1 00:00:22,140 --> 00:00:30,810 A new creation, no more in condemnation. 2 00:00:31,210 --> 00:00:35,150 Here in the grace of God I stand. 3 00:00:36,250 --> 00:00:41,230 My heart is overflowing, my love just keeps 4 00:00:41,230 --> 00:00:42,290 on growing. 5 00:00:42,290 --> 00:00:46,630 Here in the grace of God I stand. 6 00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:50,550 And I will praise you, Lord, yes, I 7 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:52,710 will praise you, Lord. 8 00:00:52,950 --> 00:00:56,430 And I will sing of all that you 9 00:00:56,430 --> 00:00:59,030 have done. 10 00:01:00,050 --> 00:01:02,490 A joy that knows no limits. 11 00:01:03,069 --> 00:01:05,450 A lightness in my spirit. 12 00:01:05,850 --> 00:01:09,050 Here in the grace of God I stand. 13 00:01:09,050 --> 00:01:33,130 And I will praise 14 00:01:33,130 --> 00:02:53,250 you, Lord, yes, I 15 00:02:53,250 --> 00:02:54,190 will praise you, Lord. 16 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,280 And I will sing of all that you 17 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:27,380 have done. 18 00:03:27,380 --> 00:03:34,600 A joy that knows no limits. 19 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,300 A lightness in my spirit. 20 00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:42,000 And I will praise you, Lord, yes, I 21 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:42,100 will praise you, Lord. 22 00:03:44,820 --> 00:03:47,560 A joy that knows no limits. 23 00:03:48,180 --> 00:03:48,940 A lightness in my spirit. 24 00:03:48,940 --> 00:03:50,300 And I will sing of all that you 25 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:50,400 have done. 26 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,880 A joy that knows no limits. 27 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:09,580 And I will sing of all that you 28 00:04:09,580 --> 00:04:09,920 have done. 29 00:04:11,780 --> 00:04:12,400 A joy that knows no limits. 30 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:12,880 And I will sing of all that you 31 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:12,980 have done. 32 00:04:17,260 --> 00:04:19,940 A joy that knows no limits. 33 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:23,400 And you recall how the son goes off 34 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,740 into a far country having insulted his father 35 00:04:25,740 --> 00:04:29,700 by asking him for his inheritance before father 36 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:30,360 died. 37 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:34,360 He finds himself in very, very bad circumstances 38 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,660 after a while and determines to come back 39 00:04:38,660 --> 00:04:40,600 to father. 40 00:04:40,940 --> 00:04:41,700 Verse 17. 41 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:44,920 When he came to his senses he said, 42 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,180 How many of my father's hired men have 43 00:04:48,180 --> 00:04:51,640 food to spare and here I am starving 44 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:52,260 to death. 45 00:04:52,780 --> 00:04:54,660 I will set out and go back to 46 00:04:54,660 --> 00:04:56,720 my father and say to him, Father, I 47 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,800 have sinned against heaven and against you. 48 00:05:00,260 --> 00:05:02,240 I am no longer worthy to be called 49 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:02,800 your son. 50 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,440 Make me like one of your hired men. 51 00:05:05,860 --> 00:05:08,120 So he got up and went to his 52 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:08,600 father. 53 00:05:09,180 --> 00:05:10,980 But while he was still a long way 54 00:05:10,980 --> 00:05:13,680 off, his father saw him and was filled 55 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,160 with compassion for him. 56 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,900 He ran to his son through his arms 57 00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:19,460 around him and kissed him. 58 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,240 The son said to him, Father, I have 59 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,640 sinned against heaven and against you. 60 00:05:25,020 --> 00:05:26,940 I am no longer worthy to be called 61 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:27,540 your son. 62 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:30,520 But the father said to his servants, Quick, 63 00:05:30,620 --> 00:05:32,980 bring the best robe and put it on 64 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:33,280 him. 65 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,000 Put a ring on his finger and sandals 66 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:36,840 on his feet. 67 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,880 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. 68 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,780 Let's have a feast and celebrate. 69 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,340 For this son of mine was dead and 70 00:05:44,340 --> 00:05:45,300 is alive again. 71 00:05:45,420 --> 00:05:46,800 He was lost and is found. 72 00:05:47,140 --> 00:05:48,840 So they began to celebrate. 73 00:05:49,620 --> 00:05:52,340 Meanwhile, the oldest son was in the field. 74 00:05:52,980 --> 00:05:55,100 When he came near the house, he heard 75 00:05:55,100 --> 00:05:56,240 music and dancing. 76 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,500 So he called one of the servants and 77 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:00,000 asked him what was going on. 78 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,560 Your brother has come, he replied, and your 79 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,800 father has killed a fattened calf because he 80 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,000 has him back safe and sound. 81 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,980 The older brother became angry and refused to 82 00:06:11,980 --> 00:06:12,460 go in. 83 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:15,440 So his father went out and pleaded with 84 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:15,660 him. 85 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,980 But he answered his father, Look, all these 86 00:06:18,980 --> 00:06:22,220 years I've been slaving for you and never 87 00:06:22,220 --> 00:06:23,620 disobeyed your orders. 88 00:06:24,180 --> 00:06:26,260 Yet you never gave me even a young 89 00:06:26,260 --> 00:06:28,920 goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 90 00:06:29,300 --> 00:06:31,660 But when this son of yours, who has 91 00:06:31,660 --> 00:06:36,000 squandered your property with prostitutes, comes home, you 92 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 kill the fattened calf for him. 93 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:41,660 My son, the father said, you are always 94 00:06:41,660 --> 00:06:44,640 with me and everything I have is yours. 95 00:06:45,180 --> 00:06:47,300 But we had to celebrate and be glad 96 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:50,020 because this brother of yours was dead and 97 00:06:50,020 --> 00:06:50,900 is alive again. 98 00:06:51,540 --> 00:06:55,140 He was lost and is found. 99 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:57,800 Why did Jesus tell the story? 100 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,860 Well, you've already had an intimation of the 101 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:01,200 answer. 102 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,540 There were those who muttered against the Savior. 103 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:10,540 Socially, he had committed the sin of relating 104 00:07:10,540 --> 00:07:14,500 to folk who normally the rabbis would not 105 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:18,160 allow their shadow to fall upon them. 106 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,420 He welcomes sinners and eats with them. 107 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,920 And then the Lord needed to tell this 108 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,480 story because he had to indicate to everyone, 109 00:07:30,580 --> 00:07:33,040 including ourselves, the reason why he came on 110 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,760 earth as God, the Father's representative. 