The Story of the Prodigal Son
Today’s passage: Luke 15:1–32, with Matthew 18:10–14
Focus verse: “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32)
In today’s passage, the religious leaders criticize Jesus. This is something they do often. They grumble that he spends time with sinners. Are they implying they think he should spend time with them instead? It’s something to consider.
Instead of reacting to their complaint directly, Jesus launches into a parable. A man has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away. Though he could stay home and be happy he still has ninety-nine, he leaves to search for his one lost sheep.
When he finds the wayward sheep, he carries it home. Joy swells within him, and he calls his neighbors to rejoice with him. So it is with our Heavenly Father when one of his sheep repents.
Likewise, Jesus says to consider a woman with ten coins who loses one of them. This is tragic.
She’s lost 10 percent of her savings, one tenth of her wealth. In a panic, the woman must find the lost coin. She lights a lamp and sweeps the floor—possibly made of dirt—until she finds it.
The relieved woman shares her good news with her neighbors. So it is in heaven with one sinner who repents.
Continuing, Jesus gives a third parable, repeating his central message a third time to emphasize his point. This time there’s a man with two sons.
The younger one disrespects his father by asking for his inheritance before the man dies. The father agrees, and the boy leaves town. He lives wildly and squanders his inheritance.
Broken and hungry, he gets a job feeding pigs. His situation is so desperate that even the pig food looks good to him, but no one offers him any.
Realizing his father’s hired laborers have plenty to eat, he heads home, intent on begging for a job with his dad. Yet before he arrives, his father spots him from afar and runs out to greet him.
The young man confesses his sin against his dad, but before he can ask for a job, his father decides to throw a lavish party to welcome his lost boy home. This upsets the older brother.
Though we often call this third lesson the parable of the prodigal son or the lost son, a better name would be the story of two sons. We can learn from both boys and what they did.
The point, however, of all three parables is the same. Something—or someone—was lost but later found. A grand celebration ensued.
May we all be found in Jesus . . . and celebrate when others are found.
Questions:
Are you lost, or are you found?
How much do we celebrate each time someone repents to follow Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for searching for us when we were lost. And may we marvel at the glorious celebration that occurred when you found us and brought us home.
[This devotional is taken from the reading for Day 38 in The Ministry of Jesus.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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