WEBVTT

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 The book of Luke, chapter 15, on page 1048.

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 And we're going to be thinking together about what will be for many of us a very familiar parable.

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 From verse 11 onwards, but we're going to read the whole chapter.

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 The parable of our generous, joyful God.

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 So Luke 15, page 1048, beginning at verse 1.

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 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear him.

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 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,

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 This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.

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 Then Jesus told them this parable.

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 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.

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 Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

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 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.

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 Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says,

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 Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep.

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 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents

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 than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

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 Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.

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 Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

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 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says,

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 Rejoice with me, I have found my lost coin.

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 In the same way I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God

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 over one sinner who repents.

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 Jesus continued,

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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,

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 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,

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 set off for a distant country,

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 and there squandered his wealth and wild living.

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 After he had spent everything,

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 there was a severe famine 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 to a citizen of that country

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 who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

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 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating,

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 but no one gave him anything.

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 When he came to his senses, he said,

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 How many of my father's hired men have food to spare,

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 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,

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 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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 Make me like one of your hired men.

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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,

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 his father saw him and was filled with compassion 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,

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 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,

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 Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him.

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 And put a ring on his finger and sandals 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 this 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,

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 And your father has killed the fattened calf because 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,

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 Look, all these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed 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 prostitutes, comes home,

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 you kill the fattened calf for him.

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 My son, the father said,

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 You are always with me and everything I have is yours.

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 But we had to celebrate and be glad

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 because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again.

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 He was lost and is found.

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 Stories are powerful things, aren't they?

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 Salman Rushdie, the author,

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 said that those who do not have the power over the story that dominates their lives

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 truly are powerless because they cannot think new thoughts.

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 And if we were to ask someone who was always told,

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 You'll never amount to anything, I'm sure that they would agree.

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 If we were to go into a culture where your class or your caste determines your work and your future,

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 your friendships, your station in life,

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 I'm sure they would understand that stories can become like weapons.

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 They can be a way to keep people down.

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 In a way, they can extinguish hope.

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 They can say, Well, we are on the side that is right and you, you are permanent outsiders.

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 Just ask the religious outsiders of Jesus' day.

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 What was the story that they heard?

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 When we look at these first couple of verses,

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 as we have the scene,

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 why Jesus tells the parable,

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 we've got tax collectors,

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 we've got sinners gathering round to hear Jesus

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 because they knew there was a different story.

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 And then you've got the Pharisees and the teachers of the law

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 complaining about Jesus spending time with the sinners

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 because the story that they told,

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 the dominant religious group,

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 they told the story that the world is divided into good guys and bad guys.

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 There is them and there is us.

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 The good guys, well, we are pure.

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 We keep God's law.

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 Well, God is pleased with us.

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 But for the bad guys,

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 the ones who are not like us,

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 well, there's no hope for you.

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 You can't make the grade.

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 You are outside of God's care.

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 Jesus offers hope.

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 But sadly, sadly, this is how some people think about Christianity.

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 Maybe this is the story that you grew up with, perhaps,

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 that Christianity is about keep these rules,

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 attain to this standard,

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 and if you do, God may be happy with you.

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 But if not, you are doomed to be on the outside.

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 Jesus is someone who knows the power of story,

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 which is why he tells so many stories.

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 He tells those stories, those parables,

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 to correct distortions,

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 distortions,

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 to bring true thoughts of God,

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 where the story of God's mercy and grace

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 had been sidelined.

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 He brings stories that bring hope,

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 that extend hope to all.

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 And Jesus also tells these stories in particular

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 to defend and to explain his mission.

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 He spends time with the social,

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 moral, religious outsiders,

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 and people looked at him

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 and wondered why in the world he would do that.

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 And so Jesus tells these stories

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 to say that his mission is rooted in the mission of God

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 and displays the heart of God to us.

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 So let's look at this story that Jesus tells

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 in order to fix the distortions that were around in his day,

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 perhaps distortions that exist in our own hearts

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 as we come to think about God.

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 But the story begins in verse 11

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 with a rejected father.

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 We're going to concentrate on the father in the story

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 and it begins with a father who is rejected.

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 So we discover in verse 11,

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 there is a man, he has two sons,

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 and one of those sons, the younger,

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 comes with a very shocking request.

