REVEALED SERIES: Reconciliation

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’”
Luke 15:1-2.

Read Luke 15:11-32. The Prodigal son.

There were three parables that Jesus used in correcting the Pharisees and the teachers of the law regarding his relationship with the sinners: The parable of the lost coin, the parable of the lost sheep and the story of the prodigal son. All three parables have the following in common: Something is lost, there is a search for the lost and a celebration after finding what was lost. The parable of the prodigal son shows that God allows his children to face the consequences of our actions (Hebrews 12:6). But if there is a time of discipline, there is also the time of restoration.

“So he 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” Luke 15:20.

When the son realized that he was wrong, he planned on going back to his father to work for him as one of his servants. But when his father saw him from the distance, he quickly ran to greet him and couldn’t wait to restore him.

3 SYMBOLS OF SONSHIP.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet” Luke 15:22.

Robe.
The robe is a symbol of identity in the time of Jesus. When the father gave his son a robe, he was restoring him his honor and his right as an heir.

Ring.
The ring is a symbol of authority. In the Old Testament, rings were metal seals used to seal covenants. The father gave a ring to his son as a covenant of unconditional love.

Sandals.
In the New Testament, only family members have sandals. When the father gave sandals to his son, he was giving him his destiny.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER RECONCILES US TO HIMSELF

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” Jeremiah 31:34b.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” Isaiah 43:25.

THE RESPONSE OF THE OLDER BROTHER?

“Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends” Luke 15:29.

The older son did not address his father as “father” because he has always seen him as his master. We can be Christians for a long time but still miss out on the fatherhood of God because we always see ourselves as slaves.

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:18.**