Luke 15:11-32 - the runaway son (or the running father)

Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons.

3^rd in a sequence of lost and found parables

¹² The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

Claims his share of his inheritance now – not when the father dies. An offensive request, I wish you were dead. Insulting and rejecting of father, family and home. But the father lets the son make his own choices, gives him freedom. 2^nd son would have inherited half of the elder son’s legacy – i.e. 1/3^rd of the estate.

¹³ Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Converted assets to cash – land, cattle and chattels. Sold to put money in his back pocket. Leaves home – runs from the father, putting distance between them. Demonstrates addictive activities and unhealthy behaviour. Often our addiction is a search for the father’s love. We may be able to control the indiscipline but we can’t feed the hunger without knowing God’s love.

¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

Sometimes we only recognise where we are when everything runs out.

¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

Desperation stakes. Pigs of course are offensive to the Jew – an unclean animal (Leviticus 11:7).

¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything.

The bottom of the pit. No resources, no friends, no morality, homeless in the deepest sense.

“Addiction” might be the best word to explain the lostness that so deeply permeates contemporary society. Henri Nouwen.

¹⁷ When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

He is starving for food but more than that he is starving for the father’s love. Death is on its way – the absence of the father.

 

¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Our sin is not just against people but against the Father who created us and away from whom we run.

¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

This is where we end up. I am not worthy. If only you knew what I had done, what choices I had made, you would know that I am not worth anything, I am not worth your love, whoever you are.

Repentance is leaving our sin behind because of the father’s love.

²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The parable of the running father.

The father standing at the edge of the property waiting, looking, longing, loving. He sees him from a distance and runs. So undignified. Have you watched older men running? I haven’t done so in a while and when I do I feel a bit stupid, trying to stop my jacket flinging my keys out as it flaps along. In that culture an older, wealthy man would never be seen running.

But this father is totally unaware of what it looks like, he can’t wait to see his son.

katafileo - deep friendship love, same as the love shown by the woman who poured perfume on Jesus' feet. Fervently kissed. More indignity from a father oblivious to what people think.

²¹ The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

Repentance declaration gets cut off where he denies his sonship.

²² But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Immediate re-instatement to the family. Ring is probably a family seal, the best clothes indicate position and restoration. Welcome home.

²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.

A fattened calf was one kept for important celebrations.

²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

From death to life, a metaphor of the kingdom. Returning home is a move from death to life, from darkness to light, from loneliness to family, from guilt to forgiveness, from worthlessness to identity.

²⁵ Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

 

²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

 

²⁷ 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

Safe – protected, in the family home, provided for

Sound – restored, forgiven, healed

We can’t do any of it – it is all God’s action – to extend favour and a welcome; to forgive and to restore; to guard and heal.

²⁸ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

 

²⁹ But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

 

³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

 

³¹ 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

 

³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'

That is what the good news story is all about. The lost and the found, 3 parables in a row about this. The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. It is my story, it's other's story - and it can be your story too.