The Kiss of Welcome

You all have made mistakes in your lives, some that seemed to be right at the time, but inexperience proved to be a factor and showed you that you were wrong. There are many mistakes that you wish you could undo, but it is too late. Some mistakes cannot be undone. Teenagers often make mistakes which is due to a lack of experience and the desire for freedom. Freedom sounds great, but there can and usually is... a great price to pay. I remember when it was time for me to leave home and to go to college. It was a frightening time, yet a time of excitement of the unknown. I still remember packing up my Ford Mustang and beginning my drive away from life as I knew it. Life would never be the same. I remember stopping at the stop sign, pausing for what seemed like an hour as I looked in the rear-view mirror. Part of me wanted to cling to my parents and part of me wanted to let go. The chain that seemed to hold me back seemed to give way gently and I began the drive from Houston, TX to Baylor University in Waco, TX. I remember settling into the Kokernot Dormitory with my roommate, in a city that was new to me and needed to be explored. Excitement was in the air and there were things to do. New types of decisions had to be made, decisions based on a new freedom, and I was now entering a stage in life of making decisions that would impact the rest of my life. This was a decision-making crossroad. Many of my friends made bad decisions. I had friends that choose the wild side and soon found themselves dealing with an unplanned child. Others choose to enjoy the nightlife over education. Many discovered that college was not for them. Others chose not to study and would later drop out. I remember my struggles and how I would call home and talk with my father. For comfort, I talked to my Mom who was full of love, ... for advice, I talked with my father. My father helped me work my way through the decisions without telling me what to do. He trusted me and allowed me to make my mistakes. My father loved me very much. Freedom is great and it is also dangerous. Many of you might wish you could undo your abuse of freedom when you ventured out in life on your own. Today, the Gospel lesson shows us such a picture when Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Son.

Scripture states:

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." [Luke 15:1-2]

There are two groups of people: the social outcasts and religious. The social outcast group are coming to Jesus and they are listening to the Words of Jesus and they are repenting of their sins. The religious group, that is the Pharisees and the scribes begin to grumble that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. Jesus then tells a parable that describes both groups of people.

3 So He told them this parable, saying, 11 And He said, "A man had two sons. "The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

The younger son is coming to his Father and wants to experience the world. He wants his father to give him his inheritance and to let his son go off into the world and enjoy his freedom. Many of you can relate. It is a bold move to go to your parents and ask for your inheritance before they are dead, but this is exactly what the younger son has done. The father gave the son his inheritance which sent the young inexperienced son down the road with a pocket full of money to be spent anyway he chooses to spend it. The parable states:

"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

Like I had mentioned before, the young son was entering a decision making crossroad and freedom often means trouble. He didn’t stick around in familiar territory, but went to a foreign land. His new wealth was burning a hole in his pocket and he squandered everything he had been given with a loose living. I’m sure we would word this differently today and say "the boy knew how to party!" Like Burger King, he had it his way, but soon he ran out of money. Not only did he run out of money, but there were economic problems in the area.

Scripture states: "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished." Cold reality begins to set it. Many of you may have suffered from frivolous spending and found yourself broke and out of money. The reality of bills to pay and no money is a hard burden to have to carry. Financial crisis wrecks havoc in marriages and is a leading cause of divorce. The stress of financial crisis is nerve wrecking, whether you are married, have a family, or single. The younger son has experience loose, reckless, and wild living and he is now in a major crisis. He need money for survival.

Scripture states:

"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

The things people will do for money when they are cornered are endless. Your desire can lead you to do things that are forbidden. This is true today and it is true in this parable. The younger son is in dire straits and he has resulted to tending to an feeding pigs. This may seem like a no big deal, but to a Jew, it is a big deal. Jews are forbidden from eating pigs because Jewish law states that they are unclean. This would be the lowest kind of work that any self respecting Jew would turn down. The young son is scrambling just to survive. Scripture states:

"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

He was not only willing to work with unclean animals, he was willing to eat the pigs food. He has hit rock bottom. He knows it. He cannot sink any lower. Some of you have been there and done that. This story is very real to some of you. Rock bottom can have an eye-opening reality that changes your perspective. Scripture states:

"But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men." ’

"So he got up and came to his father."

The young son knew that he would be better treated if he returned home, not as a son, but as a hired helper to his father. The errors of his loose lifestyle are overwhelming and he breaks out in a confession of sins to God and his Father. He begins the long walk home not knowing how he will be received.

Scripture states:

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. "And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

The father saw him and felt compassion. He ran and embrace him and gave him the "kiss of welcome". This is not what the son expected, but still he begins his confession as to how he has sinned against God and his father. But did you notice that the father stopped him? The son has come to declare that he is not worthy to be called his father’s son, yet the father calls for the "best" robe to be brought out, a ring on his hand and sandals for his feet. He is welcomed back royally! A feast is planned with a fattened calf and they celebrate. What was once lost is now found! The son represents the social outcast of this world. God welcomes all the lost sinners into His arms when they repent of their ways. This repentance comes from God’s saving Word.

But there is more to the parable. The parable now focuses on the other son who stayed with the father. Scripture states:

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. "And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ "But he became angry".

The older son was not angry until he found out what was going on. Jealousy sets in as his younger brother receives the royal treatment. Can you relate to the jealousy of the older son? There is a lot of jealousy in families today and a lot of grudges that are harbored against a brother, sister, father or mother,... Jealousy is a sin!

Scripture states:

"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. "But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

The older son has stood by the Father and did not squander the family inheritance. Notice how the older son is "self-righteous". He points out that he has been serving his father and NEVER neglected a command of his. He then points out that you bring out a fatten calf for this outcast while you never even gave me a young goat so that I can celebrate with my friends. The outcast son receives the prized fattened calf and the older son has not even received a cheaper cut of meat, that of a young goat. The older son is so condemning, self-righteous, and filled with hatred that he wouldn’t even refer to his brother as "brother", but instead refers to him as "this son of yours". He continues to point out the short comings of the younger brother and accuses him of devouring the family wealth on prostitutes. The older son chooses to degrade his brother by accusing him of spending all the money on prostitutes, an accusation that he has no evidence to back up. The older brother is operating out of bitter hatred and self righteousness.

What is the meaning of this strange ending? Well, I pointed out that the younger son represents the social outcast who become repentant. Repentant sinners are received with welcome arms from God. WELCOME HOME! SALVATION IS YOURS! The older son represents the Pharisees and the Scribes. The Father represents God. Notice how the Father never showed anger towards either son! The message of Jesus Christ is for all people. If you think you can earn your way into heaven by living a good life, you are the older son. You will watch the outcast be welcomed into the church. Remember, your Salvation is not based on how good of a life you live, it is based on your faith. Salvation is by grace and not by your good deeds. Paul addresses this very issue in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 2, verse 8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

The father told his older son: "And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ " Salvation is the greatest gift. It is a joy to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all your brothers, your sisters, your family, friends, co-workers, ... to all people. Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins. If he is willing to forgive you of your sins, then you should be willing to forgive others. Remember that I asked at the beginning that many of you wish you could go back and change the past? The past is over, but Jesus does forgive you and he washes your past away. You no longer need to dwell on the past or worry about it. You are forgiven. You have been received into the Father’s arms and received the kiss of welcome. If He has forgiven you, then you need to forgive others. You should welcome all people like the Father, not the older son. You will be given the royal treatment in heaven. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the forgiveness He carried out for them on the Cross. It is the gift of Eternal Life. The Kiss of Welcome is yours. AMEN.