...it's party time...

“11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.

25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours’” Luke 15:11-31.

In this parable of Jesus there are so many things that teach us deep truths. One of the things is the fact that there just had to be a party held by the father! Imagine if Jesus was there at that party! Eventually, at some point, I can see Jesus look up, and glance around the room towards all the family and friends whispering. I can just imagine that the talking dies down as people wait to see what He’s going to say about the party for the runaway son. I can imagine this is what Jesus said: “All right, you want to know why there’s a party? You want to know how it is with fathers and sons? This party is a masterpiece to celebrate one of the greatest stories ever told, echoing the ancient stories of other ill-starred brothers we remember, such as Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, and particularly Esau and Jacob. We are celebrating this youngest son who ran away in trouble and has come back home to expect resentment. But what this young son is experiencing is a new twist. Something new and quite unexpected is going on, right here, right now, and a party is the only possible response.” 

I can hear Jesus saying, “Resurrection is happening right under our noses in this party! And you can’t imagine it! You can’t see it.” I can just hear Jesus saying, “This is my son – this is your brother – and he was dead but is now alive again. He was lost and now is found.”

But I can also imagine Jesus, right in the middle of it all, turning and looking at you and me. We’re at this party, too, standing by the door. “Yes,” Jesus’ eyes seem to say to you and me, “and what about you? Come on in and join the fun.”

Dear friends, take time today talk to God about how that celebration makes you feel. What does the party make you think?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, 

have mercy on me a sinner.