111 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:40,360 There are other things that I reminded you 112 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:41,680 of that we need to keep in our 113 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,160 memories very much at the forefront of our 114 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,160 thinking, actually, as we take in the last 115 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:47,640 part of our Savior's teaching. 116 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,960 And it is that this lovely parable is 117 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,400 not to be thought of privately as a 118 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:59,980 piece of conversation between Father and Son and 119 00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:02,120 ultimately the older son. 120 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:05,740 Rather, it's set in the context of a 121 00:08:05,740 --> 00:08:10,100 Semitic, an Arab, a Jewish village when everyone 122 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:11,740 would know what was going on. 123 00:08:12,460 --> 00:08:15,800 Now, that's not something that's restricted just to 124 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:16,120 villages. 125 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,580 Some of the streets in Worthing are such 126 00:08:19,580 --> 00:08:21,300 that it seems as though everybody knows what 127 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:21,800 is happening. 128 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,260 But in a village context, it's particularly the 129 00:08:25,260 --> 00:08:25,680 case. 130 00:08:26,340 --> 00:08:27,780 So we're to think of this in the 131 00:08:27,780 --> 00:08:32,000 backdrop that Scripture gives of a village. 132 00:08:32,620 --> 00:08:34,700 And then we must always bear in mind 133 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:37,200 in reading this story that there were two 134 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:37,600 sons. 135 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,860 You see, it's inaccurate to say it's the 136 00:08:40,860 --> 00:08:43,220 parable of the prodigal son, singular. 137 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,780 It is the parable of the prodigal sons. 138 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,800 And the distinction between the two sons is 139 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,040 this that the one ultimately has his prodigality 140 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:56,440 resolved. 141 00:08:56,700 --> 00:08:58,560 He's no longer away from Father. 142 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:02,600 But the older boy, alas, that's not the 143 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:03,340 end of the tale. 144 00:09:03,420 --> 00:09:05,260 Indeed, there is no end to the tale. 145 00:09:05,340 --> 00:09:07,180 Not as Jesus narrated it, as I'll show 146 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:09,020 you in a moment or two. 147 00:09:09,780 --> 00:09:12,040 But there is no obvious reconciliation. 148 00:09:13,460 --> 00:09:15,340 So here is the younger son. 149 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:16,960 He's been off in the far country. 150 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,120 His livelihood has been taken away. 151 00:09:19,220 --> 00:09:20,340 In fact, he had no livelihood. 152 00:09:20,340 --> 00:09:22,700 He was really just using the money that 153 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:24,060 he'd taken from his father. 154 00:09:24,140 --> 00:09:26,240 But now he's exhausted the supplies. 155 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,320 There's a famine and he is at his 156 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:30,000 wit's end. 157 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:34,300 There occurs what someone has called, I told 158 00:09:34,300 --> 00:09:36,580 you last week, a fall within the fall. 159 00:09:37,580 --> 00:09:40,160 He fell from his father's trust and confidence 160 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,220 when he said, Give me the money that 161 00:09:43,220 --> 00:09:44,640 should be due to me when you die. 162 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:46,260 In other words, behave as you're dead and 163 00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:47,320 let me have a lot now. 164 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:48,980 That was a terrible fall. 165 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,520 But for this lad, there was a fall 166 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:52,280 within the fall. 167 00:09:52,380 --> 00:09:54,140 He spent the money he's in need and 168 00:09:54,140 --> 00:09:54,840 he's a Jew. 169 00:09:55,740 --> 00:09:57,960 He can't go back to the village for 170 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,840 reasons that I gave you last week. 171 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:02,660 And so immediately he determines to do something 172 00:10:02,660 --> 00:10:03,260 about it. 173 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,500 And he glues himself to, if you please, 174 00:10:07,020 --> 00:10:09,080 someone who seems as though they can help 175 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:09,240 him. 176 00:10:09,380 --> 00:10:11,620 Verse 15, he went and hired himself. 177 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,400 He clung to a citizen of that country 178 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,600 who was not going to help. 179 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,220 A Jew boy gone bad, not at all. 180 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:22,280 There is something hostile, it seems to me, 181 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,320 as I sense the very verses of Scripture 182 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,480 as it comes to this point. 183 00:10:28,780 --> 00:10:31,980 He sends the Jewish lad who was once 184 00:10:31,980 --> 00:10:35,100 a rich boy into the field to feed 185 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:35,720 pigs. 186 00:10:36,900 --> 00:10:40,700 And Jews have no dealings with pigs. 187 00:10:41,580 --> 00:10:44,540 Jews look upon pigs as being unclean. 188 00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:48,480 And this lad is so desperate that he 189 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:53,620 accepts the employment, but he's still terribly hungry. 190 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,020 He comes to the end of his resources. 191 00:10:57,900 --> 00:11:00,260 Someone has said, there is no extent of 192 00:11:00,260 --> 00:11:03,220 departure from Father which precludes return. 193 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:04,160 Did you hear that? 194 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:06,440 You see, our Lord couldn't have set up 195 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,580 a more horrific picture of someone being dislocated 196 00:11:09,580 --> 00:11:11,940 from Father than He has with this Jewish 197 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:13,240 lad amongst the pigs. 198 00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:16,740 And you get that story, my friends, so 199 00:11:16,740 --> 00:11:18,860 that you and I, who perhaps feel that 200 00:11:18,860 --> 00:11:21,760 we are so removed from spiritual things, God 201 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,660 Almighty can have no dealings with us. 202 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,460 There is no extent of departure from Father 203 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:29,720 which precludes return. 204 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,540 And so the lad comes to his senses. 205 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,680 And he decides that he will go back 206 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:40,760 to his father's house despite the problems that 207 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,100 he might meet en route as far as 208 00:11:44,100 --> 00:11:47,320 the village youths are concerned and as far 209 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,780 as the older son, his brother, is concerned. 