Bailey Methodist Church
3/30/2025

      • Isaiah 53:4–6ESV

      • Isaiah 53:12ESV

      • John 3:16ESV

      • Romans 5:10–11ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:18–19ESV

      • Ephesians 2:13–16ESV

      • Colossians 1:19–20ESV

      • Hebrews 2:17ESV

  • Come Every Soul (Only Trust Him)
  • Come Just As You Are
  • Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
  • Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow!
  • As we continue our series on the holy life, we find ourselves in a familiar place in Luke’s gospel. The parable of the lost son is arguably one of Jesus’ most well-known parables, alongside the parable of the Good Samaritan. Numerous commentaries and books have been written about this parable, and Rembrandt created a famous painting depicting the scene of the lost son’s return. I even have a copy hanging in my office.
    The question we face today is: “What does this parable reveal about the holy life Christ calls us to live?” I'm glad you asked.
    Luke 15 begins by setting the scene for Jesus’ teachings on lost things. The crowd includes sinners, tax collectors, Pharisees, and scribes. All three parables in this chapter illustrate God’s mercy, compassion, and love for the lost, as well as His desire to bring them to Himself. The stark contrast among those in the crowd highlights the difference between those who seek God’s grace because they acknowledge their need for a Savior and those who believe their holiness entitles them to be called children of God. This difference reflects the contrast between humility and arrogance regarding our abilities.
    Ultimately, the parable is not just a story of rebellion; it encompasses themes of grace, repentance, and restoration. At its core lies a critical moment—the turning point for the son, the father, and even the older brother. Each of these turning points offer insight into the holy life.

    1. Every turning point begins with a breaking point. (vs. 17)

    We begin with the turning point of the younger son in the parable. Jesus recounts how the younger son approaches his father and demands his share of the inheritance. According to Deuteronomic law, he was entitled to one-third of his father's estate after the father's death. However, he desires it before that time. Knowing his son's heart, the father gives him the inheritance anyway. As the father anticipated, the son squanders everything on “loose living,” as the RSV puts it.
    In verse 17, we learn that the younger son has reached both a physical and spiritual low point. He left his father's house filled with confidence and entitlement, but he was humbled by famine and failure. Jesus tells us that the younger son finally “came to himself.” He recognized that he had fallen. The depravity of his heart led him to such a low place that he realized the only way out was to return to his father’s house. The psalmist writes in Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” The son acknowledges that his actions have led him to this situation. This moment becomes his breaking point.
    Hardship has a remarkable way of forcing us to confront reality. The younger son’s initial motivation was not particularly noble; he wanted to be fed. However, this physical breaking point opened his eyes to a more profound spiritual truth. He was not just sorry for what he had lost; he was remorseful for what he had done. He recognized that his sin was primarily against God, and he also sinned against his father.
    What happens with the younger son serves as a reminder that sometimes a crisis can wake us up rather than destroy us. Our lowest moments can mark the beginning of redemption. It is in our brokenness that we realize the only way to find true life is to turn to God.
    One does not have to live in complete rejection and rebellion against God to experience a breaking point. St. John of the Cross refers to the “dark night of the soul,” a period marked by anxiety, depression, and a sense of isolation from God. This can stem from unrepentant sin or may be a form of spiritual attack from the enemy. During these times, we may feel that God is absent from our lives, or we might experience spiritual dryness. This creates a deep spiritual hunger to find peace with God. Such moments compel us to recognize our need for Him. The desire to seek God when we feel lost is part of the imago Dei that resides in all of humanity. We are inherently wired to desire God.
    The son ultimately realizes that nothing in this life can satisfy that longing; those things are fleeting. The enemy can entice us with worldly temptations to draw us away from the Lord, but the desire for communion with God remains constant. The younger son understands that he must return home to find true peace.

    2. God’s grace meets us before we realize it. (vs. 20)

    2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV
    19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
    The father doesn’t wait on the porch tapping his foot. He runs to the son.
    The son had his speech prepared, but the father interrupts it with embrace and restoration.
    The robe, ring, and shoes all declare: “You’re still my son.”
    Application: God doesn’t just tolerate your return—He celebrates it. No matter how far you've gone, the Father is watching for you. Your turning point is His starting point for restoration.

    3. We can still be far from God and never leave home. (vs. 28)

    Proverbs 16:18 ESV
    18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    The older brother’s anger reveals a heart that never fully understood grace.
    He sees obedience as a transaction, not a relationship.
    He’s close to the father in proximity, but distant in spirit.
    Application: Sometimes the hardest turning point is for the self-righteous. We need grace just as much as the rebel. The challenge is not just to come back home—but to share the Father’s heart.
    Conclusion:
    Every person in this story had a turning point:
    The younger son turned from rebellion to repentance.
    The father turned from watching to running.
    The older brother was invited to turn from resentment to rejoicing.
    Question: What will your turning point be?
    God is not just waiting for your return—He's ready to run to you, to restore you, and to rejoice over you.
    Would you like me to add a prayer or illustration to go with it?

      • Luke 15:1–2ESV

      • Luke 15:11–32ESV

      • Psalm 32:5ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:19ESV

      • Proverbs 16:18ESV

  • Softly And Tenderly
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