WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:01.040 Amen. 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:02.000 Well, good morning. 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:04.719 We are in week four of the season of Lent. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:07.679 In the season of Lent, we go through what's called the lectionary. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.279 The lectionary gives us different Bible readings for each Sunday. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:19.760 So we are looking at different Jesus stories each Sunday, working our way through these 40 days leading up to Good Friday and Easter. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.239 So we have a familiar story this morning, the prodigal son's story. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:27.199 It's about a loving papa and his two children. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:30.879 So let's read it, break it down, and make sense of it for our lives. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.119 Luke 15, 12 through 14. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:38.159 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:40.320 And he divided his property between them. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:45.439 Not many days later the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.960 There he squandered his property in reckless living. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:54.880 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:03.200 So this young son, out of foolishness, sin, selfishness, arrogance, he asked for his inheritance early. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:09.280 Point number one is this we have belonging with God, yet we are prone to wander from God. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:17.040 We all have belonging with God already in Jesus, and yet we are prone to wander from that very belonging that we have. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.319 I mean, that's what people, but I'm like, you went to Alabama. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:35.919 You know, so it's like, really? 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:39.919 Is Alabama really like is the can it be that great? 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:48.800 So sure enough, we drive in, I'm in my black car with my red and black license plate tag, and we drive in, here's the the the the road in. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.560 It is it is immaculate. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:57.280 It is so lovely, it is beautiful, it it just is. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.240 The lawns, the build, the buildings are impressive. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.919 They are the football money is at work. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:10.159 Everything is clean, everything is tidy, it is amazing. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:11.840 So we go on a tour. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:18.080 Garland, the senior guy, who is our tour guide, and he's showing us around and landscaping's dialed in. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:19.439 I start to look for a mistake. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.960 I'm like, I will find a mistake. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:22.960 You can't find a mistake, it's unbelievable. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:24.080 The people are nice. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:25.599 People were nice. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:28.879 And Garland's telling us amazing things about this university. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:32.479 I mean, like, slowly I'm being wooed to the evil side. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.400 Like, this is what's going on. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.080 And then we're at the the we're at the center of campus, some clock tower that means something to Alabama people. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:40.800 I don't care. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.199 I'm not listening, I'm just looking around this clock tower. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.400 I don't know, it looks like a clock tower like every other campus of SEC school. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:48.400 But it means so much to Alabama people. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.280 And then we hear 40 of us with garland, we hear, smack, we turn around. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:57.120 A squirrel had fallen from a tree. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:58.719 Even in Alabama, this happens. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:03:59.680 It fell. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.000 Splat right on the sidewalk. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.240 And we're all 40 of us, all 40 of us turned. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.240 It was so loud, this little squirrel. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:09.039 We turn and we all look at it, waiting. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:13.439 You know, it's just gonna hop up and just kind of run off. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:14.960 No, he's dead. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:16.079 He's dead. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:17.680 We all look back at Garland. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:19.600 Garland's like, that is never happened. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:21.759 I'm like, it's a it's a sign. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:22.800 I don't know. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:33.519 And then I we realize we are standing on this sidewalk of all the captains of the football team through the decades. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:37.040 It has their like handprint, footprint, and their name. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:47.680 And I see names like Mac Jones and Bryce Young and Jalen Milrow and Tua, men who have ruined my Saturdays. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:54.720 I don't want to tell you what I wanted to do to this sidewalk. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:55.600 Things I wanted. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:03.040 I started having flashbacks to 2017 National Championship, and I was in like convulsions and Garland's you okay? 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:07.839 And I'm like, I'm a Georgia fan, it's an emotional journey, I'm having a hard time, I'm processing, there's a lot going on here. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.720 And it really is lovely. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:16.160 It is unbelievably lovely and impressive and perfect. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:16.720 Right? 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.600 My children do come before college football. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:20.720 You can journal that. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:22.399 Just journal it, pray about it. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.040 I don't know if you want to go there, that might be a bit much. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.639 Children in front of college football. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:27.680 You can think about it. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.519 It could be quite a transformation for you, for children to be in front of college football. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:33.680 But it is true, it is true. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:39.040 And if I can be silly, if I could be silly and just use this as a metaphor, I was far from home. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:40.399 Like I didn't feel at home. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.399 Like it's beautiful, it's impressive, it's unbelievable. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:43.279 It's not like my home. