LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON – THE PURPOSE OF JESUS

The parable of the “Prodigal Son” is a true reflection of, the depravity and the lostness of the human heart, and the heart of God, filled with compassion and love towards the lost, the sinful and the wicked world. The parable is found only in the gospel of Luke 15:11-32, and not in the other gospels.

The parable, along with two others, is in response to what the Pharisees and Scribes complained about Jesus. They said, 2…“This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” because, “1…all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.”

Isn’t this news of great joy, that sinners, and the lost, were coming to listen to Jesus? *They were not merely listening, but their lives were being transformed like never before.* Zacchaeus the tax collector, no more sucked blood from the people – Luke 9:1-10. Mary, of whom seven demons were cast out, walked faithfully with the LORD, till the end – Luke 8:1-3. The demon possessed mad man, sat as calmly as a child – Luke 8:26-39. Jesus was up and about His business…the purpose for which He had come…
– “10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10
– “32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Luke 5:32
– “13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Matthew 9:13
– “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
– “15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” – 1 Timothy 1:15

The people who were to be the “ambassadors” and “representatives” of God, the Priests, the Pharisees and the Scribes, in fact, ganged up together, to scheme the capture and the killing of an innocent Man. This is what happens when the power-mongers are challenged by the TRUTH – they become warmongers, and bare their fangs, “just like their father” – John 8:44. What a tragedy! Can there be any truer example of the darkness and the depravity in a human heart? Oh the wickedness in the heart of man!

The LORD Jesus had come seeking for you and me – to redeem us, and restore us to what God had originally intended. Let us pause for a moment and evaluate, how this process of redemption and restoration is going on in our lives. May our lives be fruitful for the glory of our LORD, and for the blessing of His people around us. Even so the LORD help us.