A Bankrupt Son Returns Home

What would we think about someone who had spent all his inheritance on wild orgies, went bankrupt, dressed in rags, smelled of pig dung and wanted to come home? That’s our story today. It’s about a father and two sons and is found in Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

The Wild Child

Luke 15:11b-13 “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.”

The older son pictures those who have always attended church and never really gotten into serious trouble or strayed too far from God. The younger son pictures all the rest of us, those who have wandered far from God and gotten their lives in a real spiritual and financial mess.

A lazy and greedy second child bled his father dry, taking what he could of his inheritance before his father’s death. In our society as well as theirs that would be presumptuous. Verse 12 reveals that he divided the inheritance between them. Both children received their inheritance as a result.

Luke 15:14-16 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.”

A son squandered his inheritance in a far, distant country. Unlike the Jews, whose law required them giving to the poor, not many other nations around believed in giving alms. Verse 16 confirms that no one gave him anything. He was in a desperate situation on the edge of death.

The Turning Point

Luke 15:17-20 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

We may want to be independent, but eventually realize how much we need each other. We may burn bridges, offend others, and cut off contact. We may never be able to repair some of our damaged relationships in this life, but we can always repair our damaged relationship with God.

We see the beginning of repentance in the prodigal son, coming to a better mind. Repentance is a change of mind, but as John told the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism, bring forth fruits of repentance. So the younger son made the difficult journey home in shame.

Would his father turn his back and disown him? Would the father demand a probation period? Would he accuse the wasteful son of embarrassing the family name? How do we treat those who are taking cautious, awkward steps out of the stench of life's tragically bad decisions, back to God?

The Loving Father

Luke 15:20-22 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet”

We have all distanced ourselves from God at times. We have turned our back on him and put heaven to shame. Yet, all that is forgotten in an instant when we make any effort to return. Even while the son was a long way off, his return brought great joy to his father.

Luke 15:23-24 “and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

If we are still a long way off, let’s begin making just a few steps in return to God. God is already running to greet us with great joy. The son’s confession was interrupted by his father’s joy. As we begin to pray again, God forgives before we even finish.

The Unforgiving Child

Luke 15:25-27 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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.’”

The story is really about two lost sons. The loyal son was also lost. A faithful church goer can also be lost. There are dangers even among those who have never left church, never gone wild and never been disloyal to their families. We can become self-righteous, self-centered, and merciless.

Luke 15:28-29 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends”

He was lost, without mercy and grace, lost in hard heartedness and unforgiveness. Do we carry a grudge against anyone who is trying to find their way back home? Are our judgmental attitudes an obstacle between others and God? Let's rejoice because he was lost, but now he is found.

Luke 15:30-32 “but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The bankrupt son is us when we have wandered from the Lord. The hardhearted son is us when we mercilessly judge others who have failed. Let’s see ourselves in both sons, seeing God as a merciful Father, joyfully welcoming us home and tenderly reminding us of our reward for faithfulness.

References: New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation; Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.; Nolland, J. Vol. 35B: Word Biblical Commentary : Luke. 2002. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 497.; R.T. France. NICNT. The Gospel of Matthew; William L. Lane. NICNT. The Gospel of Mark; Green, Joel B. NICNT. The Gospel of Luke; J. Ramsey Michaels. NICNT. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Mich. W.B. Eerdmans. 2007; 1974; 1997; 2010.; Brian Stoffregen. Exegetical Notes. crossmarks.com/brian/

Bearing Fruit

Where is God when bad things happen? Are people who die in calamities and atrocities just getting what they deserve? Let’s discuss time and chance, and God giving us one last chance to repent. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-9.

Unless You Repent

Luke 13:1-3 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Were the victims of recent mass shootings around the world being punished by God? In New Zealand it was Muslims. In other countries it was Christians. What about Christians who contract a serious illness and lose their homes to medical bills? Do Christians and non-Christians suffer alike in an evil world.

Are innocent victims of war worse people than us? Are massacres God’s punishment? Pilate massacred Galileans during worship. Was their worship insincere? Such judgmental questions annoy Jesus, because as He said, we will all perish unless we change our ways. The judgment of human governments do not constitute divine judgment.

Luke 13:4-5 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Were the victims in recent accidents being punished by God? Those who died in a Jerusalem building collapse, were no worse or better than you and me. Unless we all repent we too will perish. We love to judge the fate of others, but Jesus reminds us to judge ourselves.

Last Chance

Luke 13:6-7 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’

What do you do with a fruitless tree that is wasting garden space? What does God do with a believer that is showing no fruit of repentance or faith? This is first a warning to Israel as a nation, but then also to every Christian, faith without works is dead.

Luke 13:8-9 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

We can’t blame everything on time and chance. One day God will cut off the unrepentant. God gives space to repent. The parable of the fig tree shows that God’s leniency will not last forever. There is a certain urgency to repentance. So let’s repent, before it is too late.