210 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,480 Now I say that Trench is going too 211 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,040 far when he says that when a man 212 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,960 comes to his senses, he in effect comes 213 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:58,580 to God. 214 00:11:58,720 --> 00:11:59,740 I don't believe that. 215 00:11:59,740 --> 00:12:02,860 I think that that is a stepping stone 216 00:12:02,860 --> 00:12:03,740 along the road. 217 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,020 But there is more ground to be covered 218 00:12:06,020 --> 00:12:07,480 before you return to God. 219 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,740 He came to his senses and he decides 220 00:12:10,740 --> 00:12:11,660 to go back home. 221 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,380 But he's not going back home in an 222 00:12:13,380 --> 00:12:16,500 attitude that Father can receive him in terms 223 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:17,080 of a son. 224 00:12:17,460 --> 00:12:18,500 He's got it worked out. 225 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,140 Make me as one of your hired servants. 226 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:23,820 Don't have me any longer in your household 227 00:12:23,820 --> 00:12:25,880 as your son, but as a hired servant. 228 00:12:26,060 --> 00:12:27,760 Let me be able to earn my living. 229 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,480 It's still an approach of works with the 230 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,640 possibility that one day perhaps he can redress 231 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,720 the situation and repay the money that he 232 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:35,220 squandered. 233 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:37,480 But you see, you can never come to 234 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:38,520 Father like that. 235 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,720 This is the problem with the sects. 236 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:43,040 S-E-C-T-S. 237 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,660 In these days, the Mormons, the J-Ws, 238 00:12:45,740 --> 00:12:48,080 I don't care who you quote, all the 239 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:49,080 sects will tell you this. 240 00:12:49,260 --> 00:12:50,740 You earn Father's love. 241 00:12:50,820 --> 00:12:51,400 You do not. 242 00:12:52,220 --> 00:12:54,820 It is impossible to earn Father's love. 243 00:12:55,460 --> 00:12:56,880 It is too pricely. 244 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,440 It is too costly. 245 00:12:58,940 --> 00:13:01,140 The only way that Father can show his 246 00:13:01,140 --> 00:13:03,620 love to you is as a result of 247 00:13:03,620 --> 00:13:06,540 Father's own benevolent and kindly nature. 248 00:13:07,540 --> 00:13:10,420 So the lad goes back towards his home. 249 00:13:11,060 --> 00:13:13,920 When the terrain gets familiar, instead of being 250 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,400 met with the hostility of the youth of 251 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,500 the village, who in some ways will have 252 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:20,780 been related to him, and remember he's let 253 00:13:20,780 --> 00:13:24,140 the village, this family village down, instead of 254 00:13:24,140 --> 00:13:27,260 having to cope with them, the first person 255 00:13:27,260 --> 00:13:29,260 who sees him and comes towards him, you 256 00:13:29,260 --> 00:13:31,060 recall, is Father. 257 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,800 So he got up and went to his 258 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,200 father, but while he was still a long 259 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,040 way off, verse 20, his father saw him. 260 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:42,020 Do you sometimes find that scripture choruses are 261 00:13:42,020 --> 00:13:47,100 not really fitting to your measure of spiritual 262 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:48,220 ability and intellect? 263 00:13:49,020 --> 00:13:51,100 You know, there is a possibility to have 264 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:52,720 an approach to choruses like this. 265 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,480 We want the good, doer, 17th, 18th century 266 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,420 stuff, but these choruses, you know, we're a 267 00:13:58,420 --> 00:13:59,500 little beyond that. 268 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:02,820 I tell you that some of these scripture 269 00:14:02,820 --> 00:14:05,940 choruses have a way of wooing the soul 270 00:14:05,940 --> 00:14:08,160 and telling you what Father is like because 271 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,240 they express it so simply that in some 272 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,220 senses they can be more helpful to you 273 00:14:13,220 --> 00:14:16,380 than the 17th and 18th century hymns. 274 00:14:16,380 --> 00:14:20,600 Draw near to me, and I will draw 275 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:21,800 near to you. 276 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,640 Move towards Father, and you'll discover, as one 277 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,560 African I knew used to express it wrongly 278 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,640 in the grammatical sense, but right in the 279 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,280 theological sense, God is always previous. 280 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,320 He's always there first. 281 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,220 Father is always waiting. 282 00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:41,960 This is what the lad discovers, is it 283 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:42,280 not? 284 00:14:43,260 --> 00:14:47,320 His father saw him and was filled with 285 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,000 compassion for him. 286 00:14:50,180 --> 00:14:52,900 If you have a relationship with someone whom 287 00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:56,360 you love, the possibility is that occasionally they 288 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:57,360 will upset you. 289 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,080 One of the dangers of loving someone is 290 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,500 that because you have such an affection for 291 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:06,500 them, it can be costly in your emotions, 292 00:15:06,780 --> 00:15:07,320 not so? 293 00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:09,940 It's the people who you love who will 294 00:15:09,940 --> 00:15:10,640 hurt you most. 295 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,240 It's always the case. 296 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:14,840 The people who you don't love who behave 297 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,700 in a disgusting fashion, it doesn't emotionally upset 298 00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:17,940 you. 299 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,180 Now here is Father, and he's been very, 300 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:23,160 very upset indeed by the way that his 301 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:24,080 son has behaved. 302 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,320 And he knows full well what sort of 303 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,040 reception is awaiting him amongst the villagers. 304 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:34,780 So Father, with compassion, I touched on this 305 00:15:34,780 --> 00:15:38,400 last week, the word compassion, it really is 306 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,120 a sort of psychosomatic term. 307 00:15:41,540 --> 00:15:44,000 Doctors, medical people will understand what I mean. 308 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,180 You see, it's not just an emotional thing, 309 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:47,960 it's not just something of the mind, it's 310 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:48,840 something of the body. 311 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,900 He feels in the depth of his soul. 312 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,600 Those of you who have been bereaved, you 313 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,520 will know something of that, the heartache. 314 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,700 Some of you who have been let down 315 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:03,540 by family, you will know something of that 316 00:16:03,540 --> 00:16:05,920 compassion you still love despite the upset. 