The Absent Son
Teachings of Jesus – Lost and Found Read Luke 15:1 - 15:32
Pastor Sim Fulcher
When our three children were growing up it was always a sad time when one was missing atthe dinner table unless, o course, they were away on a un trip. Otherwise, when they wereabsent it meant they were sick, or upset, or being confned to their room or disciplinaryreasons. Mimi might disagree with this but, o the two o us, I think I elt it the most when oneo them was missing. It was especially true on special occasions when we were celebrating abirthday or laughing together over a unny story. Even while celebrating there would be thissad note in part o my heart when one o our children was absent. I guess you could relegatethat to what could be simply called a “ather’s heart.”Jesus knew about this “ather’s heart.” It was his Father’s heart, God’s heart, which sent Himinto this world - “God so loved the word that he sent [Jesus]...” So Jesus had to have beenexcited about the situation in which He ound himsel on that day we read about in Luke15:1. He had waited thirty years or this kind o opportunity. Suddenly he fnds himsel with abunch o tax collectors and people lost to God. How happy He must have been as they hungon every word o the Good News He was proclaiming. Some must have been close to theKingdom o God that day. This was surely making His Father’s heart glad. Oddly, however, thevery people who should have shared his excitement spoiled the scene; speaking against thevery reason He was sent. Jesus could have gotten angry, but instead He was saddened by thebehavior o His ellow teachers and proceeded to tell a story - a sad story. Perhaps the storywould get through to them.He set the story up by frst telling two happy stories or contrast. The frst was about a lostsheep that was ound and about the happy time the shepherd had in sharing this good newswith his riends and neighbors. The rejoicing together over the good news was almost asimportant as the good news itsel (vv.3-7). The second story was similar. A woman immediately calls all her riends and neighbors so theycan rejoice with her when she fnally fnds a lost coin she had almost given up on (vv.8-10).(Just like the other day when I scoured the house or a fle older I had lost. The frst thing I didwhen I ound it later that day was to call Mimi so she could rejoice with me.) The story becomes a sad one at this point (vv.11-31). A son slams the door on his ather, turnshis back and leaves, maybe never to return. A pall like death hangs over the household. Thenone day - Hallelujah! - this son returns, repents, and wants to reunite with the amily. Nowcomes the sad part. All are called to celebrate, but there’s an empty chair at the table. A sonis absent. It’s the older brother this time. He’s turned
of
by the very thing that has turned hisather’s heart
on
. How sad that the ather now celebrates with a sad note in his heart. How sad
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