The Waiting Father: A Portrait of God's Longing Love:  Luke 15:11-32

Podcast from the sermon by NotebookLM (Google) : https://youtu.be/cq-2qSv2iqU

1. For a long time, I struggled to understand the word 'love.' Several things made it difficult. My family moved thirteen times during my school years, and I attended three different elementary schools. This constant moving made it hard to form lasting friendships until I reached university. Also, my parents' way of showing love was different from what I expected. They provided for me financially, but we didn't share meals or emotional connection. I didn't feel loved. It wasn’t until I met my wife that I began to grasp the true meaning of love. People often define love as sharing emotions or helping others. While these are parts of it, I believe love is much deeper. The story in Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the prodigal son, helps us understand God’s love through Jesus Christ. It shows us a love that goes beyond simple definitions. 

Luke 15:11–15 NASB 2020

And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

Luke 15:16–20 NASB 2020

And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! ‘I will set out 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; treat me as one of your hired laborers.” ’ “So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:31–32 NASB 2020

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, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

2. This is one of the most loved stories Jesus told, and it’s easy to see why. Even though the whole story from verses 11 to 32 is important, I focused on the younger son’s return and the ending. Basically, Jesus told about a father with two sons. The younger one wanted his inheritance early, so he took the money and wasted it all. When he had nothing left, he felt terrible and decided to go back home. He planned to ask his father to just let him work as a servant. But his father saw him coming from far away, ran to him, hugged him, and threw a huge party to celebrate his return. The older son, who had always been good, was really upset. He thought his brother didn’t deserve such a big welcome. The father gently explained that he loved both his sons and that it was right to be happy when someone who was lost comes home.

3. We usually hear this story about the son who left home, but today, let's look at the father instead. We can learn a lot about how God loves us by seeing what the father does. So, we'll look at five important parts of the story, each showing us something different about the father:

The Father's Willingness to Let Go: Luke 15:11-14

The Father's Watchful Waiting: Luke 15:20-21

The Father's Immediate and Overwhelming Response: Luke 15:22

The Father's Extravagant Celebration: Luke 15:23-24

The Father's Love for the Older Son: Luke 15:25-32

3. We can see an unusual situation either in the first century Jewish community or in the 21st century. The second son requested his inheritance before his father passed away. Who can boldly request his inheritance before his father died? But the second son did. And, the father did not ask or request any explanation from him. Instead, he gave it to him. Most scholars assume that it is about 1/3 of father’s wealth respectfully according to the tradition in the first century. Either way, father gave it to the the son freely. When we think of it, it even is not easy for the father to give his portion before his death to the son. Who can give it without hesitation? Is it love or abandon? Was he irritated by him so he wanted to be free from his second son? 

4. I remember a friend from high school who was always getting into trouble. He never listened to his dad. There were fights, and his dad had to pay for the other kids' injuries more than once. It was clear his dad was at his wit's end. One day, the father took him to a nice restaurant and said, ‘Son, I just can't do this anymore. You need to leave home.’ They still lived under the same roof, but the father was clearly exhausted from trying to guide him. Could that be what happened in our story? Maybe the father was just fed up. It's possible. But the father didn’t force his son to stay because true love does not control—it invites. But what happens next is even more important. After the son left with his inheritance, the father waited for him to come back.

Luke 15:20 NLT

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

5. Ever since his son left, the father was waiting for him. That might seem strange, but after I had my daughter, I started to understand that father's feeling. The first time she went to Bible camp, I couldn't sleep. Even though it was only for a few days, I kept wondering what she was doing and if she was having fun. Now, when she goes to camp, I'm happy for her, but I still understand that worry and longing. That's exactly it. It shows us the father's heart, and that's how our heavenly Father loves us. He's been waiting for us to come back. We left our home with God because of our sins, which break that connection. But God has never stopped waiting. That's the heart of God, our Father.

Psalm 119:90 NIV

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

Lamentations 3:22–23 MSG

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!

6. Our Father's love is steadfast and faithful. He does not change his mind and plan. His love does not follow circumstances or situations. It is in His plan and purpose. As the father did not change his love for his second son, God does not change his love for us. This is why our Heavenly Father sent His only Son to us to be with us. A friend in Thailand told me a story about his mother. When his daughter, the granddaughter, had a kindergarten performance, everyone went to watch. The little girl wasn't a great dancer, but she tried her best. My friend thought she was pretty clumsy. But his mother, the grandmother, saw it differently. She said, 'To me, everyone else made mistakes, but you, my granddaughter, were perfect.' That story made me think about how God sees us. Even when we mess up, he doesn't focus on the mistakes. We're still his children. It's like the grandmother who only saw her granddaughter's good effort. Our mistakes don't change how God sees us. He loves us with a parent's heart, and that love changes how he sees everything.