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 Shocking in any culture probably,

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 but here in a culture where to disrespect

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 or to abandon, to fail to show care to your father

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 could be considered a crime,

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 this is a truly horrible thing to say.

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 Effectively saying,

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 Father, I can't wait till you're dead.

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 I want my share of the inheritance right now.

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 Here is a son with very little care for his father.

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 He just wants his father's stuff.

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 And we see that because very quickly after,

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 in verse 13,

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 he leaves home.

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 He wants to run wild and free.

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 Life with the father is restricting my freedom.

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 Now the shackles are off.

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 Now I can have the kind of life I always imagined.

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 Maybe some of us have lived that story

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 as the father or as the son perhaps.

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 How does this father respond to the disrespect

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 and the rejection that he experiences?

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 He doesn't do what some in the culture would expect.

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 He doesn't say,

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 absolutely not.

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 Or he doesn't beat him or disown him

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 or throw him out.

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 Rather,

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 we're told,

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 the end of verse 12,

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 he divided his property between them.

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 That word property is the word bios.

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 It's a reminder that here he is dividing

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 those resources that he has for living on.

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 The father bears the cost of this painful rejection.

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 And here we find in just a few short sentences

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 in a couple of scenes,

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 Jesus invites us into the drama of human history

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 and the story of our rejection of our creator,

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 of our father.

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 Because all of us at some point or another in our lives

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 have said to God,

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 I will live in your worlds.

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 I will enjoy your good gifts.

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 I will take your generosity,

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 but I don't want you.

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 All of us have at different times

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 and in different ways said,

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 I love the created things,

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 I'm just not that interested in the creator.

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 There are different times

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 and in different ways

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 we have chosen to love

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 and honor

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 and value

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 other things

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 and other people

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 rather than

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 giving true worship

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 and ultimate value

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 to God.

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 This is our story.

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 To turn your back on your family,

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 it is one thing.

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 And this disrespect

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 perhaps shocks us

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 and it should shock us.

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 But to turn our back on our God.

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 And what we discover here

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 is that all of Jesus' audience

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 is included

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 in this rejection

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 of the creator.

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 Perhaps the Pharisees

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 at this point in the story

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 were sitting by

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 kind of smugly thinking,

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 well,

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 those bad guys over there

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 might have rejected God,

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 but not us.

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 But then you get to the end

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 of the story,

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 verses 28 and 29,

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 you see

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 the older brother,

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 the good living one,

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 the one who represents

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 the religious folks.

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 He also treats

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 the father shamefully.

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 And what we discover

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 is that all of us

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 without exception

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 are indicted

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 as we read of

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 a rejected father.

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 We're drawn into

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 the story.

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 The story moves on.

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 There is a rejected father,

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 but we see

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 the story

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 of an incredibly

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 generous father.

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 So the story

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 for the younger son

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 does not go well.

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 We read it there,

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 verses 13 to 16.

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 He'd hoped for freedom.

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 Essentially,

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 he found slavery.

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 Life without restrictions

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 has not brought him

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 the endless joy

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 he was hoping for.

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 It's brought him

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 into misery.

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 It's brought him

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 into shame.

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 It's brought him

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 near to death.

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 So that in verse 17,

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 there is a transition.

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 He comes

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 to his senses.

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 He begins to think

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 in his misery

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 and he resolves

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 certain things.

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 He resolves,

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 first of all,

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 to return.

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 I'm going to go back

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 to my father's house

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 because at least there

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 I won't starve to death.

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 Crucially,

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 he resolves

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 to repent.

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 He resolves

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 to acknowledge

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 that before God

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 and before his father,

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 he has sinned

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 in the way

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 he has treated

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 his father.

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 And he also resolves

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 in his own heart

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 that he's going to try

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 and repay

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 his father back.

00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:18.400
 He doesn't expect

00:13:18.400 --> 00:13:19.040
 to get a place

00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.259
 at the family table again

00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:20.640
 but he thinks,

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:21.180
 well, perhaps

00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:23.220
 if I work for my dad

00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.460
 then I can repay

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.879
 some of that disgrace.

00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.120
 Perhaps I can repay

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.860
 some of the money.

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.240
 So he comes

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.960
 to his senses,

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.640
 he makes these resolves

00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.860
 and he begins

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.580
 to head

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:36.939
 for home.

00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:39.399
 But what happens

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.799
 as he gets near

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.960
 to the family farm?

