March 27, 2022 Text: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Dear Friends in Christ,
Magicians are great at distracting us. If they can get us to look intently in one direction at what they are doing, we will not see what they are doing elsewhere. They then pull off their trick and we are stunned. So . . .
“GET READY FOR SOME SLEIGHT OF HAND THIS MORNING”
This is the third in a series of parables Jesus has been telling in response to the criticism he has been receiving from, of all people, the upstanding, churchgoing crowd. This third illustration is designed to be the clincher. Jesus does a great job of distracting his hearers.
The younger son. He wants his inheritance. In implicit terms he would like his dad to die. The father still very much alive gives him his share. He gets away from his parents and spends his monies on prostitutes and other unsavory devices. He is careless with his life because he has left home and church. He runs out of money and with famine in this foreign land the only job he can get is with the pigs.
Let’s notice something for our ears. The father enabled the son with the finances he gave. But he didn’t keep enabling him. The son had to hit bottom before he changed and repented. He did this on his own. His family was not chasing him. The son came back.
He gets on his feet and makes his way home. On the way he practices his apology. “Dad, I messed up. I am not worthy to be your son. Can I hire on as one of your servants?” Aren’t you and I gloating a little bit? We always like it when we think people get what they deserve. He’s no big man. He just another guy on dad’s payroll. The magician has our attention.
The magician pulls us in closer because we can’t wait to watch this spurned dad make this poor sack of a kid lick his boots. While we wait for this Jesus creates a twist. The dad greets him like a dignitary. He throws filet mignon on the hibachi, gives him a ring, Johnston & Murphy shoes and a Brooks Brothers suit. This isn’t fair! But the magician smiles and continues.
Now let’s introduce the character we can identify with: the older son. He’s indignant. “I’ve slaved for and never disobeyed you. I never even got a pizza party. This is mockery.” And the others standing around had to say, “Alright. Someone thinking clearly. A voice of justice. His dad needs a wake-up call and this son has the guts to delivers the goods.” And the magician smiles even more.
Now we are really following the action. How is Pops going to answer that? Will he come to his senses? Will he stop mollycoddling this younger son? “Son,” he begins. We usually miss this part because we are distracted by the story. The son just insulted his dad but he still calls him “Son.” Dad ignores the insults – dad as servant, brother as not part of the family. He reassures him that the younger son coming home has done nothing to damage his relationship with him. “All that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” (vs. 31b-32)
Now we get it. The sleight of hand story distracted us that that we missed our resentment and begrudging forgiveness. Thanks to the Savior’s skillful storytelling, we didn’t even see it coming. How does the story end? How you finish it says a lot about you.
If you want the older son to hold his ground and skip the party and begrudge his father’s grace, well, Jesus shakes his head in sorrow. You don’t get that you are in God’s family by the same forgiving love that sent the Father’s Son to the cross for those sinners you think are worse than you.
It is fitting that those who do not forgive as they have been forgiven remain outside the celebration, because that is where they will spend eternity. They will not enjoy God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. But those who are rejoicing over this one sinner who repents will enter into the feast.
You and I enter by the same act of love by the Father – giving Christ Jesus into death on the cross. There He welcomes and dies for what you have squandered. He prepares a heavenly feast for you by which His Easter resurrection has made possible. You are given the clothes of an endless paradise.
Hasn’t the greatest of magicians given you a new perspective this Sunday morning? Some of you are living this story with your own children. So how does the story end for you?
The Lord knows. Trust Him. It is His grace and mercy that will make the difference.
Amen.