Title: Let's Have a Relationship Like Jesus
The main text of the content always begins with the word “again”. In Luke 15:1-10, Jesus gave parables to the murmuring Pharisees and scribes about a shepherd looking for a lost sheep and a woman looking for lost silver coins. Now he tells them the story of the prodigal son. What is the conflict between the Pharisees and the scribes and Jesus in Luke 15:1-3? It was the difference in how to treat tax collectors and sinners. Pharisees and scribes judge, distinguish, and discriminate according to human conduct. But Jesus loved and cherished sinners before he saw their works.
In the story of the prodigal son, a father and two sons appear (verse 11). The second is the prodigal son. The father and the eldest son differ in their attitude towards this prodigal son. Whose position would you choose?
1. The prodigal son who shows what a sinner is (12-20a)
The figure of the second son shows the figure of a typical sinner. First of all, he was a claimant before his father died. He is a man who has used his enormous wealth in vain by sinning. In the end, he became less than a pig.
But the second began to see himself and his father. This was the fruit he obtained through his utter failure.
2. Father welcomes prodigal son (vv. 20b-24)
What is the father's reaction to the return of the prodigal son?
Every day the father stood at the entrance to the village, waiting for his son to return. He welcomed the returned son with joy because he was so precious. Neither his past conduct nor his changed filthy appearance could change the father's love for him.
3. The firstborn son who rejects the prodigal son (verses 25-30)
What does the eldest son think of the prodigal son who has failed, rebelled, and fallen into sin? Why is he angry at his father's feast and refuses to participate?
The eldest son speaks of his actions (verse 29), points out the actions of the father (verses 29-30), and criticizes the actions of the prodigal son. He represents the way of thinking of the Pharisees.
4. It is proper to relate and welcome the lost, like Jesus did (vv. 31-32).
“My father said, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours; but this thy brother died and is alive, and I was lost and found, so we should rejoice and rejoice.”
Saints, what are your thoughts on the prodigal son? Are you in the position of the firstborn like the Pharisees? Or are you in the position of a father like Jesus? Happy Day 517 begins by making a decision for prospective believers. It begins by establishing a relationship with prospective believers.