Jesus teaches: “There was a man who had two sons.” (Luke 15:11) The parable begins by introducing three people: a father and his two sons. To review the story, the youngest of the two sons demands his share of his father’s estate which the father gives him. Shortly after being given his inheritance, “…the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth IN WILD LIVING.” (Luke 15:13). Finding himself destitute and in the midst of a severe famine, he hires himself out to a pig farmer. Making sure the pigs were eating better than him, he decides to return to his father and beg to be allowed to serve as a hired servant.
The son got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON; make me like one of your hired servants.” (Luke 15:18-19) Then the father said, bring him the best robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine WAS DEAD in sin and is NOW ALIVE again; he WAS LOST and is FOUND.
HEY AMY, “…there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over ONE SINNER who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
-Bill Stockham