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.399 I don't feel safe and like comfy and loved. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:48.720 Maybe you've been far from home. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.560 Far from love, far from safety. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:51.759 You're in a distant country. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:58.000 In our text, this boy is far from anything that he knows or comfort or safety or love. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.319 And then when he's there, he's rebelling, he's just blowing all this money. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:03.519 Just blowing it. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:05.519 He begins to starve. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:19.680 And then he's driven by his hunger so much he needs a job, and he gets a job working, feeding pigs, and a pig was an unclean animal to a Jew, so now he has shamefully wasted all his inheritance, and now he has a job and he is shamefully working. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:27.360 So he's at the end of himself taking shameful work, but still, he still doesn't go home. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.079 And we all know that feeling because we we all do it. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.839 Like the moment we should turn around and we're like, no, I'll figure this out. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:37.519 Like, no, I'll control this. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.040 Like, I got it. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:39.600 I got it. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.079 I got it. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.680 I don't need to repent yet. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:43.839 I don't need to let go or surrender yet. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:46.800 I will have this figured out on my own. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.879 Verse 15. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:56.079 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into the fields to feed pigs. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:02.399 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:08.560 But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread? 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:17.439 But I perish here with hunger, I will arise, go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I've sinned against heaven, and before you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.920 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:24.639 Point number two is this God's office is at the end of our rope. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:37.920 Verse 17 says, When he came to his senses, the phrasing means, in all of his running from the Father, he wasn't being himself. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:44.480 Him coming to his senses is him realizing who he actually is. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:47.600 And he thinks, okay, I can go home. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.680 I can go where I belong. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.959 Maybe dad will take me back. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.680 Maybe the father still loves me. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:57.600 Maybe he'll accept me. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.360 So he forms his little speech. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.639 He's going to form this little speech. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:05.199 Okay, when I get there, I'm going to tell my dad, I'm so sorry, I've sinned against you and against heaven. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:06.800 You know, I'm not worthy of your son. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:07.839 I'm not even asking for that. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:09.759 I'll work my way back into the family. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.439 Just make me one of your hired servants. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:12.560 That's his game plan. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:14.160 Here's what happens, verse 20. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:23.519 And he arose and came to his father, but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:30.079 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:38.320 But the father said to his servants, Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:42.080 And bring the fattened calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.240 For this my son was dead and is alive again. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.679 He was lost and is found. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:47.360 They began to celebrate. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:54.399 So point number three is this God lavishly loves us without requirement or payback. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:59.039 It's a one-way love in Jesus. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:01.600 In Jesus, you are fully forgiven. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:06.480 In Jesus, you are fully righteous, and it has nothing to do with what you've done or will do. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.919 It is one-way love. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.879 The father's love waited, never forgot the child. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:15.279 See, men in that culture didn't run, but we see this dad running. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.240 His love compelled him. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.679 It shows the joy of the father to receive the child. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:28.320 Priest and author Robert Capin, he says this parable is a festival of death. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.879 We see three deaths. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:34.639 The first, the son has to die to himself to return. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:39.600 The second, the father has to die to himself as to accept the son. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:49.679 And then we have a death of a calf, which is the image of Christ, has to be sacrificed so the party can begin. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:56.559 Now, maybe you're here, and when you think of prodigal, it gets incredibly personal. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:02.320 Because you have a prodigal in your family, a loved one, a dear one. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:06.960 Your child's out living in a distant country, your heart breaks for them. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:10.879 You see them wandering, you see them hurting, you see them searching. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:16.320 Theologian Russell Moore writes this in his article, Love Your Prodigal as yourself. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:30.799 When dealing with those wandering away from the faith, we must recognize that sometimes they'll not start evaluating the deep questions of their lives until they find themselves in a situation where they don't know what to do. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:44.159 We must be that sort of parents and grandparents and churches who have kept every open every possible connection so that our prodigals will know how to get back home. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:49.120 And know we'll meet them at the road already planning a homecoming party. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.080 That requires, though, a death to self. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:59.600 The pain over a wayward child is real and ought to be present in a life driven by the Spirit. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:10.240 Moore goes on to say that there will be a death, that death to self, there'll be a death, because there'll have to be a death of your family being seen as a certain way. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:12.559 A death to the perfect family. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:18.399 There'll be a death to the you being seen or you thinking you have it all together as a parent. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.440 There'll be these deaths. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.600 So you'll have to know where your real identity is. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:32.480 Beyond being a mom or a dad, that you really are full and enough in Jesus. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:38.639 And then there will be a call, and the call is to not be embarrassed by them. 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:41.039 This is how Moore says it. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:56.399 Sometimes what it may take for a child to see the cross and the lives of his parents is to hear those parents say, no matter what you do, no matter where you go, you'll always be our child and we'll always be glad to say so. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.720 We may not like what you're doing, but we're not ashamed of you. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.039 Do you remember in the first Narnia story? 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:09.039 Edmund, Edmund's in Narnia with all his siblings. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.799 Aslan's the symbol. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.519 Aslan the line is the symbol of Jesus. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.759 And Edmund turns on Aslan. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.159 He turns from his siblings. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.960 He aligns himself with that evil white witch who has promised him Turkish delight, this little snack. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.559 And then, of course, he has the snack, and eventually he realizes his fault. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.639 And he comes back to Aslan. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.360 And Aslan forgives him, takes him back. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:40.559 And this is what Aslan says when Aslan presents Edmund back to the siblings. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.080 Aslan says, here is your brother. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:47.840 And there's no need to talk to him about what has passed. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.279 And the point is, we're all Edmund. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:13:01.200 And the point is also that we all need the heart of Aslan for the prodigals in our lives, our families, friends, neighbors, and our church. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:04.799 Back into our text, Luke 15, verse 25. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:11.919 Now his older son was in the field, and he came and drew near to the house, and he heard music and dancing. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:16.080 And he called one of the servants and asked, What these things meant. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.879 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. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.519 But he was angry, refused to go in. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:32.240 His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, Look, these many years I have served you. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:39.039 I never disobeyed your commands, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:46.000 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:52.480 And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.639 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.120 He was lost and is found. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:08.960 Point number four is this both the rebellious child and the self-righteous child need the father's one-way love. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.320 We feel for the older brother, don't we? 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.840 All these years I've been here but slaving away. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.159 You've never given me a party like this. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.080 Look at all the work I've done. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:26.399 And he's thinking this younger brother disrespected the father, disrespected the family, wasted money. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:31.279 The very least the younger brother should have to do is work his way back in. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:36.559 The older brother is proud of how good he is. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.799 He's judgmental. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.240 He's self-righteous. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:43.600 He's self-consumed with his own record. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:48.799 He makes himself feel better by comparison himself to others. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.559 And he has no ability to extend compassion. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.039 Now my journey hasn't much been the younger brother. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:00.639 My journey has been mainly the older brother. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:10.720 But it turns out that even if you've been a younger brother, we're amazingly good at becoming a Christian, getting involved in church, and then becoming an older brother. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.240 This older brother has an incredibly insecure heart. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.679 He feels like he has to prove himself to his family. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.279 It's easy to live that way as a Christian. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:40.080 To accept Jesus as your forgiveness, but then get on the treadmill, and you will show everybody and show God that you deserve to be in the party. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:46.559 And to that self-righteous child, the father says, Child, you've always been with me. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:49.200 We've always been in relationship. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.919 The story shows us the difference between world, religion, and gospel. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.440 We can break it down this way: the world is the way of rebellion. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.039 It's the younger brother. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:06.080 I will be at peace and enough by being or doing what I want for maximum pleasure. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.840 I'll be my own boss. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.600 I got it. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.639 I'll handle it. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.600 No surrender. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:13.279 All control by me. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:17.759 The way of religion, the way of moralism, the elder brother. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:23.360 I will be at peace and enough by my performance and by being good enough. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.360 The gospel's the third way. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:36.000 The way of grace, the loving Father, I will be at peace and enough as I am in relationship with God through Jesus. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.200 So what does this mean for you? 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.279 Well, I think it means three things. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.159 The first is we're always welcomed by the Heavenly Father. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.679 We're always welcomed home. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.799 We're always welcomed, whether you're the younger brother or the older brother. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.879 Number two, the life of faith is a party of grace. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.639 It is a party. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:57.919 The Father is wanting to throw a party for you. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:02.960 It won't always be easy, but the life of faith is a party of grace. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.799 Jesus' work for us, not our work for him. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:11.599 Our work for him is not to earn our way with the Father. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:14.400 It just reflects what Jesus has already given to us. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.319 The calf, the calf creates the party. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.440 And the calf is the symbol of Jesus. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:25.279 That Jesus dies so that there is a party of grace for us to have. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.720 We actually have a feast. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.160 We have a party. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:36.000 And third, the more alive we come to the love of God, the more we grow to honor Him with our lives. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.759 We do want to honor Him. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.839 We want healthy obedience. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:45.119 But that comes out of a deeper and deeper knowing and realizing how loved we are. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.119 The parable doesn't call us to a shame motivation religion. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.079 It doesn't call us to simple behavioral change. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.279 It presents to us relationship. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.599 Relationship with the Father. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.799 To be welcomed, to be loved, to be accepted. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.000 You're in the family. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.880 Now, what does it mean to be a child? 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:10.079 Last year, a new children's book released, Charlie and the Preschool Prodigal. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.839 The story is about these two brothers. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.400 You got Charlie, who follows the rules. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:19.440 He's tidy, he's neat, and then you have Eddie, who's a mess, always causing a problem. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.839 So eventually Eddie, he's had enough. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.400 He's had enough of his older brother, always telling him what to do. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.079 His dad's giving him all these rules. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:31.920 And so Eddie runs away, runs to his neighbor's yard, builds a little fort under the bush. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.200 His dad's out looking for him, calling for him. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.559 Eddie, Eddie, come home. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.359 Come home. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.119 It's getting late, come home. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.680 But he's under that bush, he's having a blast. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.519 Because nobody's telling him what to do. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:45.599 He gets to make his own rules. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:49.359 And for a while, he is having a blast. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.359 Until it doesn't work anymore. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.200 Because the mosquitoes come. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.799 They start biting them. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:58.000 And then it gets worse, and a wasp comes. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:06.000 And when the wasp comes, eventually he heads straight home, runs straight home, and as he runs home, his dad begins to run toward him. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:10.319 The dad hugs him, and then the dad calls for Charlie, the older brother. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.839 Charlie, Eddie's home. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.039 Let's go get ice cream. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.559 Let's all go get ice cream together. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.079 Let's have ice cream. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.720 But Charlie doesn't come out of his room. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:23.039 So the dad goes up to the older brother, invites him to ice cream. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:32.240 The dad says to this self-righteous, judgmental brother has no ability to extend compassion to somebody else. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:36.319 Here's what the dad says, Do you know who else is important to me? 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.640 You are, Charlie. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:44.240 I love you and always will, even though you didn't come when I called either. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.640 And then the story just ends, just like Luke 15 just ends. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:51.440 We don't know how the older brother reacts. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.240 Because the emphasis is not on the child's behavior. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:01.680 The emphasis at the point of the parable is on the father's love. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.359 That is sufficient. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.400 That is enough. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.359 Welcoming. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:12.160 The author of this little children's book at the end of the book gives a one paragraph, kind of summary. 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:16.400 It's the best summary that I've read of the prodigal son story in a while. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.839 I close with it. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:25.519 But the route to real joy is found in our Father's love, which we receive because Christ earned it. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:35.519 Wild children and tidy children, grown-ups who run away and get lost, and grown-ups who wear themselves out trying to be right all the time. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:41.519 All need God's grace and can have a seat waiting for them at the feast. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:52.000 So maybe you're here, maybe you're a young brother, maybe you're an older brother, maybe you're wild and messy, or maybe you are clean and neat. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:54.400 We all need the Father's love in Jesus. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.920 And you are welcome. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.759 Maybe you have a question about that. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.039 There'll be a pastor down front afterward, love to talk to you and pray with you. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.240 Let's pray together. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:11.599 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you wait for us in all of our rebellion and in our self-righteousness. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:18.400 The truth is, we are all a little bit of the younger brother and a little bit of the older brother. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:27.200 Help us to come into the party of grace by surrendering and receiving that you are enough for us. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:30.559 And may our lives honor you in Christ's name. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.440 Amen.