The Poor Dad

3/14/10 Sermon by Rev. Rong-Hu Lu translated by Lu An Chou

Luke 15: 1-3; 1-32

The Poor Dad

· Today’s text could be considered the most well known parable told by the Lord Jesus. Some older versions of the Bible subtitle it “The parable of the prodigal son” while others call it “ the parable of the lost son”

· I’ve heard quite a few sermons based on this text that used the same title, with one exception of ” The parable of the self-righteous son”.

· I myself also preached on it using the title “ A certain man had two sons”. I tried to cover all three of the characters, with more emphasis on the father because I believed that was what the Lord Jesus intended to teach His audience.

· The bible gives us no clue on why the younger son wanted to leave home. We can speculate that he had an easy live, and had a lot of time to read, to learn, to dream and therefore he felt superior over his old-fashioned-farming brother and father.

· We can also guess that by being the younger son he was not taken seriously enough most of the times, and that hurt his feelings –he might have even felt rejected. Therefore he decided to step out of the shadow of his father and brother to prove himself.

· I am very sure our second speculation is more accurate. The younger son was very desperate, to the point that he did a terrible deed-he asked his father to give him his share of the estate.

· To us in modern times, this request doesn’t seem to be that bad, but to the Lord Jesus’ audience it surely shocked them, Pharisees, tax collectors and all sinners alike.

· According to Jewish law, a father’s estate was divided among his heirs only after his death and never before. Thus, the younger son’s behavior could be seen as if he treated his father as though he had died.

· An interesting point is that the father did not attempt to change his younger son’s mind by urging him to remain at home, and this had puzzled me for quite a while. I wonder if it has ever bothered you?

· The father did end up dividing his property and gave the younger son his share. And what happened is “ Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living…”

· What did you do when you were misunderstood by some one whom you had lovingly cared for and supported for a long time? Did you plead with him? Did it work? Did you swear to him that you always love him? Did it make him change his mind?

· Mark Twain once said “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he'd learned in seven years.”Was the younger son blinded by the same kind of arrogance in his young age that he couldn’t take his father’s advice? Sadly, he did not wait till he was 21 to ask his father for his share of property to take on the world.

· This father has two sons. In the oriental culture, he would be considered a lucky guy, and he should be happy. Perhaps he was happy, until he heard the untimely request from the younger son. There is no doubt in our minds that he was hurt very badly, and we can all agree that many nights probably went by before he made his decision to agree. With those nights his heart churned and recoiled wondering what he had done wrong. He realized that the teaching, the advice, and maybe even some yelling he gave- these expressions of his love- had been apparently perceived as dislike toward his son.

· Could the father tell his son that he was too young, too innocent, too immature and inexperienced to take on the world? No, because he knew his son couldn’t take it.

· Did he know that his younger son would soon fall into the worldly trap that has ruined many young men and women? Of course he knew. But he had no way to stop him, and could only cry and pray for his safe return some day.

· Does he know that his son may perish in the far country? Of course he knows but he will not give up hope, he waits everyday for his safe return.

· “ Happy day!” He saw his younger son coming home from a distance, though shabby as a beggar but nevertheless was his son indeed. Completely overtaken by joy, he ran to hug him and kiss him. His joy was made complete when his son confessed, “ Father, I’ve sinned against the heaven and against you. I am not worthy to be called your son…”

· So, he said to his servants, “ quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

· He was happy for both of his sons are now with him again. But his joy was short lived. When his elder son came home from the field and was told that the joyful party was his brother’s homecoming reception, he was angered. He refused to go in. He could not see any reason to hold that party. For as far as he was concerned, his brother was dead. This son of his father was nothing but dirt. He has no heart for his father’s feeling. He can’t feel, to a father, a son is a son-good or bad.

· Now the big shock to this poor father was his elder son’s attitude! All these years this elder son of his is known as trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, brave, clean, and reverent. What is the matter?

· He hurried out to meet his older son, eager to share with him the good news of his brother’s safe return, only to have his heart broken again by the new discovery that this proud son of his has held a grudge against his brother for all these years.

· This elder son sees himself as a slave in his father’s house; he sees himself as not been loved; he accuses his father for playing favoritism.

· He said to his father, “ Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”

· “ My son, “ the father said, “ you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

· The poor dad stands with his elder son under the shadow of the falling evening sun, trying to comfort him with the facts that he is always with his father at their home; that he is not a slave; and that all his father has is his; and now that his brother is a born again man, he is different now. This brother of his might be dirt in the past but is now useful to their family.

· Every time I come across this scene in this story I can not read on but wonder how long the two of them stand there, with the father using up all his assurances and consolations and the son’s stubborn silence. I also worry about if they ever go in and celebrate. If not, what happens then?

· There is this minister by the name Norman Perrin. He contends that no parable of Jesus is ever complete until the reader or the listener is drawn into it as a participant. So, where you put yourself in this parable and what you do, determine how the story ends.

· It is tough to be parents. It is even tougher to be viewed as fair by children. Children because of their respective personalities, physical conditions, friends they associate with, professions, achievements, etc., etc., develop different outlooks on life, on people, and even towards their parents. It is quite common for children to blame their parents for unpleasant things that happen to them.

· The lord Jesus is using this parable to paint a loving and long suffering heavenly father for us to see. When we become cocky, He becomes nervous. When we look down on His teaching, guidance, and protection He is hurt. When we declare to Him our independence He has no answer but swallow His pride with tears.

· When we stray away from Him, He sends His Holy Spirit to persuade us, “ When thing get tough, come home. Your Father is waiting for you with open arms; Don’t you ever say that your life is what you have made, and there is no one to blame; Don’t say that you have made yourself an island and there you shall live in shame; These will give your Father great pain.”

· The Lord uses this parable to tell us not to be angry with our brothers. Not to call our brothers stupid or idiot! Leave our sacrifices alone and go home to be reconciled with our brother first! God, our heavenly father, loves his children equally, and He likes us to love one another just as He loves us. Any rivalry among brothers hurt Him. Any suspicion of His playing favoritism hurt Him. But we make Him suffer all these continually. Poor dad. Yet, He does not scold nor complain. He simply re-assures all His children, you and me, of His love in and through Christ, Jesus our Lord..

· Amen