.299
 He's run just as far

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.299
 away from his younger

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.619
 brother

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.739
 even though he's

00:25:38.739 --> 00:25:39.739
 right there at home.

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:43.719
 It's just so much

00:25:43.719 --> 00:25:44.339
 more subtle,

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.139
 it's more inward,

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.699
 it's more hidden

00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:48.519
 and therefore

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:50.159
 it's more dangerous.

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.779
 The older brother

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.599
 became angry,

00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.679
 it says in verse 28,

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.819
 he refused to go in

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.779
 so his father went out

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.639
 and pleaded with him

00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.579
 but he answered his father,

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.039
 look,

00:25:59.719 --> 00:26:00.679
 all these years

00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:01.599
 I've been slaving

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.179
 for you

00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:03.659
 and I've never

00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.419
 disobeyed

00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:05.579
 your orders.

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:07.679
 His resentment

00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.379
 and his bitterness

00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:09.459
 indicate that he

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.779
 sees himself less

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.960
 as a beloved son

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.860
 and more

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:14.539
 as a beholden slave.

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.059
 He says,

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.160
 I've never disobeyed you,

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.880
 I've worked hard

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.480
 to live up

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.460
 to your standards,

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.519
 I've been a good person

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.940
 so now you owe me

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:24.340
 and you gotta do things

00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:25.100
 in my life

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:25.880
 the way I want you

00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.340
 to do them.

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.299
 I've lived a good life

00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.980
 so you should be

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.059
 giving me a good life.

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:30.840
 Any of you ever

00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.819
 judge God like that?

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.779
 Verse 29,

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.360
 he says,

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.859
 look,

00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.399
 all these years

00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.159
 I've been slaving

00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:38.479
 for you,

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.379
 I've never disobeyed

00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:39.839
 your orders

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.419
 and yet

00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:41.699
 you never gave me

00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:42.779
 even a young goat

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.719
 so I could celebrate

00:26:43.719 --> 00:26:45.319
 with my friends.

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.919
 But when the son

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:47.319
 of yours

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.319
 who squandered

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:48.839
 your property

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.759
 with prostitutes

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.319
 comes home,

00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:51.599
 you kill the fattened

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.179
 calf for him.

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.359
 You see,

00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:56.599
 he's using

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.719
 his moral life

00:26:57.719 --> 00:27:00.359
 thinking that it

00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.139
 gives him leverage

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.979
 and control

00:27:01.979 --> 00:27:03.139
 over the father.

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:05.160
 he says,

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.540
 you know what,

00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:06.460
 I've actually earned

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.480
 the right to tell you

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.460
 how to run the household

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:11.420
 and to instruct you

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.540
 on how all the stuff

00:27:12.540 --> 00:27:13.200
 in your estate

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.800
 ought to be deployed.

00:27:16.020 --> 00:27:16.840
 And here he is

00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:17.600
 with this incredible

00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.160
 opportunity

00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.360
 to delight the father,

00:27:19.520 --> 00:27:20.640
 to celebrate his brother

00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.680
 by going into the feast

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.020
 and yet

00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:23.680
 in just absolute

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.340
 resentment

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.680
 and refusal

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.140
 we can see

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.900
 that on the inside

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.880
 he really has

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.820
 a hard

00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.780
 and a cold heart.

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.759
 And the goal

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.579
 of his obedience

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.180
 all along

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.180
 it hasn't been love,

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.180
 it's been control.

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.180
 This older son

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.399
 wants the same thing

00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:44.279
 that the younger son

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.519
 wants,

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.319
 he just wants it

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.740
 in a different way.

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.779
 The younger son

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.539
 he's chafed

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.579
 at partaking

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.500
 of the family's assets

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.539
 under the father's

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.000
 supervision

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.759
 and so he wants

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.160
 to just make

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.859
 his own decisions.

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.819
 He wants to be free,

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.779
 he wants to be

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.559
 unfettered

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.460
 and so he defiantly

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.000
 declares

00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.180
 his independence

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.920
 from the father.

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.799
 But you know

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.480
 this older son

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.599
 is just as resentful

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:06.079
 because he too

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.480
 wants the father's goods

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:10.440
 rather than the father himself.

