The Prodigal Son

As Jesus was reclining enjoying a meal with His friends, the Pharisees mocked Him for eating with known sinners. When Jesus heard this, He got up and told them a story about a man and his two sons. In this story, the younger son went to his father and demanded his inheritance. The young man used up all his wealth on wild living. After coming to the end of himself, he realized he had sinned against his father. He also realized that his father's hired servants were better off than he was. So he went back home with the intention of asking his dad’s forgiveness and asking to be taken on as a servant. But when he got close enough to home to be seen, his father ran to him, embraced him, and made a celebration for his safe return. In telling us this, Jesus gives us a glimpse of God’s great love for His prodigal children.

In our last episode, we heard the parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus used to teach an important lesson about what love for one’s neighbor really looks like – and who our neighbors are. It was also a challenge to the Jews’ preconceived notions about goodness as He cast a hated Samaritan in the role of the hero, while supposedly righteous religious leaders were portrayed as uncaring and blind to the needs of others. Today we’ll hear a powerful story from Jesus, one that shows the merciful heart of God and His readiness to forgive and share good things with all who seek Him. It’s a story of a loving father and two sons who are equally lost but in very different ways.