 |
Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“The Father - Part I: Forgiveness” |
  |
I. Introduction.
A. The people for whose benefit Jesus told the parable of the
prodigal son surely expected something different from the
father. After all, his honor had been turned to shame by the
boy’s rebellion, and the father himself had not helped the
situation by how he’d responded to his younger son’s bold
demand. Now, the only way to salvage any kind of self-
respect, or respect from his neighbors, was to come down
hard on this wayward boy.1. What about the fact that the son was repentant?
Well, could you really trust this? He was desperate.
He’d probably say, and do, anything to get back
some of what he’d thrown away.2. The scribes and Pharisees no doubt agreed with the
son’s plan and his feelings about himself (Read
verses 18 and 19, Luke 15). Humbling himself,
confessing his wrongs, renouncing all rights to his
position as a son, working as a hired servant,
working to make some restitution for his wasteful-
ness. By their way of thinking that’s exactly what
he needed to do.B. The next words Jesus spoke represented a jolt not only to
the scribes’ and Pharisees’ thinking, but to all his
audiences’ idea of what should naturally happen.1. As the prodigal approaches his former home, he
could not help to be apprehensive. No doubt, he’d
rehearsed in his mind, over-and-over, what he
would say to his father.2. One thing he knew: his life was now completely
dependent upon the will of his father. His only
hope lay with the mercy of his father.
3. Everyone else in the village would certainly shun
him; they had to do that to protect their own honor.
The prodigal stood helpless between life and death.
If his father turned him away, he was doomed. No
one else would even consider taking him in if his
own father would not have anything to do with him.C. As the prodigal comes home, everything hinged on his
Father’s reaction to his return.II. What Everyone Expected.
A. He had his plea rehearsed and ready. But, how would such
a plea sound to reasonable minds? Was it outrageous on
his part to seek mercy from the father he had so
dishonored? Was he really just asking too much?1. Who was he to ask for help now, especially since
he’d been given what he’d demanded and threw it
all away?2. Could he even get to see and talk to his father? What if his father refused to meet with him? Even if his father did agree to see him, it might be only
after the son was punished by making a public
spectacle of his shame.3. He might be made to sit for several days outside
the village, where he would be made to think about
the dishonor he’d brought upon his family. He
would have no shelter, and be exposed to the natural
environment along with the derision of the
community.4. The less-privileged people in the community might
go out of their way to show their disdain for this boy who had been blessed with advantages and had wasted everything he’d been given.
B. All of this may seem harsh and extreme to us, but
remember that, under Mosaic Law, the full penalty for
rebellion against parents was death by public stoning
(Read, Deuteronomy 21:18-21). So, even public
humiliation actually represented mercy that the son did
not deserve.C. No doubt, this is exactly the kind of treatment the prodigal
expected. He hoped for a different outcome; he’d make his
plea to his father, if he could; but, he could expect nothing
better than public shame when he got home.1. Coming home would be a process, not an event.
Punishment was required, not an option.2. Cold indifference from his father would have been
natural. It would be more like a business meeting
than a homecoming.3. The father would simply outline the terms under
which the son could stay – what kind of labor he
would be called upon to do, how long he needed to
serve even to have the smallest of privileges in the
household.D. But, here, the parable takes another dramatic, unexpected
turn. Here was a father, not only willing to show mercy to
his wayward son, but actually eager to forgive everything at
this first sign of repentance (Re-read verse 20).1. The father had, evidently, been awaiting the son’s
return. He saw the young man when “. . . he was
still a great way off, . . .” (verse 20).2. Since he no longer had responsibility for the daily
management of the household (that would have
been a part of his older son’s inheritance), he spent
his time looking, praying, for the son’s safe return,
hoping he would live long enough to embrace the
child he had lost.3. Now a new day had dawned, and the father sees a
figure walking on the road.III. Amazing Grace.