00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:43.019
 Look with me

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.039
 at verse 20.

00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.240
 While he was still

00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.240
 a long way off,

00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:49.019
 his father saw him

00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:50.340
 and was filled

00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:51.080
 with compassion

00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:51.580
 for him.

00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:52.980
 He ran to his son

00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.600
 through his arms

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.279
 around him

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.779
 and kissed him.

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.340
 The son hadn't

00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:57.980
 recognized

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.840
 the size

00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.639
 of the father's heart.

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.519
 He hadn't

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.559
 comprehended

00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.799
 the depth

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.699
 of his father's

00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:07.600
 love.

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.240
 He hadn't

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.439
 appreciated fully

00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.220
 the extent

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.860
 of his father's

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.139
 generosity.

00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:16.399
 Here we see

00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.519
 a longing father

00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:20.720
 who saw his son

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.960
 while he was still

00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:22.939
 a long way off.

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.759
 The implication,

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:24.879
 he's always looking,

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:26.340
 he's always hoping,

00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:28.039
 and when he sees him,

00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.159
 he's filled with what?

00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.699
 Not bitterness,

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.579
 not resentment,

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.419
 but compassion.

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.699
 His instinct

00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:38.679
 is to love

00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:39.899
 and to show

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.159
 mercy.

00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:41.600
 It's a longing

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.139
 father,

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.399
 it's a loving

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:44.659
 father who embraced

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.459
 this boy

00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:46.539
 in his filth,

00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.939
 in his shame,

00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.600
 in his starvation,

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.539
 who doesn't

00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.879
 keep him at a distance

00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.139
 saying,

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:52.240
 well,

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.360
 I told you so.

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.159
 He doesn't involve

00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.819
 him in some kind

00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:57.259
 of shaming ceremony.

00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.259
 Rather,

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.980
 he embraces him

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:02.000
 with love.

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:04.759
 For the people

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.659
 listening to Jesus,

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.279
 they would have been

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.960
 shocked by this

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.580
 father's generous

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.120
 grace.

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.200
 It shocks because

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.899
 it is so open,

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.240
 it's so free.

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.560
 This father gives

00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.639
 to his son exactly

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.519
 what he does

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.399
 not deserve.

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.800
 In verse 21,

00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:22.820
 he receives

00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:24.920
 generous forgiveness.

00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.959
 So notice the father,

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.439
 the son comes to the

00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:30.019
 father and confesses

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.399
 sin.

00:15:33.479 --> 00:15:34.719
 And if the son

00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:35.219
 had been able

00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:35.939
 to continue

00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.620
 with his planned

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.599
 dialogue,

00:15:38.839 --> 00:15:39.279
 he would have said,

00:15:39.339 --> 00:15:39.419
 well,

00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.579
 I know I'm not worthy

00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:41.379
 to be called a son,

00:15:41.479 --> 00:15:42.159
 but you can make me

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.899
 into a servant.

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.240
 But what does the

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.799
 father do?

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.379
 He accepts the son's

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.639
 confession of his sin

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.460
 and he refuses

00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.860
 to leave him

00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.819
 outside of the family.

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.139
 He doesn't say,

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:53.360
 okay,

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:53.539
 well,

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.460
 let's put you on

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:56.179
 probation for a while

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.600
 and let's see how you

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.500
 go with earning

00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:59.360
 my respect

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.139
 and my trust.

00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:01.460
 He doesn't ask him

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.620
 to prove that he's

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.480
 really sorry.

00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:05.100
 He receives

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.819
 the confession

00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.720
 and he welcomes

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.580
 him back in.

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.920
 And it's a generous

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.020
 welcome.

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.520
 Look what happens

00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:13.140
 to the boy

00:16:13.140 --> 00:16:14.220
 in verse 22.

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.500
 He's welcomed

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.660
 not as a hired

00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.200
 worker,

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.780
 but as a valued

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:19.620
 family member.

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.300
 He gets

00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:22.500
 the indicators

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.340
 of being part

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:23.940
 of the family.

00:16:24.140 --> 00:16:24.540
 He gets

00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.680
 the ring.

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.240
 He gets

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.720
 the quality clothes,

00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.400
 the robe,

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.580
 and the

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.700
 sandals.

