Lark Murry

There’s Restoration in
Repentance
Luke 15:11-32

Text (ESV)
11 And he said,
“There was a man who
had two sons. 12 And the
younger of them said to
his father, „Father, give
me the share of property
that is coming to me.‟
And he divided his
property between them.
13 Not many days later,
the younger son gathered
all he had and took a
journey into a far
country, and there he
squandered his property
in reckless living. 14 And
when he had spent
everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went
and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to
feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave
him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, „How many of my father's hired servants have
more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father,
and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against u heaven and before you. 19 I am no
longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‟ 20 And he
arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and
felt compassion, and ran and x embraced him and kissed him. 21 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.‟ 22 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. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill
it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
and is found.‟ And they began to celebrate.
 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things
meant. 27 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.‟ 28 But he was angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father,
„Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you
never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of
yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for
him!‟ 31 And he said to him, „Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was
lost, and is found.‟”

Illustration: There was a little girl who had a very cute puppy. For being a little girl,
she likes every little thing that makes her happy. So she loved the dog so much more
than anything else. But sadly, one day someone took away the puppy and she felt so
sad and didn‟t even eat food for couple of days. But amazingly, the puppy returned
back to her after some days and you know! Little girl was so much excited that she
had never before.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

In brief: A man had two sons and the youngest son took his share from his father and
went to a far country to live his life in a way he wants. When he spent all the money, a
severe famine arose in that country (v. 13). And when he suffered and felt the pain of
hunger he remembers his father and the servants in his Father‟s house. So he decided
God
to return to his father with guilty and repentance (v. 18). So do, heforgives
went. and
Andgive life
when
his father saw him from a far he felt compassion, so he ran and embraced him and
kissed him (v.20). Father was so excited for his son returned (v. 24).

But when the older son returned from his work he heard a sound of
dancing/celebration. So he asked one of the servants and he felt sad after hearing that
your brother has back and therefore your father order to dress him decently and to
prepare for celebration for his sake. The older son complained to his father telling all
his younger brother did (v.25-30). But tenderly father replied him, son! “your brother
was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found” (v. 32).
In this parable I would like to bring out two different attitudes to let you think deeper.
This may help us to examine our attitude. Here, Father refers to God and sons refer to
mankind. But here, for our benefit I would like to bring in this way “sons” mainly
refer to “believers those who says that they are united in the body of Christ”.

Firstly: Attitude of Repentance: The youngest son who went astray from father‟s
presence. He enjoyed his life in a way he wishes to live, did all kinds seeking worldly
pleasure. But when he found hopeless, he return to his father and his father welcome
him gladly saying “I have found my son who was lost” (v. 24).

Here the point is this, many a time we choose to go away from the presence of God by
seeking worldly pleasure. We live our lives according to our wishes by doing all kinds
of evil. Father gave his share to him and went off (v.12). Likewise, we take an
advantage of God‟s love. God‟s love for us is not to take an advantage but to live with
him. We take advantage of him and go astray from him and we get lost.

Even if we go a far from him, God never give up on us but keep on waiting us for our
return to him. Father noticed his son from a far so he rushed towards and hugged him
with a kissed (v. 20). The son confessed for what he has done “father, I‟ve sinned
against you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (v. 21). But father felt
his heart with compassion for his son and also rejoiced for his return. He said “my son
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (v. 24).

Heavenly Father rejoices when we return to Him from our wrong doing. When we say
sorry to him and repent, He forgives. If the world is taking you from God‟s presence
or if you are falling into sin remember God. Call on Him. Remember, God always
wait us even though we go very far from His presence, because He doesn‟t want to
miss even a single soul. When Peter began to sink he cried out “LORD, save me” am
drowning and Jesus pulled him out (Matt. 14:30). Remember God, how gigantic God
love for you. Call upon Him. He answers.

Secondly: Selfish Attitude: the older son who stayed with his father was
disappointed to his father and felt jealous when he heard merry sound. He complained
to his father “father these many years I have served you and I never disobeyed your
command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my
friends” (v. 30).

He was not happed for the return of his lost brother, rather he felt jealous of him. His
brother went very far from home, but he didn‟t even think or missed him, nor
remember to visit his brother. Never thought of how his brother would be doing? He
was so busied for himself. And when his brother returned home he felt so sad.
Likewise, many Christian are just like the older son. We never thought of someone
who is fallen to sin, who is far from God. We always think that we are more righteous
than one who is fallen and therefore we look them sinner. But, actually we are more
wicket than them because our vainness blinds us. Remember the Pharisees who
prayed (Luke 18:9-14). If we really think that we are righteous then we are supposed
to feel pity and have sympathy for them. We will pray for them and encourage them,
motivate them.

Apostle John mentioned in his letter “don‟t sin, but if anyone does sin we have
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1). Of course! We must be careful; if
not anyone can be fallen into sin. However, God forgives and restore through Jesus
Christ if we confess it. In additional the word of God says “Brothers, if anyone is
caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of
gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he
is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal 6:1-3). So it is the duty of the one who is strong
enough or thinks more righteous than one who has fallen.

Many Christian, when we see someone who has fallen to sin, our heart feel with
hatred, we criticize them by saying what they have done. We love to cover their good
things with one incident and instead of encourage them and pray for them when we
meet, we throw stone on them. Even if we don‟t speak about them or mock them, they
themselves feel guilty. We don‟t need to remain them. Remember the son who went a
far from his father said “I‟ve sinned against my father” (v. 19). Who knows! We
might be more unworthy than someone who has fallen but back to God with
confession. And God restore them back.
So now, who is better? If we think that we are better than someone who has fallen we
would have pray for them, encourage them and bring them back. But, instead of
praying for them we don‟t‟ even want to see them. Our duty is to bring them back
(Gal 6:1), but we are also like the older son.

The little girl felt so happy when the dog returned home, but more than that our
heavenly FATHER will happy when someone returns to Him. When the lost has been
found Father rejoices (v. 24). So remind them to call on God who keeps on waiting us.
See them like the way Jesus Sees us. Love them like Jesus loves us.

Summary

We chose ourselves to go astray from God, but still then God always keep waiting us
compassionately. God rejoice when we return to Him from our wrong doing with
confession. Being a Christian we should always pray and encourage one who is gone
far from God. We should not look them as sinner or wicker than we rather we should
look them as Jesus look at us. We should pray for them and encourage to come back
to God when someone goes astray (Gal 6:1-2). See and love them like Jesus does.

May the Spirit of God help us to understand His word.