Getting Lost
Luke 15:1-3; 11-32
The Lenten journey is not just about walking with Jesus toward the cross; it’s about losing more of ourselves so that we might gain more of Him. Along this road, we have faced temptation, confronted obstacles, and even realized we were heading in the wrong direction. But what happens when we’re not just off course—we’re utterly lost and out of gas? How do we find our way when we don’t know where we are?
This week, Jesus invites us into one of His most well-known parables: the story of the two lost sons (Luke 15:11-32). This is a story of rebellion and self-righteousness, of brokenness and restoration. It is a story of getting lost—but even more, of being found.
Two Kinds of Lost
Jesus tells this parable to a mixed audience: tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees, and scribes—two groups, two ways of living—yet both equally lost.
The parable introduces us to two sons:
- One is openly rebellious, disregarding his father’s love and choosing a life of reckless self-indulgence.
- The other is outwardly obedient but inwardly distant, striving for approval through self-righteous works.
It’s easy to recognize the younger son’s lostness—he runs from home, squanders his inheritance, and finds himself destitute. But the older son is just as lost. Though he stays home and works hard, his heart is far from his father. He sees himself as a servant rather than a son, and his obedience is a means to an end.
Both sons are lost but in different ways. The younger son is lost in his rebellion, and the older son is lost in his religion. One runs away, and the other refuses to enter.
The True Prodigal: The Father
Though we often focus on the sons, this parable is genuinely about the father—a prodigal father in his love. To be prodigal is to be recklessly extravagant, to give lavishly and abundantly. While the younger son squandered his wealth on reckless living, the father pours out his love in a way that defies reason.
1. Giving Over – The father lets the younger son go, knowing that sometimes grace means allowing people to come to the end of themselves. Just as God gives people over to their desires (Romans 1:24), the father does not force his will upon his son but allows him to experience the consequences of his choices.
2. Pouring Out – When the younger son returns, the father does not scold or shame him. Instead, he lavishes him gracefully, running to him, clothing him, and celebrating his return. The father does not wait for an apology; his love moves first.
3. Restoring Completely – The younger son does not return as a servant but as a son. The father reinstates him fully, not because of the son’s worthiness but because of his own love. This is the same love that restores us when we repent and turn back to God.
4. Pleading for the Religious – The father does not forget the older son. He goes out to him, pleading with him to join the celebration. The father’s love is just as available to the self-righteous as it is to the rebellious. Yet, the tragedy of the parable is that we do not know whether the older son ever accepts it.
Prodigal Love
Ultimately, the Father’s lavish love is meant to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4). God’s kindness is not a reward for the deserving but an invitation to the lost—whether lost in sin or lost in self-righteousness.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we must ask ourselves: In what ways have we been the younger son, seeking fulfillment apart from the Father? In what ways have we been the older son, striving for control and refusing to rest in grace?
The good news is that the Father is waiting, arms open wide. Whether we have run away or hardened our hearts, His love calls us home. The question is: Will we let ourselves be found?
(No Sermon due to audio difficulties)
Journey on,
Pastor Bruce