317 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:08,680 And here is Father who has known all 318 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,360 the shame of the way that his boy 319 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,180 has gone off home, the way that his 320 00:16:12,180 --> 00:16:15,120 boy has treated him and brought the family 321 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,600 reputation down to gutter level. 322 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,520 Father nonetheless remains compassionate and runs towards his 323 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:23,860 boy. 324 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:26,660 Runs towards him in a way that a 325 00:16:26,660 --> 00:16:28,320 man will not normally run, not in the 326 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:28,820 Middle East. 327 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Over thirty, I said, a man does not 328 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,880 generally run, it's against his dignity. 329 00:16:33,940 --> 00:16:36,220 With compassion he runs to his boy before 330 00:16:36,220 --> 00:16:37,280 the boy has said anything. 331 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:38,760 I mean, this is the thing that strikes 332 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:39,740 me in the account. 333 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:41,600 The boy hasn't got to the business of 334 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:42,140 his apology. 335 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:43,600 Father has read his heart. 336 00:16:44,180 --> 00:16:46,820 He flings his arms around him as Joseph 337 00:16:46,820 --> 00:16:48,640 flung his arms around Benjamin. 338 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,400 And he embraces him and kisses him like 339 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,100 a man in the East will kiss another 340 00:16:54,100 --> 00:16:56,380 man, even though it's foreign to our culture 341 00:16:56,380 --> 00:16:58,120 here in the West. 342 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,680 And then the boy gets going, doesn't he? 343 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,420 With his prepared speech, Father, I've sinned against 344 00:17:03,420 --> 00:17:05,099 heaven and against you and I'm no longer 345 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:06,500 worthy to be called your son. 346 00:17:06,700 --> 00:17:08,280 And at that point he stops. 347 00:17:08,380 --> 00:17:09,079 Why does he stop? 348 00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:11,319 Because Father butts in or does the boy 349 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:12,460 begin to understand? 350 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:14,980 Is this the process of his reconciliation? 351 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,520 That the prepared speech, the second part about 352 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,859 being as one of your highest servants, it 353 00:17:20,859 --> 00:17:22,020 no longer opines. 354 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,720 He now knows what he's done to Father. 355 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:26,640 He sees it in Father's face. 356 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,920 The very rushing of Father down the village 357 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,400 street, risking the hostility, well not the hostility, 358 00:17:32,780 --> 00:17:35,340 but risking the ridicule of the village youths. 359 00:17:35,340 --> 00:17:38,400 He begins to appreciate what he has brought 360 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,640 his Father to, so no longer will he 361 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,380 trade in terms of what he might do 362 00:17:43,380 --> 00:17:46,060 for Father, but rather bask in the mercy 363 00:17:46,060 --> 00:17:47,820 that Father offers him. 364 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,440 I'm no longer worthy to be called your 365 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:50,680 son. 366 00:17:50,780 --> 00:17:51,860 That's the moment of truth. 367 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:53,740 No longer worthy. 368 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,380 Do you really believe that, my friend? 369 00:17:56,580 --> 00:17:59,080 That you're not really worthy to be in 370 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,740 relationship with this Father God, but on the 371 00:18:02,740 --> 00:18:05,240 basis of who He is, you are. 372 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,680 You see, if you followed my relatively subtle 373 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,320 reasoning there, you'll begin to appreciate even more 374 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,240 just how indebted you are to this great 375 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,240 God and Father who has no reason at 376 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:16,820 the human level to love you at all, 377 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:18,660 because there's nothing that you can do in 378 00:18:18,660 --> 00:18:20,900 terms of winning His affection. 379 00:18:23,550 --> 00:18:25,350 The Father says to his son, quick, bring 380 00:18:25,350 --> 00:18:26,330 the best rope. 381 00:18:26,970 --> 00:18:27,690 I love that. 382 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:31,510 Do you remember the story of Mordecai in 383 00:18:31,510 --> 00:18:32,870 the Old Testament in the book of Esther? 384 00:18:35,090 --> 00:18:36,670 And the story of Haman? 385 00:18:37,470 --> 00:18:39,350 Haman feels that the king is going to 386 00:18:39,350 --> 00:18:40,950 appoint him and make him the second in 387 00:18:40,950 --> 00:18:41,350 command. 388 00:18:41,670 --> 00:18:42,050 Do you remember? 389 00:18:42,510 --> 00:18:43,370 A lovely story. 390 00:18:43,490 --> 00:18:44,170 Do read the book of Esther. 391 00:18:44,250 --> 00:18:44,750 It's fascinating. 392 00:18:46,370 --> 00:18:48,050 And so the king puts up the question, 393 00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:50,390 what shall we do to the man who 394 00:18:50,390 --> 00:18:53,150 shall be second in command of my empire? 395 00:18:53,290 --> 00:18:56,490 Well, says Haman, anticipating that it's going to 396 00:18:56,490 --> 00:18:56,770 be him. 397 00:18:56,770 --> 00:18:59,070 Get the best robe, the one which the 398 00:18:59,070 --> 00:19:00,950 king wears, and give it to him. 399 00:19:01,910 --> 00:19:03,930 Now that's very good thinking, Haman. 400 00:19:04,530 --> 00:19:05,750 You go and get it and give it 401 00:19:05,750 --> 00:19:08,550 to that Jew, Mordecai, because he's the one 402 00:19:08,550 --> 00:19:10,010 who's going to have it. 403 00:19:10,410 --> 00:19:11,690 I'd love to have had a camera at 404 00:19:11,690 --> 00:19:12,430 that point, wouldn't you? 405 00:19:14,630 --> 00:19:19,070 Bring the best robe for my lad who 406 00:19:19,070 --> 00:19:23,050 still smells of the unclean pigs. 407 00:19:23,690 --> 00:19:25,930 And incidentally, while you're about it, get the 408 00:19:25,930 --> 00:19:26,330 ring. 409 00:19:27,370 --> 00:19:30,530 How is Joseph known to be second in 410 00:19:30,530 --> 00:19:32,330 the Egyptian empire? 411 00:19:32,570 --> 00:19:35,870 Because the signet ring of Pharaoh is placed 412 00:19:35,870 --> 00:19:36,870 on his finger. 413 00:19:38,730 --> 00:19:41,170 Now the father is talking to people, obviously 414 00:19:41,170 --> 00:19:41,430 so. 415 00:19:41,650 --> 00:19:43,630 You see, the village context is not something 416 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:44,270 I've made up. 417 00:19:44,530 --> 00:19:46,150 They're all looking at this scene. 418 00:19:46,310 --> 00:19:48,110 He turns around, the servants are there, he 419 00:19:48,110 --> 00:19:49,150 gives them the instructions. 420 00:19:49,610 --> 00:19:52,190 They all know that father has received the 421 00:19:52,190 --> 00:19:52,490 son. 422 00:19:55,990 --> 00:19:59,410 And incidentally, while you're about it, that fattened 423 00:19:59,410 --> 00:20:02,210 cow, the one that we have been feeding 424 00:20:02,210 --> 00:20:04,090 on grain, because if you feed a cow 425 00:20:04,090 --> 00:20:06,810 on grain, the best grain, you'll get the 426 00:20:06,810 --> 00:20:07,650 best meat. 427 00:20:07,930 --> 00:20:09,030 Let's slaughter him. 428 00:20:10,390 --> 00:20:12,170 Everybody's going to be happy apart from the 429 00:20:12,170 --> 00:20:12,410 cow. 430 00:20:14,870 --> 00:20:18,690 Let's slaughter it and let's have a party. 