“His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 136). Not every calamity is God’s punishment. Time and chance happen to everyone (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Not every loss is punishment and not every gain is a reward. Even when punishment is due, Jesus showed God’s preference to give us a second chance to repent.

Next time we hear of an atrocity, a major sickness or a natural disaster, let’s look upon those people with pity instead of judgment. Let’s also understand that we can’t blame time and chance for everything. God is giving us a little time to bear fruit. Let’s repent before it’s too late.

References: New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation; Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.; Nolland, J. Vol. 35B: Word Biblical Commentary : Luke. 2002. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 497.; R.T. France. NICNT. The Gospel of Matthew; William L. Lane. NICNT. The Gospel of Mark; Green, Joel B. NICNT. The Gospel of Luke; J. Ramsey Michaels. NICNT. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Mich. W.B. Eerdmans. 2007; 1974; 1997; 2010.; Brian Stoffregen. Exegetical Notes. crossmarks.com/brian/

O Jerusalem!

How does true love operate? Does it leave people with their demons, unhealed and hurting themselves? Does true love sacrifice even for people who initially reject it? Let’s find out by looking at Luke 13:31-35.

Luke 13:31 Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

This does not seem to be true, because Herod had not even wanted to kill John, but was forced to do so by circumstances. Perhaps these Pharisees were trying to scare Jesus off.

Luke 13:32 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [lit. vixen, female fox], ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’

Casting out demons and healing are prophetic of two important missions of the kingdom of God. Jesus will displace Satan as a power in this present world, and He will heal the world. This He also accomplishes in our lives. Jesus casts the evil one out and heals our souls.

A fox picks on small farm animals like hens. So, Jesus called Herod Antipas a fox, a cowardly predator, like his father Herod the Great who once murdered innocent children trying to kill Jesus as a little child. Jesus was probably also comparing Herod with Jerusalem, who murdered the prophets.

Jesus insults Herod Antipas further by using the feminine of fox, a vixen. He is implying that Herod is not a real man, because he victimizes the weak. Not intimidated in the slightest, Jesus tells the Pharisees, he has three days work left and then he’ll be done, not before.

Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus repeats the little time He has left. It cannot be? It’s almost as if Jesus is saying with a sigh of resignation, that it would not be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere but Jerusalem. Only the supreme court at Jerusalem could sentence a prophet to death.

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!

Jesus says words he will repeat later, O Jerusalem. How often indeed had Jesus as God of the Old Testament also visited Jerusalem? But they did not want God then either. This is the dismal freedom of human will, we can choose to reject God. Here we understand God’s love.

Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Jerusalem is left desolate, or left to itself, a nest of scoundrels, the glory of God and His temple soon gone. Our sins make us like Jerusalem who killed the prophets. We look at the world and its troubles, a world without Jesus. Jesus willingly died for Jerusalem and us.

The predators of our world see Jesus and his love as a threat, because they only care for themselves. Jesus does not see sinners as outsiders, but as chicks to be gathered, as people who need their demons cast out and to be healed. That is how true love operates.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Jesus Loves an Imperfect Church

How can Jesus love such a sinful Church? Why does He still love a Church that has often failed Him? Will He abandon us forever, or has He given everything to save us from ourselves? Let’s look at a heartwarming story of adultery, divorce and remarriage in Hosea 1-3.

Hosea 1:2-3 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.” So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

The recent distress in the United Methodist Church is widely known, but little understood. The conflict is the same in all churches, the authority of Scripture, God’s standards versus those of the world. The Church has always struggled with idolatry, self-worship and unfaithfulness to what Jesus and the Apostles taught.

Hosea 1:4-5 And the Lord said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

Jezreel, the fertile Valley of Megiddo, is where many battles happen, and a great battle at Christ’s return, Armageddon. Faithful prophets were murdered there by king Jehu’s family, and it was the place of terrible child sacrifices. We are no different with our abortions. God promises punishment for this bloodshed.

Israel was so named because He prevailed with God. Jezreel was so named because Israel had failed to prevail with God and like a sower broadcasts seed, Israel was to be scattered among the nations. The same is true of unfaithful Christians. Unfaithful, worldly churches end up scattered and dying.

The faithful remnant are tempted to become like Pharisees, creating burdensome man-made rules to prevent sin. God wants a change of heart. Like Protestant Reformers, Jesus criticized human traditions and praised Scripture. The Church has always struggled between fads, tradition and scripture. Jesus preached the real answer, changed hearts, repentance.

Hosea 1:6-9 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah [no pity], for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel...” When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God.”

A wealthy nation forgets God, and fall into sins. Gomer’s second child seems to have been illegitimate. Hosea would have been tempted not to show Gomer pity. The girl’s name prophesies the end of God’s pity. Israel's infidelity is also pictured in the names of her male and female children.

Hosea 1:10-11 Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.” And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel.

