EPISODE 501 – THE FATHER’S LOVE 2

Friday 7th, June 2024

THE FATHER’S LOVE 2

“… So the father raced out to meet him. He swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love.” Luke 15:20 (TPT)

Jesus who is God made flesh, came to us to show us the God-life.

Jesus demonstrated to mankind the true and perfect character of God.

Man had always had a wrong picture of God.

However, Jesus brought to light the fullness of the goodness of God and His loveliness as the Father.

He showed how God, will always attend to the details of our lives and be our great comfort. He healed the sick, the lame, the lepers and the blind.
Those who were condemned to death according to the law, were brought to Him, He showed them forgiveness.

Jesus didn’t only demonstrate the love of God, He taught on God’s love using parables and stories. There are about 52 recorded parables of Jesus in the Gospels. Most of these artistic parables are authentic to only Jesus; they are depiction of Himself. Which of course most rabbinic parables are not focused on the rabbi. But Jesus’ were different.

In Luke 15, Jesus shared three beautiful parables which explained how God’s love works.

Just in Luke chapter 15 and 16, Jesus shared, five (5) amazing parables.

Two of the parables were in Luke 16, and Jesus was talking to His disciples, to have better understanding of how the economy of God works in contrast to how the religious Jewish leaders think.

However, the three (3) parables  in Luke 15 were direct responses to the religious and self righteous Jewish leaders.

They assumed they knew God and His character, but never knew anytime they spoke to Jesus, they were speaking to God made flesh.

“By this time a lot of men and women of questionable reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story” Luke 15:1-3 (The Message)

Parables (the Greek word is Parabole) are stories or illustrations, or a general term for figurative saying. Parables are not to be taken literal but must be examined closely to draw out the meaning from the perspective of the narrator.

It is in parallel to the Hebrew word, “mashal”. Which means to speak or use a proverb, speak or make parables and speak in sentences of poetry.

You find this a lot in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. The prophets, psalmist, leaders and kings spoke in these manner.

The parables Jesus spoke are of Jewish concept and background than the Greeks.

This will help you not to submit your thoughts to the several misconceptions around the parables of Jesus.

In Luke 15 you will find a parable of:
1. The Lost sheep.
2. The Lost coin and
3. The Loving Father

Most people have got the third parable all wrong.

The focus of these three parables is Jesus and not the sheep, the coin or the son.

The parable does not depict a prodigal son, but instead, the LOVING FATHER.

Interestingly, those who heard the parable didn’t see a prodigal son. They heard and saw the heart of Jesus through this parable.

Jesus illustrated:

– How He loves sinners and how He is eagerly ready to receive those who are called sinners.

– The warmth and love He gives and shows “sinners” no matter how dirty they look in the eyes of the religious folks.

– How He transforms the hearts of the condemned, when they come to Him.

The Father never called His son prodigal.

When the young son set off for home. His father saw him coming from a long distance away. Which means the father has always been looking forward for the return of his son. Though the son was dressed as a beggar. The father didn’t start by complaining and reminding him of how foolish he was. Instead the father had great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home.

And the father raced out to meet him. He swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love. The Father didn’t care about his son’s dirty state.

Look at the son’s response:

“Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’

“The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’ Luke 15:21 (TPT)

The father wasn’t listening to the son but was focused on loving him..

When we feel imperfect and unworthy before the Lord, He doesn’t see our imperfections. He sees us worthy of His love and saving grace.

The Father wasn’t ready to listen to his son’s sense of guilt . He interrupted and said, “Son, you are home now!”

Wow!

The warmth of the loving Father .

The father reminded him of his place, by calling him “Son…”