431 00:20:19,850 --> 00:20:22,790 Let's make sure that everyone in the village 432 00:20:22,790 --> 00:20:26,210 knows that this lad has been reinstated. 433 00:20:27,190 --> 00:20:29,310 Not on the basis of what he's done, 434 00:20:29,410 --> 00:20:31,150 for there's nothing that he can do that 435 00:20:31,150 --> 00:20:35,270 would make amends for the disgrace, but on 436 00:20:35,270 --> 00:20:37,410 the basis of what I have gone through. 437 00:20:38,930 --> 00:20:43,670 You see, father suffers for the son. 438 00:20:44,430 --> 00:20:46,510 It's all there in the story if you 439 00:20:46,510 --> 00:20:48,090 read it with spiritual eyes. 440 00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:51,070 As God the father suffers for the sins 441 00:20:51,070 --> 00:20:52,970 that you have committed, for God was in 442 00:20:52,970 --> 00:20:55,310 Christ reconciling the world unto himself. 443 00:20:55,510 --> 00:20:56,930 Don't you appreciate that, my friend? 444 00:20:59,550 --> 00:21:01,690 And so, there's a party. 445 00:21:02,670 --> 00:21:04,510 For the very true nature of joy is 446 00:21:04,510 --> 00:21:09,170 that it runs over, longs to impart itself. 447 00:21:10,530 --> 00:21:12,210 And if this is true of joy on 448 00:21:12,210 --> 00:21:13,850 earth, how much more so is it true 449 00:21:13,850 --> 00:21:14,730 of joy in heaven. 450 00:21:15,370 --> 00:21:17,550 Listen to Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse 17, 451 00:21:17,730 --> 00:21:20,290 speaking of the consequences of God who is 452 00:21:20,290 --> 00:21:21,190 mighty to save. 453 00:21:21,190 --> 00:21:22,990 The Lord your God is with you. 454 00:21:23,290 --> 00:21:24,450 He is mighty to save. 455 00:21:24,530 --> 00:21:26,350 He will take great delight in you. 456 00:21:26,730 --> 00:21:28,290 He will quiet you with his love. 457 00:21:28,410 --> 00:21:30,310 He will rejoice over you with singing. 458 00:21:31,270 --> 00:21:33,790 The natural response to someone being converted, did 459 00:21:33,790 --> 00:21:34,230 you know that? 460 00:21:35,030 --> 00:21:36,490 Is really to hold a party. 461 00:21:37,590 --> 00:21:39,750 To thank the Lord for the return of 462 00:21:39,750 --> 00:21:40,130 the sinner. 463 00:21:41,490 --> 00:21:46,470 You know, we people in the continent of 464 00:21:46,470 --> 00:21:51,810 Europe are sometimes so lacking in our depth 465 00:21:51,810 --> 00:21:55,950 of perception of the joy that there is 466 00:21:55,950 --> 00:21:59,810 in heaven over the sinner that turns back, 467 00:21:59,890 --> 00:22:00,530 that is converted. 468 00:22:01,750 --> 00:22:03,770 You see, if you can rejoice because a 469 00:22:03,770 --> 00:22:07,710 sheep's been found out of 99 that hadn't 470 00:22:07,710 --> 00:22:10,470 gone astray, if you can rejoice because a 471 00:22:10,470 --> 00:22:12,510 coin has been lost when 9 were still 472 00:22:12,510 --> 00:22:15,030 safely tucked in the purse, how much more 473 00:22:15,030 --> 00:22:17,690 should one rejoice when someone for whom Jesus 474 00:22:17,690 --> 00:22:19,850 bled and died has been returned to Father's 475 00:22:19,850 --> 00:22:20,330 house? 476 00:22:22,110 --> 00:22:23,770 This is what our Lord is saying and 477 00:22:23,770 --> 00:22:26,610 he's got his eye on his semi-hostile 478 00:22:26,610 --> 00:22:29,370 congregation as he's teaching this. 479 00:22:30,730 --> 00:22:33,290 So they began, the end of verse 24, 480 00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:36,450 they began to celebrate because the son who 481 00:22:36,450 --> 00:22:38,950 was dead is alive, the one who was 482 00:22:38,950 --> 00:22:41,570 lost has been found. 483 00:22:43,390 --> 00:22:45,590 But there were two boys, weren't there? 484 00:22:46,750 --> 00:22:48,550 Two boys at the beginning of the tale. 485 00:22:49,750 --> 00:22:52,110 And there were two boys who are still 486 00:22:52,110 --> 00:22:54,110 involved at this point. 487 00:22:54,970 --> 00:22:57,310 The older son who's not been away from 488 00:22:57,310 --> 00:23:00,070 Father geographically, but you see, you can stick 489 00:23:00,070 --> 00:23:02,890 close to Father geographically or ecclesiastically. 490 00:23:04,350 --> 00:23:06,030 You see, my dear friend, you can come 491 00:23:06,030 --> 00:23:07,470 to the tab every Sunday morning. 492 00:23:08,950 --> 00:23:11,250 And if you're really enthusiastic and energetic, some 493 00:23:11,250 --> 00:23:12,350 of you could even try it on a 494 00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:12,910 Sunday night. 495 00:23:16,460 --> 00:23:17,840 And that wouldn't make you near Father. 496 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,120 You see, you can be distanced from Father 497 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:24,360 even though you're in the presence of Father's 498 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:24,740 family. 499 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:30,040 If you have a defective understanding of Father's 500 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:34,880 heart and what sonship really is. 501 00:23:36,100 --> 00:23:37,340 And now this was the problem with this 502 00:23:37,340 --> 00:23:37,880 older boy. 503 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,780 In one sense, he's geographically as far away 504 00:23:42,780 --> 00:23:47,280 from Father as the younger son was. 505 00:23:48,420 --> 00:23:49,940 The older son, he is dancing. 506 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:51,780 He's been in the fields, hasn't he? 507 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:53,460 Verse 25, the older son was in the 508 00:23:53,460 --> 00:23:53,740 field. 509 00:23:54,020 --> 00:23:56,640 When he comes back to the house, there's 510 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,940 this noise of music and celebration. 511 00:24:01,220 --> 00:24:03,080 In those days, it was the men who 512 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:03,540 danced. 513 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,220 And they would have a dancing party, a 514 00:24:07,220 --> 00:24:09,540 dancing group who would be in this large 515 00:24:09,540 --> 00:24:11,520 house of the fathers. 516 00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:15,460 And as the older brother hears of this 517 00:24:15,460 --> 00:24:18,800 celebration, he wonders what it's all about. 518 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:22,500 And so he calls one of the boys 519 00:24:22,500 --> 00:24:23,240 in the village. 520 00:24:23,740 --> 00:24:25,380 Again, remember the village scene? 521 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,400 Not everyone would have got into the elders' 522 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:30,380 house of the village. 523 00:24:30,380 --> 00:24:32,220 The adults would be involved. 524 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:33,360 They would be there. 525 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:35,040 But the lads, what do they do? 526 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:36,060 Well, what do you do in a village? 527 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:37,960 I mean, even now, a village can be 528 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,440 a very, very stuffy place, can't it? 529 00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:40,680 Especially at night. 530 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:43,020 So what do they do? 531 00:24:43,220 --> 00:24:44,700 Well, they go to where the party is. 532 00:24:44,780 --> 00:24:46,300 They're not invited, but you can look through 533 00:24:46,300 --> 00:24:46,760 the window. 534 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:53,100 You can crane your head through any gap 535 00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:55,380 that there happens to be or maybe the 536 00:24:55,380 --> 00:24:56,480 door's ajar. 537 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:58,080 You see what's going on? 538 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,560 And you report down the ranks, down the 539 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,020 line, as to what is happening in the 540 00:25:02,020 --> 00:25:03,080 house. 541 00:25:03,380 --> 00:25:05,680 And so the son comes back from the 542 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:07,480 fields, and he takes one of these village 543 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,580 boys, and he calls him, and he asks 544 00:25:10,580 --> 00:25:11,580 him what's going on. 545 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,240 So verse 27 gives the summary. 