7. The next part of the story shows us something really important about how God saves us. The son's life fell apart. He went through two terrible things. First, he wasted all his money, which was his own fault. Then, a famine hit, and he lost everything. To survive, he had to work in a pig pen. For a Jewish person, that was the lowest of the low. He was surrounded by unclean animals, and he even had to eat the pig's food. That's when he realized how far he'd fallen. He felt deep regret for his miserable situation. He started remembering how good life was back home with his father. Through those two terrible experiences, he finally understood his mistakes.

Luke 15:17–19 CSB

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” 

8. So, the son started his journey home. As he got closer, his father saw him coming. He didn’t wait; he ran to him, hugged him, and before the son could even finish confessing his sins, the father was already taking action. He had his servants bring new clothes and shoes for his son, and then threw a huge party. This shows us two important things the father did. First, by changing his son’s clothes and shoes, he was restoring his son’s identity. He wasn’t a sinner or a slave anymore; he was a son again. This is like God’s justification, where he declares us righteous, not based on what we’ve done, but on his grace. The father didn’t hesitate. He immediately showed his son that he was fully accepted back into the family. It’s clear the father was ready to welcome his son home the moment he saw him. That’s why he could instantly order the celebration. He had already decided to restore him.

Romans 6:5–7 ESV

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Ephesians 2:8–9 CEB

You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.

9. Being justified cannot be done by our work. It is not merit-based. Becauese of God's work through Jesus Christ, because of Jesus's sacrifice and resurrection, we can be justified when we believe in Him. So, being justified is God's complete gift. And it is our changing identity. Once we are justified, it means God vinidicates us which menas we are ok to stand in front of God. Just as a cleared criminal record allows someone to stand before the Prime Minister, Jesus Christ clears our sins so we can stand confidently before God. The second son had sinned before God and his father, now, his father accepted him again and changed his clothes. His father vindicated him no sin so that he can stand in front of his father. It is the grace of God. Because God's grace of forgiveness, we can stand in front of God as the second son did in front of his father. 

Justification: “The father gave him new clothes—this is like God declaring us righteous in Christ, not because we are perfect, but because of grace.”

Sanctification: “Then the father gave him new shoes—this is like God giving us strength to walk a new life in Him, learning to live as His children.”

10. Just as the father gave his son new clothes, he also gave him new shoes. The son's old shoes were probably worn out, or maybe he didn't have any decent shoes at all. The new shoes symbolize God's sanctifying work in our lives. After God justifies us through Jesus, he doesn't just leave us there. He also restores our desire and will to follow him. He strengthens us with the Holy Spirit so we can begin walking in his ways with our new identity. That's what sanctification means. Just like the son, wearing new shoes, could start walking again as a son, we, too, can begin living a new life, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:9–11 NASB 2020

And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 2:12–13 NLT

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

11. Just like the father in the story restored his son’s identity and gave him the ability to live as a son again, our Heavenly Father does the same for us. But there’s a key difference: our Heavenly Father didn’t require any sacrifice from us first. Think about how the religious leaders, like the Pharisees and Scribes, must have reacted to this story. The son had defiled himself by working with pigs, unclean animals. He’d broken religious laws and cultural customs. He’d sinned both ceremonially and culturally. They would have expected him to offer sin and guilt offerings. But the father demanded nothing. In those days, many people were trapped by their sins because they couldn’t afford the proper offerings. They couldn’t be cleansed and return to their normal lives. The religious leaders should have helped them, provided the necessary offerings, but they didn’t. They were more concerned with their own wealth and perceived holiness. This was a terrible sin in God’s eyes.

Psalm 51:17 NRSV

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Micah 6:6–8 LBP

“How can we make up to you for what we’ve done?” you ask. “Shall we bow before the Lord with offerings of yearling calves?” Oh no! For if you offered him thousands of rams and ten thousands of rivers of olive oil—would that please him? Would he be satisfied? If you sacrificed your oldest child, would that make him glad? Then would he forgive your sins? Of course not! No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.

12. What can we possibly offer God? What kind of offering would truly please him? We might think we can please God with material things, but even the best gifts, the most expensive offerings, are worthless in God's eyes if our hearts aren't in the right place. The truth is, if God didn't love us first, nothing we do would ever be enough. If God hadn't chosen to love us, we wouldn't be able to respond to him at all. That's why we always say God's grace comes before anything we do. His love is the starting point, the foundation. Our actions are simply a response to his overwhelming grace.

