Luke 15:11-32
The issue was simple: God doesn’t mingle with dirt. At least that was what seemed clear to the Pharisees. They were the experts you know? They practically held degrees in Holiness. But when Jesus came on scene he made bold claims about who God was and who he was. And he did things only God could do. And the Pharisees had big problems – he didn’t follow the law as they knew it, as they lived it, and as they taught it to everyone. Worst of all he was hanging with filth and they were losing control. I mean he let the “sinners” come and listen to his teaching! He even made friends with them! He even interacted closely with them! He even went so far as to eat with them! The Pharisees days were numbered with this guy around and they knew it. Their identity was in jeopardy…and they were angry as any of us might be if we were them.

…So Jesus starts telling stories…with hungry sinners, faithful disciples, and these angry religious leaders – with all of these gathered round (right in the middle of the chaos) told one of the greatest stories ever to be told. It was a story about life. It was a story about a Father. By telling it, Jesus drew the curtain on God’s incredibly compassionate heart for both the ones that run from him and the ones who claim to live at home with him.

Jesus Describes of The Journey of the Younger Son

Leaving
As Jesus describes it, the journey of the younger son, starts with leaving. There are two parts to leaving. First the son says, “Father, I want all that you have for me now!” Or in other words, “Father, I wish you were dead.” Second, the son packs his bags and leaves for a distant land. In essence by taking these actions he is saying, “Father, to me you are dead.” Two thoughts flow out of this. To be the younger son is to say in your heart, or actions, or even out loud, “God I wish you were dead” and to ask for control of the very life he has given you. Second to be the younger son is to live as though God were dead. And to take control of the life he has given you.

Living
Jesus continues: The younger son’s journey takes him deep into the world. There are two things that the younger son does when he is living in the world: First he wastes everything he took from his Father on wild living. He’s out there all on his own, totally in control of his life and he has a stinkin’ good time. Blowing his money is easy, the rewards are instant and grand. And for a moment life is perfect. And wild living is just that – wild man! But soon even dad’s money comes to an end. Just when the money gets thin the world crushes in. He gets sacked by circumstance and things he has no power to control. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. First to worst in two verses. One minute he’s the life of the party the next he’s begging for a bite to eat. You’d think he would’ve hit the bottom? But no, not here, not yet. The second thing he does is settle. He settle for something so low it’s embarrassing. He feed’s pigs, a job he has to beg to get. And even then it get worse. He find’s himself living below the human dignity line – he envies the stupid pigs. He find himself living below the animal line. And still the world won’t give anything back. What the heck is he thinking? What is he doing. A couple of thought here: Living in a world where God is dead seems attractive, and it’s full of freedom – but it’s empty. This younger son could not control the forces that were greater than him. How was he to guess that a drought was coming? Jesus points out here that living apart from God and in the world is dangerous. You get robbed, the world takes and takes and when you need it most to give back to you it gives nothing. Like a real life slogan from living behind bars, in the world, “You’ve got nothin’ comin’.” To live the life of the younger son, apart from the Father, you’ve got nothin’ comin’! To live the life of the younger son, apart from you Father, you are forced to settle for less than what you were created for. You are forced dip down into the gutter and live below the human dignity line. Sad, sad story, but Jesus continues…



- posted by Jacob B. @ 12:51 PM