00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:32.040
 This is a

00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:33.300
 personal message

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.220
 to the son

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.120
 who was afraid

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.419
 of what response

00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.000
 he would get.

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.980
 You are my son

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.220
 and I love you.

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.620
 And this is also

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.200
 a very public message

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.460
 because the whole

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.740
 community will be

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.639
 involved in the feast

00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.519
 and the whole community

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.240
 will see this father

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:51.179
 receiving the son

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.120
 back with joy.

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.039
 This grace is to be

00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:56.379
 celebrated and shared

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.539
 and there is this

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.799
 celebration.

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.159
 And again,

00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.919
 it's not just

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.180
 the basics.

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.659
 The boy comes back

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:05.099
 starving close to death.

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.199
 The father doesn't

00:17:07.199 --> 00:17:08.459
 throw him a crusty

00:17:08.459 --> 00:17:09.399
 loaf of bread.

00:17:09.399 --> 00:17:10.519
 What he does

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.559
 in verse

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.959
 23 is

00:17:13.959 --> 00:17:15.239
 he orders

00:17:15.239 --> 00:17:16.239
 that the fattened

00:17:16.239 --> 00:17:16.739
 calf

00:17:16.739 --> 00:17:17.959
 be killed.

00:17:18.459 --> 00:17:19.239
 That there be this

00:17:19.239 --> 00:17:20.519
 great feast

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.819
 where only the best

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.179
 will do.

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.399
 This fattened calf

00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.279
 usually saved maybe

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.339
 for a family wedding.

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.979
 Here there is

00:17:25.979 --> 00:17:27.059
 celebration because

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.419
 this boy to all

00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:29.359
 intents and purposes

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.500
 was dead.

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.039
 But now

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.319
 to the father

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.579
 he is alive.

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.379
 And so

00:17:34.379 --> 00:17:35.119
 there is

00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.179
 celebration.

00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:37.019
 What is Jesus

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.419
 doing here?

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.460
 He's recovering

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.439
 for us

00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:43.119
 the true

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.079
 story

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.439
 that the Pharisees

00:17:45.439 --> 00:17:46.099
 had lost.

00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.619
 The true story

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.419
 of God's

00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:49.139
 character.

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.559
 Of God's

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.119
 heart.

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.339
 God is not

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.399
 mean

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:54.980
 spirited.

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.460
 If that's your

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:58.319
 picture of God

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.059
 then it's not

00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.500
 a true picture

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.139
 as Jesus

00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:02.320
 points out

00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:02.800
 to us.

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.800
 God is

00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:04.460
 generous

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.340
 to prodigal

00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:06.900
 sons.

00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.500
 To prodigal

00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:08.920
 daughters.

00:18:09.040 --> 00:18:09.400
 To those

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:09.840
 who have

00:18:09.840 --> 00:18:10.780
 made a

00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:12.040
 mess of

00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:12.920
 life

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.520
 perhaps.

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.340
 He doesn't

00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:15.920
 leave us

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.660
 asking

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.700
 have I

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.040
 been

00:18:19.040 --> 00:18:19.680
 sorry

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.120
 enough?

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.160
 Have I

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.800
 repented

00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:22.280
 enough

00:18:22.280 --> 00:18:23.200
 that God

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.580
 will

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.620
 take me

00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.240
 to be

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.900
 one of

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.420
 his?

00:18:27.040 --> 00:18:27.560
 Rather

00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:27.940
 what we

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.400
 discover

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.100
 this is a

00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:29.480
 love that

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:29.900
 is not

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:30.500
 earned.

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:31.940
 It's a

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.500
 love that's

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.460
 freely given

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.000
 to all

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.420
 who come

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:34.840
 to him.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:35.900
 And it's

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.259
 a love

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.740
 that it's

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.100
 extravagantly

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.980
 given.

00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:40.040
 Grace

00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:41.500
 is beautiful

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:43.300
 in its

00:18:43.300 --> 00:18:44.940
 expansiveness.

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.180
 So here

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.860
 is hope

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:48.740
 for prodigals

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.940
 everywhere.

00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:51.460
 A hope

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:51.860
 that the

00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.580
 Pharisees

00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.560
 tried to

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.160
 deny.

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.320
 The hope

00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:56.180
 that a

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.960
 works-based

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.620
 religion

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.740
 most certainly

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.360
 denies.

