Freedom
Each of us has a vision of how we would like our life to be. But sometimes that life can feel out of
reach.
1.
What stops people from living the life they want?
Since meeting the widow, Jesus has continued to transform the lives of those on the margins of society. As he has met their needs, he has gained attention. He has also gained criticism from the religious leaders.
We rejoin Jesus as he addresses a crowd.
Read Luke 15:1-2
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’
Tax collectors and sinners’ are outcasts, shunned as those who fail to meet society’s ethical and religious expectations. By contrast, the ‘Pharisees and teachers of the law’ are the religious elite, who tirelessly give themselves to God’s law and to ethical living.
2.
What does Luke tell us about these two groups? What does this suggest about their motivation to come and listen to Jesus?
Keep these groups in mind as we read on.
Read Luke 15:11-12
11 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
The son would ordinarily have received his inheritance after the father’s death. To meet the son’s demand, it would have cost the father financially. It would also have cost him socially. As neighbours looked on, the father would have been left humiliated.
3.
What do you think the younger son’s request reveals about how he views his father?
4.
How do you imagine the father is left feeling after his son’s request?
Read Luke 15:13-19
13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”
The younger son seeks freedom away from his father, but ends up trapped, ashamed, and hungry. Sitting amongst the pigs, he has hit an all-time low. And it’s there that the son re-evaluates his decisions and decides to return home.
5.
What mistakes do you think the son can now see he has made?
6.
As the younger son plans to return home, how does he hope to repair his relationship with his father?
Read Luke 15:20-24
20 So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
21 ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22 ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
7.
Imagine the son as he spots his father’s house in the distance. What do you think the son’s appearance is like? What do you think he is feeling?
8.
How do the son’s expectations of his father contrast with what actually happens? What does this tell us about how the father views his son?
The father is so overjoyed that he throws a lavish party. All his actions communicate to his son, and to those watching, that he is forgiven and welcome at the family table.
Read Luke 15:25-32
25 ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
28 ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
31 ‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”’
Jesus now draws our attention to the older son.
9.
Why do you think the older brother responds as he does? Do you think his response is reasonable?
10.
Read verse 29. What does this reveal about how the older son views his relationship with his father? What does he fail to see?
The younger son shamed the father by running away. Now the older son shames him by refusing to come in and join the party. Given how they have treated their father, neither son is worthy of a seat at the banquet.
At the beginning of the story, the rebellious younger son is more obviously lost. Yet as the story closes, it is the older son who is in greater danger of being alienated from his father. He is lost.
But in his compassion, the father goes out to both sons. He wants them at his banquet.
11.
Jesus is saying that this father represents God. How does the father compare with what you imagine God to be like?
Process Together
Jesus speaks to a crowd of younger sons (rebellious tax collectors) and older sons (hard-working Pharisees).
Both groups are lost. They both believe they will find real life away from God.
We are invited to see ourselves in these two groups. Like the tax collectors we look for freedom away from God. Or like the Pharisees, rather than simply accepting God’s love, we think we can earn it by our own work. Whatever form it takes, our resistance dishonours the God we were made to know.
12.
Which of the two groups in the crowd do you relate to more?
Jesus is making a bold statement. He says that apart from God, we can never know true life.
Instead, we find true life and freedom when we ‘come to our senses’ and return home to God. And just like the Father, God will welcome us back with compassion and celebration, however lost we might be.
13.
How does it make you feel knowing that God wants to welcome you in this way?