Three Faces of a Follower of Jesus

Luke 15: 25-32 was caught on canvas by the artist Rembrandt. In the painting we see the Prodigal son on his knees with his head buried in his father's chest, the father has his hands gently touching the shoulders of his son and the older brother looking down on the scene.

In most sermons on Luke 15: 25-32 the focus is on the son who has returned. This post was inspired by three sermons I heard at the Vineyard Church in Overland Park, KS.

The first sermon, titled "Big Shock, was given by Mark Warner, senior pastor at the Vineyard. It covered the younger son's demand for his share of the family fortune and his short adventure in wasting it all on partying and self indulgence. Finally coming to his senses and returning home a beaten man as pictured in Rembrandt's painting. Notice his head, which appears to be unkempt and thin, his clothes which are torn and shabby, and his feet, which are barely covered by the sandals he is wearing.

Luke 15: 11-20 Then he said, "There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.' 

"So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any. 

 "That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.

Here is a picture of each of us as we stand before the Father with all of our baggage and sins.

The second sermon, titled "Big Party", was given by Patrick Wildman, pastor of Christ Church Anglican, in Overland Park, KS. It covered the father's heart as he heard about his son returning. How he ran to his son and embraced him. How he cut the son off as he was confessing his sin. How he celebrated the son's return. Notice the father in Rembrandt's painting. The gentle and kindness that the father showed to his returning son. Patrick pointed out the father was a Prodigal father because he threw a lavish celebration at his son's return.

Luke 15: 17-24"That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father. 

"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.' 

"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

Here is the picture of how God reacts when a son or daughter embraces His grace and mercy by accepting Jesus as their savior.

The third sermon, titled "Big Miss", was given by Dan Deeble, lead pastor of Heartland Community Church of Olathe, KS.  It covered what the brother missed out on by refusing to celebrate the wayward brother's return. Notice the eyes of the older brother and how he is looking down on his father and brother with disdain. It captures the attitude of disrespect for the father and jealousy of the younger brother.

Luke 15: 25-32 All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.' 

"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!' 

"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"

Here is a picture of how the church often looks on the lost. We often miss out on the Big Party because we are struggling with our own lostness, or because of our religiousness, which chases the loast away. The ending of the story is will we celebrate what God is doing in our community? Will we look beyond our differences to work together in reaching the ones who are struggling, are hurting, or who stand dirty with the stains of life? 

Look at this painting again. Right some of you are either the dirty and lost son or you are the self-righteous older son, both who are in need of the Father's loving embrace and touch. Some of you are standing as the Father's representative who He will use to administer His love and touch.

Think about it. You, no matter where you are right now, will stand in one of the three positions Rembrandt captured in this painting.

I gained great hope and relief from this series of sermons and I encourage you to download them at Vineyard Church www.vineyardop.org.

Father, thank You for having a forgiving heart and for pouring out Your Grace and Mercy on us through Your Son Jesus and for touching us through Your Holy Spirit. In the power and authority of the name of Jesus amen