00:18:59.500 --> 00:18:59.740
 There is

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.279
 hope

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.079
 here.

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.039
 No matter

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.600
 who we

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:02.960
 are,

00:19:03.340 --> 00:19:03.640
 no matter

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.380
 what we've

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:04.559
 done,

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:04.920
 no matter

00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.240
 what our

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.000
 experiences

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.079
 have been,

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.759
 here is

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.059
 a loving

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.579
 father.

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.700
 God the

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.279
 loving

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.720
 father with

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.640
 arms open

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.720
 wide to

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.740
 receive any

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.640
 who like

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.100
 this son

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:19.000
 will say

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.559
 sorry for

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:20.920
 sin,

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.340
 who will

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:21.940
 turn to

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.000
 him in

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.500
 faith.

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.700
 Here is

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.380
 hope to

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.800
 for our

00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:28.640
 prodigals,

00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:30.560
 the family

00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.040
 members,

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.720
 the friends

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.000
 that cause

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.120
 us heartache

00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.160
 because of

00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.960
 life choices

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.580
 and where

00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:36.980
 they're at

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.460
 right now.

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.520
 Here is a

00:19:38.520 --> 00:19:39.200
 reminder to

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.340
 us,

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:39.740
 God is

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.460
 generous in

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.960
 his grace,

00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:41.420
 so we are

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:41.860
 to keep

00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.600
 praying for

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:42.900
 them,

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.360
 to keep

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.660
 loving them,

00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:46.720
 to keep

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.380
 looking to

00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.120
 this father

00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.180
 that Jesus

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.200
 speaks of,

00:19:50.260 --> 00:19:50.920
 to remember

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.800
 the hope of

00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.380
 the gospel

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:52.900
 and Jesus,

00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.980
 the one who

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.600
 goes to the

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.059
 ends of

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.579
 the earth

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.500
 in order

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.199
 to bring

00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:58.519
 people back

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.199
 home to

00:19:59.199 --> 00:19:59.679
 God.

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.199
 How do we

00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:02.500
 see this

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.559
 generosity

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.779
 working itself

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.939
 out in the

00:20:05.939 --> 00:20:07.419
 story of

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:08.299
 Jesus?

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.119
 In verse

00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:11.039
 24 we have

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.619
 these words

00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:11.980
 from the

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.339
 father,

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.099
 this son of

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.559
 mine was

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.059
 dead and

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.579
 is alive

00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:14.839
 again,

00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:15.139
 he was

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.240
 lost and

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.719
 is found.

00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:17.899
 How is it

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.039
 that spiritually

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.419
 dead people

00:20:20.419 --> 00:20:22.339
 find life?

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:24.579
 How is it

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.039
 that people

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.399
 who are

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.319
 lost and

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.279
 far from

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.579
 God are

00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:29.619
 found by

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.859
 him and

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.679
 find a way

00:20:31.679 --> 00:20:32.199
 home?

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.459
 What's

00:20:34.459 --> 00:20:35.039
 through Jesus?

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.099
 Remember,

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.899
 this parable

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.519
 is Jesus

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.539
 defending his

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.639
 mission and

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:41.059
 what characterizes

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.559
 Jesus'

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.079
 mission?

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.500
 It's a

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.179
 rescue mission

00:20:44.179 --> 00:20:44.919
 of grace.

00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:46.939
 That's why the

00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:47.619
 Pharisees couldn't

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.240
 understand him.

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.859
 He spends

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:50.059
 time loving,

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.179
 serving,

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.460
 seeking to

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.060
 save the

00:20:53.060 --> 00:20:53.420
 weak,

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.060
 the lost,

00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:54.740
 the sinful

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.519
 because that's

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.140
 what he came

00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.700
 to do.

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.820
 That's what he

00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.519
 came to do

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.960
 for us.

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.820
 He came to

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.259
 do that

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.940
 ultimately

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.120
 at the

00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.480
 cross.

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.480
 He would

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.400
 give himself

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.180
 to death

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.700
 for our

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.580
 sin so

00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.000
 that through

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.940
 him we

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:09.560
 might know

00:21:09.560 --> 00:21:10.400
 true life.

00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.200
 He was the

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.580
 one on the

00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:13.039
 cross who

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.440
 became lost

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.200
 to his

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.320
 father so

00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:16.620
 that through

00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.259
 faith in him

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:17.900
 we might be

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:19.299
 found by

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.920
 the father

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.200
 and welcomed

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.700
 home with

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.820
 joy.