This may be referring to the Second Coming, another future day in the Valley of Jezreel, the great final battle in the Valley of Megiddo, Armageddon. Instead of Israel being scattered, the enemies of God will be scattered in that great Day of the Lord, including armies from the east.

Hosea 2:14-15 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her. Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.”

The punishment of national captivity is also called the wilderness, but there God would speak kindly to His people. This is the ultimate result of our sins, a Church having wandered from the Bible, goes into the wilderness of sin. Like a betrayed husband, Christ will “speak to her heart.”

Hosea 2:16-17 “It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord, “That you will call Me Ishi [Hubby] And will no longer call Me Baali [Lordy]. “For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, So that they will be mentioned by their names no more.”

Calling Him “my Lord” indicates serving God through fear rather than the love He really desires, revealed in calling Him “my husband.” Fear is how they served the idol Baal, which translates as Lord. Even the name Baal will be forgotten. Ishi denotes marriage and the youthful love God desires.

Hosea 2:18-21 “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord... “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’”

Jesus (God with us) wants to take His sinful Bride back and remarry her, with a new covenant. This betrothal is unlike the former covenant, it is forever. This new covenant is to “know” Him. Jezreel [scattering] is reversed, because God will sow her back into the land of promise.

Hosea 3:1-2 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley.

Gomer had likely gotten herself mixed up in pagan temple prostitution. According to Exodus 21:32 a slave’s contract was worth 30 pieces of silver. Hosea could only afford half that price, and so supplemented it with produce. The price Hosea paid to rescue her, was probably all he had. [Mariottini, Dr. Claude. “How Much Did Hosea Pay for His Wife?” Professor of Old Testament. March 5 2009. claudemariottini.com/ 2009/03/05/ how-much-did-hosea-pay-for-his-wife-2/.]

Hosea 3:3-5 Then I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.” For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

The Church has also wandered from God. Not all traditions are bad. Some are. Jesus condemned the vain traditions of the Pharisees. Protestants recognize that though Jesus often criticized burdensome, man-made traditions, He never criticized Scripture. So Protestants believe in sola scriptura, meaning that only the scriptures are completely trustworthy.

The rocky marriage of Hosea and Gomer is a love story picturing God’s old and new covenants. Jesus loves His Bride, the Church, forgave our unfaithfulness, and gave all to save us from ourselves. Let’s remain faithful to Him forever.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

A Glimpse of Glory

When we look in the mirror what do we see? Do we see someone hopelessly lost in sin, or a repentant sinner, forgiven and being transformed into God’s image from glory to glory every day? Let’s look at Paul’s discussion of being remarkably transformed in 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2.

To understand Paul’s metaphor, we must read the background in Exodus 34:29-35 where, when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai, his face shone because he spoke with God. People were afraid to come near him, so Moses’ face was hidden because he put a veil over his face.

Veiled

2 Corinthians 3:12-13 “Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.”

Paul spoke plainly, compared to mysteries concealed under the old covenant. He adds a metaphor that the veil prevented Israel from seeing that the glow on Moses’ face was fading away, as the veil on their hearts prevented them from seeing the glory of the old covenant was fading too.

2 Corinthians 3:14-15 “But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart”

This is the only time Paul refers to the Hebrew scriptures as the old covenant, testament, will, or set-agreement with God. Not just Jews, but also many Christians have a veil on their hearts. The Greek is clear, the veil is the old covenant and it is lifted in Christ.

That does not make the entire old testament now irrelevant, but the covenant or agreement is now replaced in Christ with a new covenant. The phrase “whenever Moses is read,” means the first five books of the Old Testament. The veil on Moses face becomes a veil on people’s hearts.

Unveiled

2 Corinthians 3:16 “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Turning to the Lord is an Old Testament expression for repentance, and there is a day coming when the sons of Israel will turn to their Lord and the veil will be lifted.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Father, Son and Holy Spirit are called the Lord. The Nicene Creed reminds us that the Holy Spirit is also “the Lord and Giver of life.” Notice the liberty of the new covenant, liberty from the guilt and slavery of sin, not the veil of the letter of the law.

The Eastern Orthodox Church calls this “being transformed” theosis, purification from God and being filled with God’s light. Roman Catholics call this “being transformed” divinization, being made after the image and likeness of God. This has similarities to the Protestant idea of sanctification, the process whereby God makes us holy.

Christian males need no Tallit, covering head and heart when praying. We are to gaze on God’s face, as mirrored in Jesus, and we mirror or reflect Christ, with our faces and hearts unveiled. Moses had his temporary glow covered. Christians are a permanent light, uncovered and letting it shine.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

The very best of us would not be able to sit in ministry of the new covenant except for God’s mercy. We are all sinners, but repentant sinners may engage in the ministry because of Jesus and the cross. We don’t promote or condone sins, but humbly and gratefully repent.

Take a look in the mirror and see a child of God, a person being transformed into God’s image from glory to glory. Let’s give God thanks for what He is doing in our lives. Thank God that a repentant sinner has been given undeserved mercy.

Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation