The God of Parties

Luke 15:1-32

Jan.4

The title of Rembrandt’s famous painting “Return of the Prodigal Son” focuses on the father’s younger son in Jesus’ well-known parable. But by composition and lighting, the artist causes us to focus on the father—his face weathered by suffering, his hands lovingly embracing the ragged boy, his whole body bent to his returned son.
Some people focus more on the sin and repentance of the young man than on God’s compassion and purposes. Repentance is necessary. But Jesus’ rejoicing Father completes, indeed dominates, the picture.

1. When did you first see the joyful side of God’s nature?

2. Read Luke 15:1-10. What provoked Jesus’ parables?

3. In the first two parables the theme of an owner searching for something lost and rejoicing when it is found begins to answer Jesus’ critics. Read Luke 15:11-32. The third parable repeats the basic theme. But how is it different from the first two?

4. In the opening words of verses 11-12, what facts and implications does Jesus bring out about family relationships?

5. In verses 13-16 Jesus summarizes the younger son’s experience away from home. In what ways are you sympathetic with the younger son? Why?

6. What steps do you perceive in the young man’s 180-degree turnabout?

7. The drama grows as Jesus describes the father in verses 20-24. In the light of verse 2, what does he want his critics to see about this man?

8. In the interaction with his older son, what other dimensions of the father’s character and motives appear (vv. 28-32)?

9. The rejoicing nature of God is still foreign if not downright offensive to some religious people (see vv. 2, 6-7, 9-10, 22-24, 32 and 14:16-17). Why?

10. What part of these three parables moves you to believe in the possibilities of new or fresh changes in your relationship to family members and with God?