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.820
 The generosity

00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:26.880
 that is spoken

00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.460
 of in this

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.240
 parable we

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.380
 see most

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:31.380
 clearly at

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:32.240
 the cross.

00:21:32.800 --> 00:21:33.560
 That's the

00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:34.380
 generosity that

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.180
 we are invited

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.900
 to respond

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.400
 to.

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.440
 Jesus knew

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.539
 the generous

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.340
 grace of

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.300
 God and he

00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:42.880
 came to

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.240
 demonstrate for

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.279
 us the

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.300
 generous grace

00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:46.800
 of God.

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.900
 That influenced

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.779
 his rescue

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.240
 mission.

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.500
 For those

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.259
 of you who

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.299
 are part of

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.000
 this church I

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.599
 hope you had a

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.259
 chance to read

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.099
 the latest

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:57.139
 newsletter from

00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:58.099
 Emmanuel

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.619
 Rianno, one

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.220
 of our members

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.859
 who's serving

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.599
 in Colombia.

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.920
 If you haven't

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.740
 it's out on

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.339
 the board

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.559
 there.

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.000
 There's a

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.799
 great story

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.500
 there of a

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.759
 pastor, a

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.379
 pastor by the

00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:08.700
 name of

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.819
 Pastor Amilcar

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.359
 and he felt

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.119
 God calling

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.460
 him into a

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.319
 new sphere of

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.139
 service, called

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.680
 to go and

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.879
 make disciples

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.000
 of a particular

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.060
 kind.

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.500
 And so what

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.500
 Pastor Amilcar

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.320
 now does in

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.060
 his Colombian

00:22:24.060 --> 00:22:24.820
 town is he

00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.480
 will drive

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.140
 around in his

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.700
 pickup truck and

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.720
 he'll look for

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.760
 the guys who

00:22:29.760 --> 00:22:31.440
 are lying drunk

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.080
 on the pavement

00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:34.020
 or drugged on

00:22:34.020 --> 00:22:34.500
 the pavement,

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.220
 those who are

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.100
 kind of in a

00:22:36.100 --> 00:22:37.300
 real state because

00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:38.080
 of various

00:22:38.080 --> 00:22:38.820
 circumstances.

00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:39.860
 And he'll take

00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.380
 them into his

00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:40.960
 pickup, he'll

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.580
 take them back

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.280
 to church, he'll

00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:43.060
 give them a meal,

00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:44.420
 he'll wash them

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.280
 up and he'll share

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.000
 the good news

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.660
 of Jesus with

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.119
 them.

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.619
 Why?

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.579
 Because he is

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.180
 somebody who has

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.039
 known the grace

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.899
 of the Lord Jesus

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.839
 in his own life

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.819
 in that same

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.759
 way.

00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.839
 God's rescue

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.259
 mission to us

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.299
 influences the

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.220
 rescue mission we

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.240
 are to engage in

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.759
 for others.

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.379
 And here's this

00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:08.379
 wonderful reminder

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:10.019
 that no one is

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.039
 beyond the grace

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.720
 and forgiveness

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.619
 of our generous

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:14.579
 and joyful God

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:16.139
 that by trusting

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:17.519
 in this Jesus

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.739
 to forgive and

00:23:18.739 --> 00:23:19.779
 save us

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.739
 that you and I

00:23:21.739 --> 00:23:22.279
 we can be

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.439
 welcomed into

00:23:23.439 --> 00:23:24.379
 the family of

00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:25.619
 God, whoever

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:27.339
 we are, whoever

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.939
 we've been, because

00:23:28.939 --> 00:23:30.139
 God is this

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:31.539
 generous Father.

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.239
 So it's the story

00:23:34.239 --> 00:23:34.879
 of a generous

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.739
 Father, it's also

00:23:35.739 --> 00:23:37.619
 the story of a

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.399
 joyful Father.

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:39.519
 Father.

00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:41.500
 It's a really

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.100
 interesting parable

00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:43.680
 this one because

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.519
 it almost has

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.800
 two endings.