546 00:25:14,980 --> 00:25:16,000 Your brother's come, he said. 547 00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:19,200 Your father's killed a fattened calf because he 548 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,580 has him back safe and sound. 549 00:25:21,460 --> 00:25:23,080 Now that's accurate as far as it goes, 550 00:25:23,140 --> 00:25:23,480 isn't it? 551 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,640 I mean, he doesn't know with the sensitivity 552 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,540 of the father of the miracle that's happened. 553 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:29,720 Your brother's back is safe and sound. 554 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,520 Your brother, your brother, that one who was 555 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,720 lost, has been found. 556 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:42,120 That one who was dead is alive again. 557 00:25:43,060 --> 00:25:44,780 Now that's how the word should have been 558 00:25:44,780 --> 00:25:46,660 fleshed out as soon as the older brother 559 00:25:46,660 --> 00:25:48,460 hears what this lad is saying. 560 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,600 But instead of being happy, he's angry. 561 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:54,200 Verse 28, the intelligence he's received from the 562 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,660 young man does not elate him whatsoever. 563 00:25:57,300 --> 00:25:59,700 He's angry and refused to go in. 564 00:26:00,780 --> 00:26:01,880 Why the intense anger? 565 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,880 Well, the younger brother has dishonored the family 566 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:06,860 name, hasn't he? 567 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,400 And here he is back in the house, 568 00:26:09,460 --> 00:26:11,280 and they're throwing a party for him. 569 00:26:12,620 --> 00:26:16,280 Has no one made amends in any way 570 00:26:17,460 --> 00:26:21,020 for the insult that's been directed to father 571 00:26:21,020 --> 00:26:24,900 and the family and village reputation? 572 00:26:28,550 --> 00:26:33,980 And what's more, you see, when in a 573 00:26:33,980 --> 00:26:39,700 household father throws a banquet in an Arab 574 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:45,460 or a Jewish context, who looks after the 575 00:26:45,460 --> 00:26:50,640 servants and enables those who've been called to 576 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,880 the banquet ensures that they have sufficient to 577 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:55,200 eat? 578 00:26:56,260 --> 00:26:58,540 Well, it's always the older son, you see. 579 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:01,820 He acts on behalf of father. 580 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:04,560 We are so glad to have you in 581 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,140 our company that the oldest boy will look 582 00:27:07,140 --> 00:27:11,620 after the guests and supervise the servants and 583 00:27:11,620 --> 00:27:16,260 ensure that the guest of honor particularly is 584 00:27:16,260 --> 00:27:20,760 well supplied with food and is in no 585 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:21,660 way neglected. 586 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:24,160 Now you see the rub. 587 00:27:25,260 --> 00:27:26,620 Who is the guest of honor? 588 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,880 It's none other than the younger son who's 589 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,880 the one who caused the family name to 590 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,120 be brought into disrepute. 591 00:27:38,060 --> 00:27:38,880 It's him. 592 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,880 It's too much, too much to ask the 593 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,660 older boy to go into the house, so 594 00:27:44,660 --> 00:27:45,420 he refuses. 595 00:27:45,420 --> 00:27:50,500 Do you remember from the book of Esther, 596 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:53,680 going there again, how in the opening chapter 597 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:55,520 you come across one of the most remarkable 598 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,380 women in the Bible of whom very little 599 00:27:57,380 --> 00:27:59,100 is written, but she has my admiration. 600 00:28:00,340 --> 00:28:00,860 Vashti. 601 00:28:02,380 --> 00:28:05,860 She was the wife, the first wife of 602 00:28:05,860 --> 00:28:06,880 Ahasuerus, the king. 603 00:28:07,860 --> 00:28:10,040 And on one occasion the king threw a 604 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,200 banquet, you remember, and the wine was flowing, 605 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,940 and he decided that he would exhibit the 606 00:28:14,940 --> 00:28:19,160 beauty of this outstanding woman before his court. 607 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,180 And she refused. 608 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:23,380 Full marks to her. 609 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,900 And as a result of the refusal, the 610 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:29,500 king burns with anger. 611 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:35,020 You see, you don't refuse an invitation from 612 00:28:35,020 --> 00:28:36,600 one who is over you, not in a 613 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,660 Middle Eastern context. 614 00:28:39,540 --> 00:28:42,500 And here is the older son refusing an 615 00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:43,920 invitation from his father. 616 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,900 So twice within this story, the father is 617 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:49,000 in difficulty as far as his boys are 618 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:49,480 concerned. 619 00:28:51,820 --> 00:28:52,880 So what happens? 620 00:28:54,420 --> 00:28:58,820 So his father went out and pleaded with 621 00:28:58,820 --> 00:28:59,060 him. 622 00:29:00,420 --> 00:29:03,460 Within possibly just a couple of hours, father 623 00:29:03,460 --> 00:29:05,260 has gone out twice. 624 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:07,640 For his lads, not so. 625 00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:12,120 He goes out for the younger boy, the 626 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:16,420 one who stinks of the pigs, embraces him, 627 00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,480 and causes him to be reconciled not only 628 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:20,980 with himself, but the whole village. 629 00:29:22,180 --> 00:29:23,780 Now he's got another problem. 630 00:29:24,940 --> 00:29:26,500 You see, there's no dancing at the moment. 631 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:28,360 There's no music. 632 00:29:29,740 --> 00:29:32,240 The authority of father is in question. 633 00:29:32,420 --> 00:29:34,440 That is not allowable in this culture. 634 00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:38,160 And it's a public debate that's going on. 635 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:39,660 In fact, it's not so much a debate. 636 00:29:39,860 --> 00:29:44,180 It's just rank indifference to father's request. 637 00:29:46,540 --> 00:29:49,440 And so all eyes at this time gazing 638 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:53,680 not inward at the banqueting hall, but from 639 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:58,020 the banqueting hall outward towards the older boy 640 00:29:58,020 --> 00:30:00,600 and father who's gone out. 641 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,800 Will he silence him then and there? 642 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,040 Will he ignore him until the guests have 643 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:08,020 gone home and then arrange for him to 644 00:30:08,020 --> 00:30:08,480 be beaten? 645 00:30:11,340 --> 00:30:13,200 We're dealing with the most unusual father. 646 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:16,900 He won't follow through what would be anticipated 647 00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:18,260 of him in this culture. 