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Laughingstock

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Words of Faith 10-12-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 15

    [11] Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

     [13] "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. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. [16] He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

    [17] "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' [20] So he got up and went to his father.

    "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

    [21] "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

    [22] "But the father 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. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

 

         Jesus started with a lost sheep, one out of one hundred.  Then spoke of a lost coin, one out of ten.  The ratio was changing.  The values were getting greater.  How about a missing child, one out of two?  The ratio was not really significant.  But nothing gets to us quite like a missing child. This is the most powerful story of all. 

         A rebellious son demands his inheritance before the death of his father and then goes to another country and wastes that inheritance.  The scene was unthinkable in the ancient world.  Such a son would be disowned or perhaps even stoned! But instead, the Father went out every day to watch for that rebellious son in case he might return.

         It is interesting that of the three examples in these parables, the child was the most valuable and yet was the one thing that was not searched for.  Perhaps this is because the son should have known better.  Perhaps it is because rebellion requires repentance. 

         A sheep that wanders can simply be guided or carried home.  A coin that slips away can be immediately returned to the set.  But the rebellious son, even if he were hunted down by the Father and forced to return home, could run for the pig pen again.   The rebellious son had to come to a decision.  At some point, he had to come to his senses and choose to come home.   

        But the father did watch.  He never forgot about the son.  Every day the father watched so that when the boy was a long way off he could run to greet the boy.  Why?

       In Middle Eastern culture, the boy, having done the unthinkable, would be ritually shunned if he ever returned to the village.  Those who first saw him entering the village would circle around the boy at the edge of town, declare him to be a non-person, and turn their back on him.  He would forever be a non-person in the village, invisible and ignored. 

        So instead, the father ran to the son.  In Middle Eastern culture, wealthy men never ran.  Just the idea was hilarious to the hearer.  The richer you were, the more slowly you would walk with fine robes trailing behind.  We do not notice this in our "jogging culture" but when the father ran through the village he made himself a laughingstock with robes hiked up and white legs flying.

        This out-of-shape father deliberately created a diversion because he had seen the lost son from a long way off.  He made himself the target of laughter in order to prevent the son's humiliation and shunning.  This is the Gospel. 

        In Christ Jesus, the Father made himself nothing taking the form of a servant.  He took on the laughter and jeers so that we would not be "shunned" or forever outcast.  Is there anything as powerful as this?

        But don't miss this.  The key is in the rejoicing.  The Father 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.' So they began to celebrate.

          The Shepherd calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

         The woman who lost the coin found it and she calls her friends and neighbors together saying, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'   In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

          Until we understand the rejoicing heart of God over the sinner who repents, we do not understand who God is and what He desires in us.

 

          Father God, give me Your heart of seeking, finding and rejoicing.  Show me how to reach those You are wanting to find.  In Jesus' name.