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A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 15:11-32 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

Leaving home is a big deal.

 

It was very painful for my wife and I when we took our daughter, who is our only child, to college her freshman year. My wife cried all the way home. Or was that me? Either way, it was a difficult time.

 

The thing is that’s what we’re supposed to do as parents. To prepare our kids to become independent… to leave home… even though it hurts.

 

One of Jesus’ best-known parables is about a young man who left home, not to go to school or get a job, but to do whatever he wanted. The parable of the Prodigal Son is about a father and his two sons. The younger son decided that he’d had enough, so he asked for his portion of the inheritance.

 

Once on his own, he quickly spent it on wild living. When he was penniless, a famine hit
and it became so bad that he took a job feeding pigs. For a Jew, this would have been the ultimate demeaning job because pigs were considered ceremonially unclean.

 

When the son finally hit bottom, he realized that his father’s servants had more food than he did. That food, shelter and clothes were all readily available for him at home. That life at home didn’t look so bad now.

 

In some ways, this story is a metaphor. Home is where the Father is… our Heavenly Father. But, like the younger son, there are times when we want more. We want to live by our own rules. So, we leave home.

 

It might be for a split second; or a minute; or a year; or a lifetime. But soon we find out that all of the anticipated benefits of leaving home are a lie. And the home that we were created for, that provides unconditional love, is with our Heavenly Father.

 

The Good News is that he’ll take us back… every time. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done. Like the Father in the parable, he’ll rejoice upon our return.

 

“Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick, bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son."       TPT

 

Then your Heavenly Father will turn to you and say, “Welcome home”.

 

***

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

 

There’s No Place Like Home

Who is the Lord? - A Series from the Psalms

Psalm 23 - My Shepherd

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 1939 classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy goes on an adventure that takes her far, far away from her home in Kansas to the Land of Oz. While there, she learns that her heart’s desire is to be home in Kansas with the people she loves.

 

By clicking her heals together three times and saying, “There’s no place like home”, the magical shoes miraculously transport her to Kansas; to her home; and to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.

 

The job of a shepherd is to provide, protect and be ever-present for the security and safekeeping of his sheep. David was a shepherd and knew firsthand what this meant. He knew how to use a slingshot to fight off an enemy; he knew how to find a stream or a meadow to feed his sheep; he knew how to guide them along safe paths.

 

⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.

 

Jesus knew what it meant to be a shepherd too. In fact, Jesus told his followers, “I am the good shepherd”. As David wrote in Psalm 23, Jesus provides, protects and is constantly present with his sheep. He also pursues his sheep with his unfailing love.

 

⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord.

 

Like Dorothy, the desire of our heart is to go home at the end of each day where we receive nourishment; where we are safe from the dog eat dog world outside; where we are surrounded by the people we love and those who love us.

 

But our true home is when we are “in the house of the Lord”; in the presence of the Living God.




When that happens, it doesn’t require clicking your heals together and saying, “There’s no place like home”. And, you won’t be in Kansas.

 

The Scapegoat

1 Peter 3:13-18

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A13-18&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

While my daughter was in high school she played on the softball team. One particular game still sticks in my mind. I was sitting in the bleachers directly behind home plate. Standing nearby, was the father of the pitcher on my daughter’s team. Throughout the whole game, he had constantly berated the home plate umpire.

 

Finally, no doubt tired of listening to his personal castigation, the umpire wheeled around, looked straight at me and said, “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to kick you out”! I was dumb founded, and was unable to respond. The Dad who was the guilty party, also didn’t say anything. Shortly thereafter however, he left.

 

I didn’t choose to take the guilty dad’s spot on the hot seat. Given the opportunity, I wouldn’t have chosen it either. I didn’t know him. I didn’t like his berating of the umpire. He was a very negative person who seemed intent on taking the fun out of the whole game for everyone. Why would I choose to take his punishment?

 

²¹ He (Aaron) is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.        Leviticus 16 NIV

 

This ceremony, was a major part of the tradition of Israel on the Day of Atonement. By doing this, the goat would symbolically take all of the sins of Israel upon it. He became the “scapegoat”. He was chosen for this role. He didn’t choose to do it.

 

However, Jesus did choose to do it. He was the righteous one taking the punishment deserved by the unrighteous. Who does that? What motivates someone to willingly fulfill the role of the scapegoat?

 

¹⁸ Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. NLT

 

This verse tells us that Jesus willingly took our place; took our sins; became the scapegoat. He did this to “bring you safely home to God”. What an amazing picture to remember during this Easter season – the best day of the year.