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.940
 Neither son

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.379
 loved the father

00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:15.079
 for himself.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.639
 Both of these sons

00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:19.000
 are using the father

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:21.720
 for self-centered ends

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:23.579
 rather than loving the father

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.480
 for his own sake,

00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.920
 rather than delighting

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.399
 in the father

00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.519
 and enjoying the father

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.599
 and serving the father

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.939
 just simply

00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:31.839
 for who he is.

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.359
 Are you not shocked

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:37.359
 by this message

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:37.839
 of Jesus

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.859
 because he says

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:40.059
 you can become

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.179
 alienated from God

00:28:41.179 --> 00:28:41.879
 by breaking

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.639
 all the rules

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.899
 or you can become

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.939
 just as alienated

00:28:45.939 --> 00:28:46.339
 from God

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.899
 by keeping

00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.619
 all the rules

00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:48.179
 carefully

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.240
 and diligently.

00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:52.000
 And Jesus says

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.539
 do you see

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.199
 and do you hear

00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:54.039
 this older brother

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.399
 in your heart?

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.420
 He's never left home

00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:58.200
 but he has this

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.759
 slavish obedience

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.700
 that's driven him

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.880
 just as far away

00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.840
 from his father

00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:05.380
 as his younger brother

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.040
 ever was

00:29:06.040 --> 00:29:06.700
 in that pagan

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:08.120
 pigsty.

00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:11.100
 And how does the father

00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:12.360
 respond to the hard

00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.759
 and resistant heart

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.860
 of his older son?

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.320
 Well he says

00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:19.400
 it says in verse 28

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:22.140
 or verse 31

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.540
 it says

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.480
 my son

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.159
 the father said

00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:25.819
 you are always

00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.379
 with me

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.339
 and everything

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.019
 I have

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.259
 is yours.

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.819
 The father goes out

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.619
 and he's pleading

00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:33.299
 with his son

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:33.639
 you know

00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.480
 if it had been me

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.159
 I would have said

00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:35.420
 hey

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.940
 why don't you

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.480
 stay outside

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.019
 and we'll just

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.539
 have this party

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.139
 without you.

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:40.879
 You know

00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.399
 if it were up

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.119
 to all the villagers

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.980
 they would have said

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:44.039
 you should disown

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.899
 this rebellious son

00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.920
 right here on the spot.

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.399
 But this father

00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.599
 who's been

00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:51.059
 painfully humiliated

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.059
 earlier in the day

00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.700
 by running

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.940
 to his younger son

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.720
 he does the same

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.240
 for his older

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.419
 lost son.

00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:57.659
 For the second time

00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.759
 in one day

00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.419
 he goes out

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.859
 in a costly demonstration

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:03.460
 of unexpected grace

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:03.899
 and he goes

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.720
 not to scold

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.399
 he goes not to rebuke

00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.419
 as we might expect

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:08.639
 this is a kissing father.

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.599
 It says

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.259
 he goes out

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.019
 in verse 28

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.379
 to plead with his son

00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:14.899
 and he says

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.480
 my son

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.480
 you are always

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.919
 with me

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:17.419
 and everything

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.100
 I have

00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:19.460
 is yours.

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.800
 This father

00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.660
 is so good

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:24.640
 he tenderly

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.120
 bypasses

00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.300
 all the bitterness

00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:28.940
 all the arrogance