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.120
 You know we

00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:47.360
 could stop at

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.540
 verse 24 and

00:23:48.540 --> 00:23:49.100
 we'd have the

00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:50.519
 happily ever after

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.560
 ending, the

00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:52.200
 ending most of

00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.920
 our children's

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.759
 storybook Bibles

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.300
 have.

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.280
 But this

00:23:55.280 --> 00:23:56.860
 parable has

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:58.060
 a twist.

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.800
 It's got as it

00:23:58.800 --> 00:24:00.160
 were a second

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.100
 ending because it

00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.900
 reminds us there's

00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:03.860
 another brother in

00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.800
 the story and as

00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:06.060
 the story goes,

00:24:06.780 --> 00:24:07.680
 as this brother

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.640
 hears the good

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.300
 news of his

00:24:09.300 --> 00:24:09.900
 brother being

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.140
 safe and alive

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.620
 and there being

00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:12.200
 joy.

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.540
 We see in

00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:14.440
 verse 28, we

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.240
 see anger, we

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.300
 see refusal to

00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:18.880
 come in, we hear

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.560
 this brother's

00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.840
 accusations against

00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:22.380
 the Father, we

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:24.740
 feel his anger and

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.620
 injustice burning.

00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:28.500
 What's happened is

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.720
 the generous grace

00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.380
 of his father has

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:33.940
 now exposed what

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.220
 lurks in this

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.460
 elder brother's

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.180
 heart.

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.279
 heart.

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.200
 So he'll say to

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.100
 his dad, this

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:41.200
 dad, this dad that

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.100
 we've just met,

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.960
 verse 29, you're

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.380
 like a slave driver.

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:47.440
 That's how distorted

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.920
 his thinking was

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.340
 about his father.

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.759
 He thinks that a

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.900
 place in the family

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.420
 is based on

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:56.320
 earning approval.

00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.180
 He's got it so

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.019
 badly wrong.

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.859
 And this father, this

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:04.200
 generous father, this

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:06.059
 joyful father, in

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:07.480
 verse 28, goes out

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:09.819
 to plead with this

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.299
 son, saying to him

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.680
 in verse 31, my

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.920
 son, you're always

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.000
 with me and

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.619
 everything I have is

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:16.859
 yours.

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.339
 In other words,

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.359
 remember the right

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.279
 to sonship is

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.480
 yours.

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.240
 Just ask.

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.440
 Don't stay outside in

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.639
 your misery and your

00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.519
 anger.

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.299
 Just ask.

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:28.220
 And you too can be

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.819
 experiencing this

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.399
 joy.

00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.119
 And then he says to

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.119
 this son who's

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.440
 harboring so much

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:36.500
 anger, who's so

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:39.319
 disgruntled, verse

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:41.899
 32, we had to

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.799
 celebrate and be

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.879
 glad because this

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.779
 brother of yours was

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.779
 dead and is alive

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.220
 again.

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.960
 He was lost and is

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.240
 found.

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:51.140
 It is essential to

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.099
 the character of his

00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.400
 father.

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.519
 It's essential to the

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.160
 heart of his father

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.339
 that he had to

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.900
 rejoice at this

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.980
 great restoration

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.960
 that's taking place.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.380
 That he gets to

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:02.539
 welcome this son

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.559
 home.

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.680
 But we have an

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.620
 older brother who's

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.140
 miserable.

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.259
 He's miserable

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.720
 because he's

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.700
 trying to earn by

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:14.440
 merit what can

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.559
 only be enjoyed by

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.200
 grace.

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.420
 And that's a

00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.599
 miserable place to

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:18.960
 be.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.559
 Where you're always

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.519
 comparing just like

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:21.920
 this brother.

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.700
 Well hang on a

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:22.759
 minute.

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:24.120
 I live better than

00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:25.000
 this guy.

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.759
 Never confident of

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.599
 the father's

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.620
 unconditional love

00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:33.660
 because we make it

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.799
 about ourselves

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.779
 rather than the

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:37.839
 generous grace of

00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.839
 father God.

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.579
 That was the way the

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.640
 Pharisees minds

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.140
 worked.

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.839
 And that's the way

00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.480
 a religious system

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.359
 based on works and

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:49.059
 performance operates.

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:51.440
 that I can feel

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.440
 good if I think

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.259
 that I have made

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.920
 the grade.

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.940
 But will I ever

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.720
 know if I've made

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.279
 the grade?

