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BURIED TREASURE: Exploring The Parables Of Jesus

by J. W. Jepson, D.Min.

Copyright © 1997 by J. W. Jepson

All rights reserved, including the right to grant the following permission and to prohibit the misuse thereof:

The Author hereby grants permission to reproduce the text of this article, without changes or alterations*, as a ministry, but not for commercial or non-ministry purposes.

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19.

REBELLION, RUIN, AND RESTORATION

A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew night to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

--Luke 15:11-32

REBELLION, RUIN, AND RESTORATION

This is a story of love, of conflict, of deep heartbreak, and of ecstatic joy. It is a story old and yet so new it might be happening in your family right now.

This has been called the most beautiful of our Lord's parables. Perhaps it is more than a parable, because the Master said, "a certain man had two sons..." Perhaps Jesus had personal knowledge of the family.

The scene opens on a well-to-do Jewish family. It appears that the two sons had been raised in affluence. If so, their lives had been quite comfortable and sheltered. High moral standards prevailed in the home.

But in the heart of the younger son a self-indulgent attitude had spawned a spirit of rebellion. The solid ethical structure of the home did not provide the fuel to feed the fires of youthful passion that raged within him.

So with the immaturity of a spoiled brat he demanded impudently of his gracious father, "Give me the portion of goods that falls to me" (verse 12).

"Give me." There is where the problems start. That is the beginning of trouble, the first step on a long trail of rebellion, heartache and tears.

Jesus does not tell us about the sweet reasonings of the distraught father, or the tears of the broken-hearted mother. The Savior assumed that we would know about such things.

But reason is wasted on the closed ears of him whose heart is ruled by mindless passion. They might as well talk to a brick wall as to a fool. His lusts overpowered his senses and alienated his heart from his intelligence.

The desire to go had mastered him. He could not wait for his father to die to get his portion of the goods.

The early inheritance that he got on demand burned holes in his pockets. His world was out there just waiting for him, and all he could think of was "Go, man, go!" He imagined that he was breaking loose into freedom, totally unaware that he was the abject slave of his own lusts.

Soon he was on his way, headed for a place as far away as he could get from responsibility, restraints, righteousness, and reason. Where he was going, the people were liberated! None of this religion stuff, man. They knew how to live! When he arrived, he started wasting.

But, like so many people who live on instant gratification, it never dawned on him that eventually he would run out of money. The furnace of passion runs hot, and the fuel bills are high!

Notice now the faithful providence of God. "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want" (verse 14).

Just as his funds ended, the famine began. Coincidence? No. Divine mercy. The headstrong youth was on a collision course with disaster, and God was placing roadblocks in front of him.

Now where were his new "friends"? Where were the hugging women and back-slapping "good buddies"? They were gone. "Miller time" was over. The selfish crowd had sucked him dry and thrown him away like an empty Dixie cup and a used paper napkin.

He began to taste real poverty. He had yearned for new experiences, and now he was getting them.

So he got a job feeding pigs. The road of self-will did not lead to high adventure. It ended instead smack in the middle of a pigpen. For a Jew, that was the lowest a person could go. Rebellion had indeed led to ruin.

Moreover, he was still hungry. Things are bad enough when a man has to work full time just for his own room and board. But during this famine labor was so cheap that an employer could hire a person full time just for a place to stay. No food. If he died of hunger, the boss could easily replace him. Nice, liberated, secular society! Real fun people!

We do not know who this employer was. He might have been a local merchant who had treated his new customer like a king when he had money to burn. Or he might have been the prodigal's favorite bartender ("Set 'em up boys. The good old boy from Judea is buying!"). Whoever he was, he represents the ungodly world, where it is "dog-eat-dog" when things get tough and the "bottom line" is "every man for himself."

Our young friend had to carry the carob pods ("husks") out to the pigs, and no one would let him even dine with the swine.

"Don't eat any of that! It's for the pigs!" Imagine what that does to one self-image!

We assume that his father did not know where his wayward son was. But if he did, he did the wise thing. The natural parental impulse would be to send some money and bail the poor boy out. But wise parents know it is folly to finance rebellion. The prodigal has to come to the end of himself. He has to get sick and tired of sin. His "fantasy island" has to sink away beneath his feet. He has to face reality.

So ruin led to realization. He "came to himself." It was about time! When he ran from home, he ran also from reason. Lusts "war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11), pitting passion against intelligence for control of the will. When passion is given the victory, reason is vanquished. The integrity of the personality is violated, resulting in guilt, conflict, and disintegration.

But reality is stubborn. Starvation drove him to his senses. It became impossible to deny the pangs.

"I'm dying with hunger!" he exclaimed. What an astute observation! Finally, wisdom is born. Welcome back to reality, friend.

Yes, the pigpen is an effective educator. Some people learn lessons there they seem to miss elsewhere.

Realization led immediately to repentance. "I will arise and go to my father" (verse 18). He knew the road home and he was determined to walk every step of it, even if it killed him. There was nothing wrong with his will. It was just as strong as ever. But now, thankfully, it was set in the right direction.

"Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." Now that is real godly sorrow. He recognized the levels of moral accountability. He was not acting out of self-pity. He knew he had to get right, and that always means getting right with God first. The restoration of relationships begins at the top!

"I am no more worthy to be called thy son" (verse 19). No excuses. No self-justification. Just honest, humble confession.

"And he arose, and came to his father" (verse 20). He did more than talk about it. He did it. He got up and got out of there. Usually that is the hard part. The devil builds up mental blocks: What if I can't make it? What if God doesn't want me?"

The difficulties loomed larger with each step nearer home. He kept rehearsing his speech over and over in his mind.

Meanwhile, back home a heavy-hearted man gazed intently down a dusty, old road. It had been a long time since the day he sadly watched his son disappear down that lane. Since then many hours had been spent in earnest watching. Would God answer his prayers? Would he ever see his son coming up that same road?

It seemed like just another day of waiting, looking, and hoping.

But what is this? A familiar figure trudged wearily toward him. There is no mistaking that form. It is his son! The long-awaited day has come!

Quickly the father arose and ran toward the far-off figure. With tears streaming down his face, he embraced his son and planted kiss after kiss on the gaunt face. Repentance brought restoration.

The young man blurted out his memorized speech, but the father gave him no room to finish. He was busy giving orders to prepare for the celebration. Restoration resulted in rejoicing!

Now, what is God saying to us? To every godly, praying parent who carries this deep sorrow God is saying, "Keep the fatted calf ready. The prodigals are coming home. When they arrive, receive them with open arms, kisses, and tears of joy."

If you are the Prodigal, God is saying to you "I love you. I will do everything wisely possible to keep you from destroying yourself. I want you back. Do not allow what an

older brother might say keep you away from Father's house. My heart is open to you. Come home now."

The celebration is ready to start. We are just waiting for you. So come now and let the joy begin.

*****

20. The Crooked Manager

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