Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“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. 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.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered 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 had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32

Our sin creates relational fracture with God.

“Traditional Middle Easterners, wearing long robes, do not run inpublic. They never have. To do so would be deeply humiliating. The father runs,knowing that in so doing he will deflect the attention of the community awayfrom his ragged son to himself. People will focus on the extraordinary sight ofa distinguished, self-respecting landowner, humiliating himself in public byrunning down the road revealing his legs. They will not even notice the raggedyoung man until after the reconciliation takes place.”
-Kenneth E. Bailey, Jacob & the Prodigal

Bottom Line

God’s grace chases after the unrighteous and the self-righteous.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1-2 ‍

Jesus uses this parable to:

1. Expose the judgmental posture of the Pharisees
2. Reveal the posture of God towards sinners
3. Defend Jesus’ ministry as consistent with the posture of God

Repentance is the acceptance of being found.

What do you have that you haven’t received? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Corinthians 4:7

People captured by grace embody a posture of grace.

Action Steps:

• Reflect: What would it like to embody the posture ofJesus with your extended family this week?
• Practice: Engage a family member that you have a hard time with and move towards them with grace.