648 00:30:20,140 --> 00:30:21,920 When the lad comes from the field, the 649 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,400 older boy, you remember he summons, he commands 650 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:25,980 a young lad to come to him and 651 00:30:25,980 --> 00:30:27,380 give him the information as to what is 652 00:30:27,380 --> 00:30:27,940 going on. 653 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,440 Now father can come alongside the boy and 654 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,620 summon him to himself, but he doesn't do 655 00:30:33,620 --> 00:30:33,900 that. 656 00:30:33,900 --> 00:30:36,140 The Greek word here is very interesting. 657 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,480 So his father went out and pleaded. 658 00:30:40,380 --> 00:30:42,020 He went out parakalio. 659 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,060 He drew alongside his boy and stood there 660 00:30:46,060 --> 00:30:47,900 as though he was just as equal. 661 00:30:48,380 --> 00:30:51,100 And now he starts to plead with his 662 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:51,460 lad. 663 00:30:52,660 --> 00:30:54,460 In the same way as the apostle Paul 664 00:30:54,460 --> 00:30:56,260 will say when he's writing to the Corinthians, 665 00:30:56,660 --> 00:30:58,940 we beseech you in the name of Christ 666 00:30:58,940 --> 00:31:00,480 be reconciled to God. 667 00:31:01,540 --> 00:31:05,840 So father pleads with this boy and asks 668 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,300 him to go back into the house. 669 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,780 For the second time father is disgraced. 670 00:31:11,580 --> 00:31:14,200 You see there can be no reconciliation in 671 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,300 this context unless somebody bears the penalty of 672 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:17,660 disgrace. 673 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,540 This is why Muslim theology was never so 674 00:31:21,540 --> 00:31:24,520 wrong when it criticizes the Christians who take 675 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,080 this parable as being basic to the whole 676 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:28,840 gospel that our Lord proclaimed. 677 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:30,580 They say there is no cost. 678 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:32,360 I say there is infinite cost. 679 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:34,500 But the cost is borne by father. 680 00:31:35,900 --> 00:31:37,980 The cost for your redemption my friend is 681 00:31:37,980 --> 00:31:38,900 borne by father. 682 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,640 Every sin that you've ever committed, every evil 683 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,780 act that even now you may be perpetrating, 684 00:31:46,860 --> 00:31:49,140 every time you have indulged in those things 685 00:31:49,140 --> 00:31:51,100 that you ought not to have done, you 686 00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:52,180 have affected father. 687 00:31:53,660 --> 00:31:54,980 You break his heart. 688 00:31:55,940 --> 00:31:59,460 This is what the story rises up and 689 00:31:59,460 --> 00:32:02,200 tells you in the two incidents when father 690 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,340 has to deal with his sons. 691 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:07,880 So father pleads. 692 00:32:09,220 --> 00:32:12,980 He pleads with his boy and he asks 693 00:32:12,980 --> 00:32:13,940 him to come back. 694 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:16,520 But the boy is intransigent. 695 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,700 His heart is so stubborn. 696 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,220 He answered his father, Look all these years 697 00:32:24,220 --> 00:32:26,180 I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed 698 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:26,700 your orders. 699 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:29,160 Yet you never gave me even a young 700 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,160 goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 701 00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:36,580 He doesn't even address the elder as his 702 00:32:36,580 --> 00:32:36,940 father. 703 00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:40,620 He doesn't even respond to the one who 704 00:32:40,620 --> 00:32:42,740 is back as his brother, but rather your 705 00:32:42,740 --> 00:32:43,120 son. 706 00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:45,980 You see you can check through his response 707 00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:49,020 and there is no vestige of understanding whatsoever 708 00:32:49,020 --> 00:32:51,140 as to what sonship really means. 709 00:32:52,580 --> 00:32:54,080 What fatherhood means. 710 00:32:55,580 --> 00:32:57,980 You see he understands his relationship as a 711 00:32:57,980 --> 00:33:00,200 faithful servant, as a servant who has worked 712 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,440 hard and everything that comes his way is 713 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,020 as a result of his deserts. 714 00:33:05,380 --> 00:33:06,800 Now you see that's alien to the Christian 715 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:07,200 gospel. 716 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:09,540 It's alien to fatherhood. 717 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:10,760 It's alien to sonship. 718 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:14,960 You never gave me what ought to have 719 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:16,860 been mine so I could celebrate with my 720 00:33:16,860 --> 00:33:17,220 friends. 721 00:33:17,460 --> 00:33:18,620 Wasn't father your friend? 722 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,100 Many people would say that their father was 723 00:33:22,100 --> 00:33:23,220 the best friend they ever had. 724 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:26,860 But wasn't this son your friend? 725 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:29,900 No you live in two worlds. 726 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:31,360 There's the world of the home and your 727 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,480 own private world and your own private world 728 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:35,480 is the one that is most important to 729 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:35,580 you. 730 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:37,280 You don't understand what fatherhood means. 731 00:33:37,340 --> 00:33:38,420 You don't understand sonship. 732 00:33:40,020 --> 00:33:42,220 You see in one sense he is breaking 733 00:33:42,220 --> 00:33:44,520 father's heart far more than the prodigal was 734 00:33:45,500 --> 00:33:47,420 and he's that much more distanced from him 735 00:33:47,420 --> 00:33:50,080 emotionally and spiritually. 736 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:56,920 And so he continues to insult father as 737 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,780 he launches into what father has done for 738 00:33:58,780 --> 00:34:00,700 the boy, the prodigal, and hasn't done for 739 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:01,120 himself. 740 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:02,800 How does father react? 741 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:05,480 This is the amazing thing about God, how 742 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:08,639 he reacts with his stubborn children, isn't it? 743 00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:09,940 Verse 31, my son. 744 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,080 You can't bring that out in the English, 745 00:34:13,219 --> 00:34:14,199 you can only get it in the Greek. 746 00:34:15,420 --> 00:34:16,120 You say, what do you mean? 747 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:17,500 Well you see there are two Greek words 748 00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:18,460 for son, at least. 749 00:34:18,820 --> 00:34:20,699 One is much more intimate than the other. 750 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,480 When Mary loses Jesus, when our Lord is 751 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,639 just a lad ebbing on the borders of 752 00:34:26,639 --> 00:34:29,719 teenage, you remember she remonstrates with him in 753 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,920 Jerusalem and said, my son, we've been looking 754 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:32,620 for you everywhere. 