A. When he saw that figure, far away as it was, the father,
“. . . ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (verse 20).1. The father was eager to offer forgiveness, and to
reconcile with his son.2. This parallels the first two parables Jesus told,
where the shepherd looked for his lost sheep, and
the woman searched for her lost coin.3. Here we have a father slow to anger and quick to
forgive. He takes no pleasure in people dying in
sin. He is ready, willing, and able – indeed,
delighted – to forgive, and save, sinners.B. The father wanted to reach the son before the son reached
the village. He desired to protect the son from the scorn
and abuse he’d get if he went through the village
unreconciled with his father. Without speaking a word,
the father’s actions say: “I’ll bear the shame. I’ll take the
abuse, instead.”C. To Jesus’ hearers, this action on the part of the father –
running out to meet the son – would be just one more
addition to the father’s shame.1. First, older people did not run. That was for
children, and servants. To run would detract
from one’s dignity.2. Second, he did not send a servant to meet the son.
3. The father gathered up his robe and sprinted in a
most undignified manner. He was humbling
himself even though it was his son who should
have been doing so.D. Here is one place where we must think like a first-century
Jew to get a real understanding of what’s happening. To us
verse 20 represents a tender moment in Jesus’ parable. It
was certainly not seen that way by the scribes and
Pharisees, nor by even the other listeners in Jesus’
audience. Rather, this was shocking, and offensive to
them.1. Our English Bible says the father “. . . had
compassion . . .,” but the Greek expression is much
more emphatic. It uses a word that literally speaks
of a sensation we might describe as a “gut feeling.”
2. The father was so powerfully moved by his
compassion, the emotion went so deep, that it made
his stomach churn.E. Compare this story’s father with Jesus, Himself. His love
for lost souls went so deep he was willing to “. . . [endure]
the cross, despising the shame, . . .” (Hebrews 12:2).1. The father took upon himself the scorn, the
contempt, the wrath, the son’s sins deserved, as
Jesus took upon Himself the scorn, contempt,
mockery, and wrath that sin fully does deserve.2. Jesus went further: he took upon Himself the guilt
of humanity.F. When the father reached his wayward son, he couldn’t
contain his affection, and he didn’t hesitate to grant
forgiveness. The father embraces the prodigal, kissed him
repeatedly (verse 20), and collapsed on the young man
(“. . . fell on his neck . . .”). It mattered little to the father
what people thought of him. He was determined to
welcome home the boy. In an amazing display of grace,
not caring about the shame of it all, he opened his arms
to the returning sinner. What a great picture of
forgiveness. And, even more impressive, the father forgave
the son before he said a word.IV. Conclusion.
A. Sin must be atoned for. This point is critical in understand-
ing the parable. Remember, the point of the parable was
aimed at self-righteousness individuals who had a faulty
idea about God, that He looked favorably upon such self-
righteousness. Jesus’ message is that the idea is wrong; the
real joy of God is in the repentance of sinners and the
forgiveness of sins.B. The Pharisees had created their own elaborate system of
traditions, rules, and ceremonies. They saw it as a matter
of works, not grace, to atone for sins. They, themselves,
were obsessed with these works, and ceremonial displays
of righteousness. The problem was that even true good
works, sincerely done, could never accomplish what the
Pharisees taught they would.1. We cannot atone for our own sin.
2. The parable of the prodigal son makes this clear. It
shows us that a repentant faith in a forgiving Father
is the only way for us to find justification before
God.3. The good works are the result of faith, not the
means for forgiveness.C. The prodigal son is justified (acquitted of guilt) by grace
through faith, apart from what he did in coming home to his
father. But, he had to come home to receive the gift of forgiveness.1. His being forgiven was a reality, his place as a son
reestablished, before he had a chance to finish
expressing his repentance.2. All the labor he intended to give, as a servant, was
wholly unnecessary to be forgiven of his many sins.3. He was forgiven by his loving father. His
repentance was all that was necessary on his part,
that and coming home to his father as an obedient,
not a rebellious, child.D. Now, he saw his father differently. He had followed the
course of sin to its inevitable result. He was humbled by
that experience. He’d been beaten down by the
consequences of sin. Now, he had every reason to be
obedient, and faithful, to his father. Now, he would be a
servant of his father, but not as a hired servant, but as a son
who served with joy and gladness.