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.440
 all the insults

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.220
 all the distortion

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.340
 of facts

00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:33.240
 all the unjust

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.259
 accusations

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:36.000
 the attacks

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.779
 on his character

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:38.000
 the rejection

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.759
 of his love

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.560
 and this father

00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.420
 is just graciously

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.120
 pleading

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.480
 with his son

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.140
 who thinks

00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.100
 he's a slave

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:47.379
 and this father

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:47.959
 of all grace

00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:48.399
 he says

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.039
 I just want you

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.000
 to know two things

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.299
 number one

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.299
 you're always with me

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:54.099
 and I'm always

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.799
 with you

00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.839
 and you can count

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.339
 on me

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:59.019
 I'm

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.740
 totally trustworthy

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.980
 and I'm absolutely

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.079
 reliable

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.859
 and I'm

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.639
 completely

00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.439
 a faithful

00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.539
 father to you

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.699
 and secondly

00:31:08.699 --> 00:31:10.299
 not only

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.980
 are you always

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.279
 with me

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.919
 but everything

00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:12.459
 I have

00:31:12.459 --> 00:31:13.079
 is yours

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:15.099
 because

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.259
 of your

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.720
 relationship

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.240
 with me

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.919
 you have

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.619
 a massive

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.199
 inheritance

00:31:19.199 --> 00:31:19.819
 you have

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.179
 an abundance

00:31:21.179 --> 00:31:21.919
 of riches

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:24.299
 don't you

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.819
 realize

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.859
 that I've

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.359
 graciously

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:26.759
 already

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.279
 given you

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.000
 all things

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.740
 how much

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:29.960
 more

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.240
 could I

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.699
 possibly

00:31:30.699 --> 00:31:31.179
 give you

00:31:31.179 --> 00:31:31.799
 don't you

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.199
 know

00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:33.159
 all the

00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:33.579
 privileges

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.079
 that you're

00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.439
 already

00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:35.119
 living in

00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:37.519
 you see

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:37.960
 the father

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.279
 hopes

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.599
 that he'll

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.000
 soften

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.699
 this hard

00:31:40.699 --> 00:31:41.079
 heart

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:41.439
 and he'll

00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:41.980
 liberate

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.339
 this

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.179
 slavish

00:31:43.179 --> 00:31:43.439
 heart

00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:43.740
 and he'll

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.039
 deliver

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.299
 this

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:44.960
 self-righteous

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.319
 heart

00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:45.579
 that's

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:45.859
 become

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.519
 more about

00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.720
 performance

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.359
 and more

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.740
 about

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.619
 outward

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.119
 appearance

00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.500
 and more

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.779
 about

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.519
 control

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:53.240
 than it

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.639
 really is

00:31:53.639 --> 00:31:53.859
 about

00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.480
 relationship

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.879
 than it

00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:55.259
 really is

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.539
 about

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.240
 the loving

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.740
 bonds

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.579
 of affection

00:31:57.579 --> 00:32:00.139
 friends

00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:00.379
 do you

00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:00.679
 hear the

00:32:00.679 --> 00:32:01.059
 father's

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.339
 pleading

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.799
 grace

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.879
 for you

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.059
 it's

00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:03.240
 this

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.799
 invitation

00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.279
 that's

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.519
 for us

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.240
 to say

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.119
 father

00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:08.599
 in my

00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:10.199
 self-righteousness

00:32:10.199 --> 00:32:10.259
!