755 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:35,219 And she uses the intimate term teklon. 756 00:34:36,219 --> 00:34:39,739 And it's that term, which father never used 757 00:34:39,739 --> 00:34:43,040 of the prodigal when he returned, that he 758 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,520 now employs in regard to the oldest son. 759 00:34:47,219 --> 00:34:50,580 My son, the father says, you're always with 760 00:34:50,580 --> 00:34:52,260 me and everything I have is yours, but 761 00:34:52,260 --> 00:34:54,080 we had to celebrate and be glad because 762 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:55,639 this story of yours was dead. 763 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:58,000 This brother of yours was dead and is 764 00:34:58,000 --> 00:34:58,540 alive again. 765 00:34:58,660 --> 00:35:01,000 He was lost and is found. 766 00:35:03,970 --> 00:35:05,170 And there the story stops. 767 00:35:06,690 --> 00:35:07,990 You see, it doesn't end. 768 00:35:08,690 --> 00:35:10,230 It doesn't need to end because in one 769 00:35:10,230 --> 00:35:11,330 sense it's still continuing. 770 00:35:12,670 --> 00:35:16,630 You remember the congregation, the sinners, the obvious 771 00:35:16,630 --> 00:35:18,390 sinners, but then there were the Pharisees who 772 00:35:18,390 --> 00:35:19,610 were not in the scribes. 773 00:35:21,070 --> 00:35:23,030 And if ever they were represented in a 774 00:35:23,030 --> 00:35:25,290 story that Jesus told, it's in this story. 775 00:35:25,490 --> 00:35:27,270 And they're murmuring against Jesus. 776 00:35:27,870 --> 00:35:30,610 They're murmuring because they don't understand what Jesus, 777 00:35:30,790 --> 00:35:32,950 who Jesus is, or who father is, or 778 00:35:32,950 --> 00:35:34,330 what father wants from them. 779 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:38,480 And so it's left as an open case 780 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:42,320 as to how they ultimately will respond. 781 00:35:43,580 --> 00:35:47,380 Will the oldest son apologize and go back 782 00:35:47,380 --> 00:35:50,080 in and be reconciled with his brother? 783 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:51,600 Because you see, you can't be reconciled with 784 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:53,180 father unless you're reconciled with your brother. 785 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:55,500 Father can't forgive your sins unless you forgive 786 00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:55,820 others. 787 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,980 That's what father said in the prayer that 788 00:35:57,980 --> 00:35:59,300 he puts up for you and for me 789 00:35:59,300 --> 00:36:01,260 to pray, the Lord's Prayer. 790 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,420 The answer to what happened is Calvary and 791 00:36:05,420 --> 00:36:05,920 the cross. 792 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:08,480 The oldest son refused. 793 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,620 The Jews, largely speaking, have always rejected the 794 00:36:12,620 --> 00:36:14,780 doctrine of the fatherhood of God and the 795 00:36:14,780 --> 00:36:17,000 sonship of Jesus Christ and what those two 796 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:17,880 concepts mean. 797 00:36:19,540 --> 00:36:22,800 Now you, my young friend, my older friend, 798 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:25,580 where do you place yourself? 799 00:36:26,700 --> 00:36:28,700 Maybe you've never seen this story in this 800 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:29,580 light before. 801 00:36:29,580 --> 00:36:31,500 Well, thank God, if anything I've shared has 802 00:36:31,500 --> 00:36:33,660 helped you to understand something of father. 803 00:36:35,900 --> 00:36:37,160 See, God's not dispassionate. 804 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:39,780 You can break his heart as you can 805 00:36:39,780 --> 00:36:41,320 break your own father's heart, your own mother's 806 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:41,580 heart. 807 00:36:41,860 --> 00:36:43,240 Maybe you're doing that right now, I don't 808 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:43,460 know. 809 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,640 But father stands alongside, he doesn't come as 810 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:48,840 a tyrant, he pleads with you. 811 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:53,120 And he asks you to be reconciled and 812 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,740 to accept the fact that his own son 813 00:36:55,740 --> 00:36:59,500 bore on the cross the consequences of your 814 00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:02,200 indifference and your prodigality. 815 00:37:03,780 --> 00:37:04,840 Come to the father. 816 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:06,960 Come right now. 817 00:37:08,220 --> 00:37:08,900 Let's stand. 818 00:37:15,650 --> 00:37:17,110 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 819 00:37:21,530 --> 00:37:23,390 It might well be that some folks here 820 00:37:23,390 --> 00:37:25,690 have never really had a true relationship with 821 00:37:25,690 --> 00:37:28,930 father for a long time. 822 00:37:30,710 --> 00:37:32,510 Maybe some of you have put other things 823 00:37:32,510 --> 00:37:36,630 that God graciously gave you and made them 824 00:37:36,630 --> 00:37:38,590 number one in your life and forgotten the 825 00:37:38,590 --> 00:37:38,830 donor. 826 00:37:40,930 --> 00:37:42,270 I don't know how you've got out of 827 00:37:42,270 --> 00:37:43,690 step, but there are many, many ways in 828 00:37:43,690 --> 00:37:44,330 which it's possible. 829 00:37:45,750 --> 00:37:48,870 You've forgotten the nature of the fatherly love 830 00:37:48,870 --> 00:37:51,590 and care and the cost of that love. 831 00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:53,310 Some of you are professional people here. 832 00:37:53,990 --> 00:37:56,190 Your profession is more important to you than 833 00:37:56,190 --> 00:37:56,770 your Christianity. 834 00:37:59,330 --> 00:38:01,410 Some of you have even got children out 835 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:04,890 of place in terms of the priority that 836 00:38:04,890 --> 00:38:05,990 you should be giving to father. 837 00:38:08,330 --> 00:38:10,670 Some of you have got relationships askew and 838 00:38:10,670 --> 00:38:12,070 they're more important than father. 839 00:38:14,150 --> 00:38:16,010 But in the parable of the prodigal, you 840 00:38:16,010 --> 00:38:18,110 see how father continues to care. 841 00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:22,590 No matter how you've mishandled the very things 842 00:38:22,590 --> 00:38:26,370 that he gave you, we're going to sing 843 00:38:26,370 --> 00:38:27,150 of father's love. 844 00:38:28,330 --> 00:38:31,510 Father, your love is precious beyond all loves. 845 00:38:32,510 --> 00:38:35,830 Father, your love overwhelms me. 846 00:38:36,750 --> 00:38:38,770 Make that a song that you can sing 847 00:38:38,770 --> 00:38:41,550 as you come back, perhaps, to the fatherly 848 00:38:41,550 --> 00:38:43,530 love that you knew a decade or two 849 00:38:43,530 --> 00:38:44,310 decades ago. 850 00:38:45,470 --> 00:38:47,250 Or if you're walking rightly with him right 851 00:38:47,250 --> 00:38:48,990 now, then let it just be an expression 852 00:38:48,990 --> 00:38:51,130 of what you feel toward him at this 853 00:38:51,130 --> 00:38:52,910 moment as you offer him your obedience. 854 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,960 Father, for the quality of your love and 855 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:30,280 for its eternal nature, we praise you. 856 00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:36,680 Forgive us when we cause you hurt by 857 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:37,840 our hardness. 858 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:42,080 And enable us, Lord, whatever slot we find 859 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:45,720 ourselves in without parable, enable us to respond 860 00:40:45,720 --> 00:40:50,100 to father as you deserve and demand. 861 00:40:51,580 --> 00:40:53,980 And this we ask for Jesus' sake. 862 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:54,960 Amen. 863 00:43:04,790 --> 00:43:24,010 Now may 864 00:43:24,010 --> 00:43:30,230 the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and 865 00:43:30,230 --> 00:43:34,130 Holy Spirit, rest and remain with us all, 866 00:43:35,050 --> 00:43:36,890 now and always. 867 00:43:37,670 --> 00:43:38,130 Amen.