From the Pastor's Desk

Many have seen Luke 15 as three separate stories. It is really one story divided into three parts. Luke 15 is an effort of Jesus to make a point to the Pharisees. They had accused the Lord of befriending sinners. Jesus carefully weaves three stories together and ends up talking about the elder brother and his attitude concerning the Prodigal Son and his return home. Jesus emphasizes the pouting of the elder brother and basically says to the Pharisees, “This is a picture of you.”

It’s interesting that in all three of these stories a celebration is described – a party, if you will. When the shepherd found the lost sheep and returned it to the ninety and nine, there was a party. When the woman found the lost coin, there was a celebration. Jesus stated that there is rejoicing in heaven over the salvation of one soul. He then unveils the story of the Prodigal Son and ends it with a revealing picture concerning the attitude of the elder brother over the party given for the young prodigal. The elder brother refused to go in.

It is important to understand that while this has become “the story of the Prodigal Son,” it could well have been called “the story of the father’s reaction to two boys gone astray.”

For both spend time in the pig pen; one in rebellion and the other in self-pity.

Both were in a far country; one geographically and the other spiritually.

Both were loved by the father and welcomed into his home as well as his heart.

I’m glad I’m serving a loving heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally, aren’t you?

Happy Father’s Day!!

-Pastors Tim and Katrina