00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:12.539
 I too

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.099
 have sinned

00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.720
 against heaven

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:15.460
 against you

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.919
 and I'm

00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:17.279
 no longer

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.859
 worthy to be

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.199
 called

00:32:18.199 --> 00:32:19.779
 your son

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:26.279
 in this

00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.700
 first son

00:32:26.700 --> 00:32:27.259
 we see

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.639
 costly

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.039
 grace

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.299
 for the

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:29.920
 self-defeated

00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.220
 in the

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.759
 second son

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.099
 we see

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.559
 pleading

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:31.980
 grace

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.259
 for the

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.980
 self-righteous

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.980
 but I want

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.180
 to say

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.480
 just a

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.000
 final word

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.259
 as we

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.599
 come to

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:36.899
 this

00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:38.139
 family

00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.740
 meal

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.099
 together

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.319
 this

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.619
 family

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.139
 feast

00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:40.779
 of joy

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:42.819
 because I

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:42.940
 think

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.220
 there's a

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:43.579
 word here

00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:43.859
 about

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.619
 reconciling

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:44.960
 grace

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.259
 for the

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.500
 family

00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:45.859
 of God

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.839
 and again

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:49.779
 the more

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.439
 time I have

00:32:50.439 --> 00:32:50.679
 on a

00:32:50.679 --> 00:32:50.919
 sermon

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:51.519
 the shorter

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:51.939
 it is

00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:52.339
 so I'm

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.619
 sorry

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.479
 Duke's

00:32:53.479 --> 00:32:53.939
 going to

00:32:53.939 --> 00:32:54.219
 the final

00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:54.559
 four

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:56.039
 and I

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.419
 just haven't

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:56.659
 had the

00:32:56.659 --> 00:32:57.019
 time

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.559
 the past

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.119
 few days

00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.899
 but listen

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.099
 to what

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.459
 the father

00:33:00.459 --> 00:33:00.959
 says

00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:01.439
 here at

00:33:01.439 --> 00:33:01.839
 the end

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:03.000
 and think

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.359
 about its

00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:03.879
 implications

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:05.959
 for what

00:33:05.959 --> 00:33:06.500
 we're to be

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:06.859
 as a

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:07.240
 family

00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.299
 the family

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.759
 of God

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.339
 he says

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:10.759
 my son

00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.099
 the father

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.339
 said

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.639
 you are

00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:11.979
 always

00:33:11.979 --> 00:33:12.359
 with me

00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:12.799
 and everything

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.439
 I have

00:33:13.439 --> 00:33:14.579
 is yours

00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:16.299
 but he

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:16.500
 says

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:16.919
 we

00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:18.399
 not just

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:18.720
 I

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.339
 but we

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.619
 had to

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:20.960
 celebrate

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.519
 and be

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:21.779
 glad

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.240
 because

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.339
 this

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.699
 brother

00:33:23.699 --> 00:33:24.259
 of yours

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.579
 not just

00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:25.939
 this son

00:33:25.939 --> 00:33:26.240
 of mine

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.559
 but this

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.839
 brother

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:27.460
 of yours

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:28.539
 was dead

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:28.839
 and is

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.439
 alive again

00:33:29.439 --> 00:33:29.839
 he was

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.279
 lost

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.699
 and he's

00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.019
 found

00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:34.559
 we don't

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:34.960
 really know

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.579
 how the

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.000
 story

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.639
 ends

00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:36.980
 right

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.419
 Jesus

00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:38.099
 again

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:39.480
 curtain

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.059
 falls

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:41.559
 cliffhanger

00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.059
 open ending

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.619
 is this

00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:44.799
 son

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.099
 coming

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.480
 inside

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:45.960
 or not

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:48.059
 is he

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.659
 going to

00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.059
 stay a

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.339
 slave

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.720
 or is he

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:49.879
 going to

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.139
 become

00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:50.539
 free

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:52.179
 is he

00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:52.419
 going to

00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:52.899
 live in

00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:53.619
 self-righteous

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:54.059
 resentment

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.619
 and bitterness

00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.079
 or is he

00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.240
 going to

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.559
 have the

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:55.960
 father's

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.339
 joy

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:58.359
 but it

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:58.639
 closes

00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:58.980
 he's

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.200
 still

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.639
 dead

00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:01.220
 and he's

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:01.379
 still

00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:01.819
 lost

00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:03.980
 and the

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.460
 implication

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.460
 of this