13. Today's story really shows us what God wants for us. He's been waiting for us, waiting for our hearts to turn to him. God has already declared us his sons and daughters, but sometimes we get caught up in just trying to be good. God wants us to see him as our Father, to truly understand that we belong to him. We've been given the privilege of sonship and daughtership, so we can call him 'Father.' If God is our Father, then we're no longer just sinners or slaves. We're family! That means we're invited to the heavenly celebration, to join the party where God is, wearing our new clothes and shoes, our new identity. So, let's remember who we are in God our Father. Let's live out this new life, this sanctified life, with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are his children, and we please him when we live according to the new identity he's given us!

Podcast made by NotebookLM Google

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. In the parable of the prodigal son, what motivated the younger son to return home to his father?

2. What was the older son's reaction to his brother's return, and why did he feel this way?

3. According to the author, what is the significance of the father waiting for the prodigal son?

4. What is the significance of the father giving the returning son new clothes and shoes?

5. How does the author connect the story of the prodigal son to the concept of God's love for humanity?

6. What does the author say about the importance of being considered sons and daughters of God, instead of simply sinners or slaves?

7. How does the story challenge the expectations of religious leaders like the Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus' time?

8. How does the author use the story of the prodigal son to explain the difference between justification and sanctification?

9. How does the author describe the difference between the old life versus the new life when referring to God’s love?

10. What is the significance of the father celebrating the younger son's return with a party?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The younger son was motivated to return home by his desperate circumstances, a famine, and the realisation that even his father's hired workers were better off than him. He recognized the severity of his mistakes and longed for the security and abundance of his father's house.

2. The older son was resentful and angry because he felt his brother didn't deserve the celebration after wasting his inheritance. He believed he, who had remained loyal, should have been the one receiving such attention and reward.

3. The father's waiting signifies God's constant and unwavering love and longing for us to return to Him. It demonstrates that God is always ready to welcome us back, regardless of our past mistakes.

4. The new clothes represent justification, symbolizing the restoration of the son's identity and the forgiveness of his sins. The new shoes represent sanctification, symbolising the new life in Christ where one learns how to walk anew.

5. The author argues that the story reveals the depth and unconditional nature of God's love, which is always ready to forgive and restore us, regardless of our sins. The father's actions mirror God's willingness to embrace and celebrate our return to Him.

6. The author emphasizes that recognizing ourselves as sons and daughters of God transforms our understanding of our relationship with Him. It allows us to approach Him with the intimacy and confidence of a child, rather than the fear and distance of a sinner or slave.

7. The story challenges the Pharisees' focus on strict adherence to religious laws and traditions by showing the father's immediate and unconditional acceptance of his son, even without any required sacrifices or offerings. This highlights the importance of grace and mercy over legalistic compliance.

8. Justification is described as the father giving the son new clothes, representing God declaring us righteous through Christ's sacrifice. Sanctification is likened to the new shoes, signifying God empowering us to live a new life guided by the Holy Spirit.

9. The old life is described as that of a lost, sinful state, estranged from God and marked by our own failures and shortcomings. The new life, made possible by God's love and grace, is one of restored identity, purpose, and fellowship with Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live according to His will.

10. The celebration demonstrates the joy and excitement God experiences when we return to Him. It symbolizes the heavenly celebration and the welcoming of the prodigal son with new clothes and new shoes.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Justification: God's act of declaring a sinner righteous in His sight through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a legal declaration of innocence based on Christ's atoning sacrifice.

• Sanctification: The ongoing process of being made holy or set apart for God's purposes. It involves the gradual transformation of our character and actions to reflect Christ's likeness through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Parable: A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

• Prodigal: Wastefully extravagant, especially in the use of money or resources.

• Grace: God's unmerited favour and love towards humanity. It is a free gift that cannot be earned or deserved.

• Redemption: The act of buying back or rescuing someone from slavery or captivity. In a religious context, it refers to Christ's sacrifice that frees us from the bondage of sin and death.

• Atonement: The act of making amends for wrongdoing or sin. It is achieved through sacrifice or offering.

• Pharisees: A Jewish religious and social movement during the Second Temple period, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and their belief in oral tradition.

• Scribes: Jewish scholars and copyists of the Law during the Second Temple period, who played an important role in interpreting and preserving religious texts.

• Heavenly Father: A term used to describe God. It suggests his love and faithfulness to humanity.