Day 390: Luke 15- The Love Of Our Father

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.15 So he went and hired himself out to[b] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
 
Meditation
We underestimate the passionate love of our Heavenly Father.
 
Jesus shares with two opposing sides of the crowd… Tax collectors and sinners draw near to Jesus while religious folks grumble and judge (1-2). Jesus does not allow for middle ground.
 
A shepherd loses a sheep and leaves ninety-nine others to find the one. Upon return the shepherd commands celebration and Jesus teaches that this is a small reflection of the celebration of Heaven when a sinner returns to the Lord.
 
A woman loses a valuable coin and will not rest until she finds her treasure. Like the shepherd, the woman commands celebration when the coin is found and Jesus again highlights the Heavenly joy when a lost sinner is found.
 
The final story drives the point home. The focus is not the rebellion of the younger son, his squandering of his inheritance, his coming to his senses, or his return home. Jesus wants us to focus on the Father who was looking for his son, seeing him while still far off. The Father ran to his son, embraced him, kissed him, and commanded celebration upon finding his son. The older son was exactly like the Pharisees and scribes in verse one- distant, grumbling, and judgmental.
 
The extravagant love of the father re-orients everyone’s perspective- We must celebrate, rejoice, and be glad. The love of our Father makes dead things alive, lost things found, and broken things whole. This is both an invitation and a rebuke.
 
Whether self righteous or rebellious, the Father’s love is waiting for you, eager to celebrate your return.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you underestimate the love of our Heavenly Father? Does a more full understanding of our Father’s love draw you near or lead you to grumble?
 
-Who do you identify with more, the sinners and tax collectors or the Pharisees and scribes? Why?
 
-The love of our Father must be shared. Who do you know that needs to hear of His passionate love? How can you share the love of our Father with them today?
 
Key Verse
32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.

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