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.139
 open ending

00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:06.659
 for us

00:34:06.659 --> 00:34:06.899
 as the

00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.139
 family

00:34:07.139 --> 00:34:07.599
 of God

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:07.839
 is

00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.719
 Jesus

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.340
 is calling

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.159
 us

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.339
 to have

00:34:11.339 --> 00:34:11.739
 God's

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.139
 own

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.739
 beating

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:13.219
 heart

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.619
 for

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:13.920
 sinners

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.940
 he wants

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.399
 the heart

00:34:16.399 --> 00:34:16.960
 of God

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:18.519
 to be

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.699
 our heart

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:21.379
 and so the

00:34:21.379 --> 00:34:22.039
 question as we

00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.619
 come to this

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:22.960
 table

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.359
 and we

00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:25.119
 commit ourselves

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:25.639
 and renew

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.359
 our relationship

00:34:26.359 --> 00:34:27.219
 with this

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:27.699
 amazing

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.199
 gracious

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:28.819
 good

00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:29.599
 generous

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.480
 and glorious

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:30.940
 father

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:32.819
 the question

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.239
 for us

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:33.759
 is if God

00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.179
 the father

00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:34.819
 is daily

00:34:34.819 --> 00:34:35.420
 scanning

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.639
 the horizon

00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.379
 he's daily

00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:38.239
 seeking

00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.899
 for the

00:34:38.899 --> 00:34:39.519
 lost to be

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:39.899
 found

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.240
 and the

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:40.500
 dead

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.000
 to be

00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:41.639
 made

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.079
 alive

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.400
 and for

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:42.740
 people

00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.000
 that are

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.800
 far off

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.840
 in a

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.079
 far

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.619
 country

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.059
 coming

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.660
 back

00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:46.960
 to their

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.240
 true

00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:47.720
 home

00:34:47.720 --> 00:34:49.160
 how can

00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:49.480
 we

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:49.820
 as

00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:50.420
 sons

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:50.760
 of the

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.019
 father

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.500
 and daughters

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:51.780
 of the

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.000
 father

00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.800
 not also

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.320
 be seeking

00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.039
 those same

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.420
 people

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:55.700
 that the

00:34:55.700 --> 00:34:56.000
 father

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.480
 is seeking

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:58.720
 and if

00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.059
 God

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.420
 himself

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.139
 is running

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:00.680
 down the

00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:01.099
 road

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.700
 for

00:35:01.700 --> 00:35:02.480
 alienated

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:02.860
 sinners

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.200
 with

00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.200
 undeserved

00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:04.980
 costly

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.400
 grace

00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.039
 to welcome

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.519
 them

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.420
 warmly

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.860
 into

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.740
 his

00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:09.099
 feast

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.539
 the question

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:09.900
 is how

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.239
 could we

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:10.440
 do

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:10.840
 anything

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:11.320
 less

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:13.559
 and if

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.900
 God

00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:14.599
 is embracing

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.800
 all the

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.239
 strangers

00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:16.679
 around you

00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:16.980
 if you look

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.420
 around you

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:17.860
 there's probably

00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:19.000
 a few people

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.480
 that you just

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.820
 don't even

00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.119
 know

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.960
 absolute

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.599
 strangers

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.159
 if God

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:23.239
 is embracing

00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:23.820
 all the

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.239
 strangers

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.639
 who are

00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.219
 sitting around

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.699
 you with

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.259
 compassion

00:35:26.259 --> 00:35:27.659
 and calling

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.159
 them his

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.719
 sons and

00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.259
 his daughters

00:35:29.259 --> 00:35:31.159
 how can

00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:31.980
 we not

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.579
 embrace them

00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.039
 as well

00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:35.820
 and reach

00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.340
 out to them

00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:36.940
 and begin

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.260
 to build

00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:37.740
 relationships

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.320
 with them

00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:39.620
 to say

00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:40.079
 well you're

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:40.500
 a son

00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:40.700
 of the

00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:40.920
 father

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.320
 so you're

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.780
 my brother

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:43.500
 and you're

00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:43.860
 a daughter

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.100
 of the

00:35:44.100 --> 00:35:44.300
 father

00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:44.700
 so you're

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.559
 my sister

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:47.559
 you know

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:47.960
 if God

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:48.579
 has declared

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.120
 someone

00:35:49.120 --> 00:35:50.600
 in his

00:35:50.600 --> 00:35:50.980
 family

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.480
 forgiven

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:53.600
 who

00:35:53.600 --> 00:35:54.420
 are we