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.140
 And then there's

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.019
 moments of despair

00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.519
 when things go

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.620
 badly.

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.359
 Perhaps again this is

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.259
 your idea of how

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.759
 Christianity operates.

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:08.440
 And Jesus tells this

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:10.200
 story to bring us

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.980
 true thoughts about

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.339
 God.

00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.279
 And true thoughts

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.420
 about the way into

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:16.380
 God's kingdom.

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.820
 It's not God's way

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.539
 that we have to

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:21.140
 slave and earn to

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:22.000
 be accepted.

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:25.160
 Jesus teaches God's

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:27.500
 joy in forgiving and

00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:30.200
 God's generous grace.

00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:33.200
 Jesus as it were wants

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.539
 to give us new lenses

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:37.580
 through which to view

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.779
 reality.

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:40.299
 You know if I take my

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.480
 glasses off to

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.039
 snipe that's quite

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.779
 disconcerting.

00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:44.259
 If I do that two

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.420
 things happen.

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.720
 One is immediate.

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.559
 Everybody becomes

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:47.920
 fuzzy.

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.399
 Really fuzzy.

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:52.059
 And two if we were to

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.980
 continue this out on the

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.859
 street I would most

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:55.299
 likely walk past most

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:57.599
 of you without knowing.

00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.039
 Because I cannot see

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:02.720
 clearly the reality in

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.559
 front of me.

00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:06.279
 Jesus is trying to do

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.759
 that with this parable.

00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.720
 He's trying to bring

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.839
 reality into sharp

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:12.899
 clarity for us.

00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.779
 To see on the one

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:16.119
 hand that when it

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:17.399
 comes to God truly we

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.500
 are guilty.

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.440
 That none of us can

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.500
 stand before God and

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.839
 say my record is good

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.660
 enough for you to

00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.359
 accept me.

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.579
 And also to see with

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:29.299
 clarity God's generous

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.819
 grace.

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.440
 And he is telling us

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.259
 this story so that we

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.139
 won't walk by.

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.579
 So we won't think well

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:36.379
 it's all right.

00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:38.419
 That we would see this

00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:40.019
 as a wonderful, as a

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.059
 glorious thing.

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.699
 That it would change

00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:44.639
 our hearts and our

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.159
 lives.

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.839
 So Jesus in this story

00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:48.460
 is pointing us to the

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.480
 problem of our hearts

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:51.279
 whether we are sort of

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.500
 the religious good guys

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.599
 by nature or whether

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.259
 we're the not religious

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.679
 the bad guys of the

00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.079
 story.

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.859
 That both whoever we

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:01.579
 are in different ways

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.079
 reject and treat the

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:05.579
 father, our father, the

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:07.319
 creator, shockingly.

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:10.859
 So that everybody stands

00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:12.939
 in need of grace and

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.559
 forgiveness.

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.899
 And the good news is that

00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.439
 everybody is freely

00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.779
 offered that grace and

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.919
 forgiveness in Jesus.

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:22.339
 So here is Jesus giving

00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:23.799
 us this beautiful picture

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:25.419
 of the love of God.

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.960
 Here is a father who pays

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.079
 the price to restore

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:32.099
 relationships that have

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.719
 been broken.

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.959
 Here is a God who goes

00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:37.839
 seeking and searching for

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:39.259
 those who are lost and on

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.000
 the outside.

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:42.000
 Here is one who forgives

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:44.059
 generously and joyfully

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:46.719
 welcomes prodigals in.

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.839
 Stories are powerful.

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.759
 The stories of Jesus are

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.339
 powerful because they point

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.559
 us to great truth.

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:59.159
 And in this truth there is

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.759
 freedom.

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:02.119
 Freedom to live with hope

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:04.319
 and to live with joy.

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.899
 Knowing that we've been

00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:07.419
 forgiven and accepted if

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:08.579
 we're trusting in Jesus.

00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:11.039
 And also to live with

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.779
 purpose.

00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:14.240
 Because this is a story not

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.579
 just for ourselves.

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:18.379
 This is a story for

00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:18.940
 everyone.

00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:21.899
 So our mission is to take

00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.540
 this great story.

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.600
 This great gospel story.

00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:27.600
 And to share it with

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.000
 others.

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.200
 With our friends.

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.740
 With our community.

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.259
 Thank you.

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.420
 Thank you.

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.420
 Thank you.