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.500
 to not

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.820
 also

00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.200
 forgive

00:35:56.200 --> 00:35:56.480
 them

00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.780
 if God

00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:01.440
 if God

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.880
 looks at the

00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:02.440
 person that's

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:02.900
 sitting next

00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:03.240
 to you

00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:03.679
 today

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.299
 or the

00:36:05.299 --> 00:36:05.599
 person

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.039
 sitting

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:06.959
 next to

00:36:06.959 --> 00:36:07.099
 you

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:07.319
 later

00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:07.559
 this

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:07.859
 week

00:36:07.859 --> 00:36:08.119
 in your

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.500
 community

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:08.859
 group

00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.279
 and he

00:36:09.279 --> 00:36:10.439
 he's

00:36:10.439 --> 00:36:10.819
 declared

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:12.959
 that person

00:36:12.959 --> 00:36:13.559
 is no longer

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.119
 lost but

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.539
 they're found

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.099
 they're no longer

00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:16.099
 dead but

00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:16.919
 they're alive

00:36:16.919 --> 00:36:18.719
 and if he's

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.679
 rejoicing over

00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.459
 that person

00:36:20.459 --> 00:36:21.659
 then who are

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.099
 we to have

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.559
 a cold

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.079
 and a hard

00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:23.439
 heart

00:36:23.439 --> 00:36:24.279
 toward them

00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:26.339
 who are

00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:26.739
 we to be

00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:27.099
 lacking

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:28.179
 in joy

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:28.579
 who are

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.259
 we to

00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:29.679
 refuse

00:36:29.679 --> 00:36:30.379
 the father's

00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:30.819
 joy that

00:36:30.819 --> 00:36:31.379
 he has

00:36:31.379 --> 00:36:32.099
 for that

00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:32.359
 other

00:36:32.359 --> 00:36:32.779
 person

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:35.360
 you see

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:35.880
 if God

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:37.440
 has accepted

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:38.380
 people who

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:38.880
 are coming

00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.580
 to this

00:36:39.580 --> 00:36:40.000
 table

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.800
 with his

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.400
 most precious

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:42.880
 gifts

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:44.760
 if God

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:45.720
 has spared

00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:46.840
 no expense

00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:47.519
 to restore

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.019
 them from

00:36:48.019 --> 00:36:49.260
 absolute shame

00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:50.400
 to the

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.260
 highest place

00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:51.780
 of honor

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:53.400
 if God

00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:53.760
 has given

00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.220
 them his

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:54.780
 robe and

00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:55.320
 his ring

00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:55.640
 and his

00:36:55.640 --> 00:36:56.100
 sandals

00:36:56.100 --> 00:36:56.420
 and his

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:56.860
 fattened

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.240
 calf

00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.560
 then how

00:36:58.560 --> 00:36:58.860
 can we

00:36:58.860 --> 00:36:59.340
 not also

00:36:59.340 --> 00:36:59.860
 accept

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.420
 and honor

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.940
 those

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:02.860
 whom God

00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.420
 has accepted

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:03.940
 and honored

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.360
 at great

00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:04.860
 cost

00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:05.960
 to himself

00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:08.800
 Paul says

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.220
 the apostle

00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:09.760
 Paul in

00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.280
 Romans 12

00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:10.659
 he says

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.659
 be devoted

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.099
 to one

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.440
 another

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:14.579
 and honor

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.099
 one another

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:16.059
 above yourselves

00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:18.599
 another translation

00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.340
 says love

00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:19.760
 one another

00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:20.280
 with mutual

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.720
 affection

00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.940
 and outdo

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.559
 one another

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.940
 in showing

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:24.420
 honor

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:26.840
 you see the

00:37:26.840 --> 00:37:27.400
 father's not

00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:27.840
 only seeking

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.420
 to reconcile

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.179
 his sons

00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.000
 to himself

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:32.419
 but what he

00:37:32.419 --> 00:37:32.839
 wants to do

00:37:32.839 --> 00:37:33.500
 is reconcile

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.179
 his sinful

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:34.179


00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:34.759
 kids

00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:35.940
 with each

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.219
 other

00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:37.960
 and the

00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:38.480
 question of

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:38.980
 this parable

00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:40.119
 is will

00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:40.940
 this family

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.219
 of the

00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:41.579
 father

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:43.799
 be reunited

00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:43.799


00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:44.679
 in love?

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.839
 Will this

00:37:46.839 --> 00:37:47.419
 family of the

00:37:47.419 --> 00:37:48.059
 father live

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:48.699
 together in

00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.119
 unity

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:50.579
 and joy

00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:52.099
 and peace?

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.419
 Will we

00:37:54.419 --> 00:37:55.299
 as the people

00:37:55.299 --> 00:37:55.779
 of God

00:37:55.779 --> 00:37:57.299
 learn how to

00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:57.919
 live happily

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:59.599
 ever after

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:01.360
 given all

00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:01.740
 that God

00:38:01.740 --> 00:38:02.180
 has done

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:03.119
 to make

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.800
 that possible?

00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:05.940
 So I want

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.280
 you to think

00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:06.840
 about that

00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:08.200
 as we come

00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:08.760
 to this table

00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:10.180
 in the name

00:38:10.180 --> 00:38:10.559
 of the father

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:10.940
 son and

00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:11.500
 holy spirit

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.519
 amen