“What Is God the Father Like…” Luke 15.1–3, 11–32 July ’24 Pent 9B July ‘24

 

1.                Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. The text for today, as we continue our sermon series on Parables for Pentecost, is taken from Luke 15, beginning with verses 1–2: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives [welcomes] sinners and eats with them.’ ” What Is God the Father Like? That’s the title for our message today, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                Unfortunately, our experience with our earthly fathers has clouded our vision of God the Father as shown to us by Jesus. But, today we need to let Jesus tell us what the Father is really like. When you’re a dad and your little kids are asleep, you go in and kiss them. And then you pray that God will make you a better father. Life is about them. And you don’t regret the love, the worrying and protecting, not if it’s for your child.

3.                Jesus said in Luke 15: “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property [estate] that is coming to me’ ” (Luke 15:11–12a). Been punched in the stomach lately, Dad? Can you see the face you’ve always loved, the kid who rode on your shoulders, cold and distant, telling you the relationship is over? “I can’t wait forever for you to die, Pops. Just fork over my share so I can get out of here.” Can you feel your heart beating in your neck, and your face stinging? It stinks! “And he divided his property between them” (Luke 15:12b).

4.                It’s not like the Dad in this parable just sat down and wrote out a check. The boy can’t take herds of cattle with him on the love boat! Even if it’s a matter of taking ten cents on the dollar for his father’s valuables, all that’s at stake is his father’s good name. That was a public scandal in those days. There was even a ceremony, get-sat-sah (“cutting off”), for when a father was insulted like this. What father would let himself be humiliated like that? Our Father who art in heaven, that’s who.

5.                What is God the Father like? He’s humiliated—by every prodigal son or daughter who lives on his earth, breathes his air, eats his food, and doesn’t want to know him. God is publicly humiliated by every prodigal who utters the divine name just for fun, a hundred times a day, to remind God that he’s getting as far away from him as possible. It’s like Jesus was narrating the whole sordid tale of the Genesis 3 original sin all over again: “I don’t want this garden home you’ve given me. I wanna be out on my own!” What kind of father would let himself be humiliated like that?

6.                Luke 15:13-19 says, “Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ ”

7.                “He came to himself.” His repentance was just like ours. Self-serving. He just wanted to survive, so he went home to where the food was, where there was someone who cared about him. His confession of sin even had a deal worked into it. “Three square meals a day,” and a time card seemed like a plan. He had no idea the size of the love and grace that was waiting for him.

8.                “But while he was still a long way off,” his father spotted him (Luke 15:20). Ever been there? I think we all have. Did you care why your child came home? I didn’t. If that happens in a bad man like me, what happens inside a Father who is truly good? Right here in verse 20. It all comes down to one Greek word. It’s this word that’s going to make us live forever: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and esplagchnisthe”—literally, “his guts fell out,” “his heart broke.” The boy was justified, not in his confession (he hasn’t said anything yet!), but outside of himself, across the field in the breaking of the father’s heart. This is what God is like: brokenhearted. He’s “Our Father,” and by these words, he would tenderly invite us to believe that he is our true Father and we are his true children.

9.                He ran to his son, fell on his neck, and kissed him fervently. Where have I read this before? Remember how Jacob cheated his brother Esau? He thought Esau would kill him if they ever saw each other again. They had both made their fortunes and had their families. And when Jacob realized that he would meet up with Esau, he sent parades of gifts ahead of him, in the hopes that if he groveled enough, his offended brother might spare his life. But what happened? “Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Gen 33:4). So much of Jesus in the Old Testament!

10.              Luke 15:21-24 continues, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

11.             What’s wrong with this picture? Surely the get-sat-sah, that obviously hadn’t happened before, would happen now, since the son blew the inheritance! But did it? What happened to justice? Justice happened when the father’s heart was broken. One minute the father was clothed in dignity and the son stood in the distance humiliated. Who has dignity now? Not the father! In a pitiful display, robes flying, he’s half exposed himself running to his son, despising the shame! The son’s sin was covered, atoned for, by the humiliation of the father . . . that he caused! Can’t the father hear the townsfolk saying he’s easy and calling him a sucker? Apparently not.

12.             Witness the blessed exchange of dignity and honor from the father to the prodigal son. The son robed. The father disrobed. The son honored with the ring and shoes. The father dishonored with his running and cleaving like Esau as if he were the repentant sinner. The son was restored completely in the public spectacle of the father’s broken heart. Even that was not public enough for the father. Can you see the father sweaty and delighted, rounding up everyone? “Great news! You remember when my son treated me for dead and took his inheritance—so he could get as far away from me as possible? He blew the money partying! He had to come home! Isn’t that great?!! Hurry up! The band is playing! We’re having veal marsala! Bring your appetite and put on your dancing shoes!”

13.             Luke 15:25-28 continues, “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated [pleaded with] him.” You’d think a good son would be glad just to see his father happy again. Besides, it was the duty of the older son to be the mediator between his father and his brother, since he loved both. But this son loved neither. You could almost imagine a faithful son pleading with his father: “Dad, I can’t celebrate this! I can’t watch you do this to yourself. I watched you waste away since your no-account son pulled that rotten stunt, and now that he’s broke he’s back to sap you dry and slap you in the face again. I’m sorry, but I can’t just pretend like everything’s okay.” But that’s not what he said. Remember Jesus’ audience.

14.             Luke 15:29-32 continues, “But he [the older son] answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served [slaved for] you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property [estate] with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting [necessary] to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” “You are so unfair! What about me? I’ve slaved for you. (Wasn’t it his inheritance?) I’ve never disobeyed you (’til now). You never gave me a goat (just the whole estate!) so that I could party with my friends. (Not that I ever wanted to have a beer with you, Dad.) I agree with the neighbors: you’re a fool.”

15.             The guests standing there with their wine glasses must have been amazed! How many times has this father been dragged through the mud? Both of his sons are the same. Curved in on themselves. All the humiliated, brokenhearted father has done with both sons is run after them and give to them, yet he’s unfair? But he is. Completely unfair. He “tenderly invites” his older son, saying, “Let our hearts break and bring on the humiliations. We have to celebrate; he’s your brother, and he’s back from the dead! Who cares about fair?”

16.             The story ends with Jesus staring at the Pharisees, and all of us ninety-nine who don’t need to repent, who resent the fact that heaven puts on a feast for the one who does, as if their atonement cost us anything. He gave them a chance to finish the story, to answer the Father’s pleading, to repent and take on the Father’s heart, and to let their hearts break over their lost brothers. But no “older brother” was found to finish that story.

17.             Oh, it was finished all right, in Jerusalem, and it wasn’t a parable. See how unfairly the older Son gave his share to pay his brother’s debt. See how unfairly the older Son was publicly humiliated to cover his brother’s sin. See the older Son crucified to buy his brother back with his own broken heart. “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast” (Ps 22:14).

18.             See, from his head, his hands, his feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down! When you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. And when Jesus, nailed up, saw the travail of his heart in the distance—you, little brother, little sister—he was satisfied! His heart of love grew too large, and broke, and was thrust open, like some sort of celebration piñata raining down a fountain of water to wash his little brothers and sisters clean for your Father and blood into the chalice to keep you strong so you never stray again. What is God the Father really like? He’s humiliated, so we can come home to our Father. He’s brokenhearted, so we can run to our Father. He’s unfair, so we can feast in our Father’s house. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

 

“A Hostile Takeover” Luke 12.13–21 Pent. 8B July ‘24

 

 

1.                Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. We continue our sermon series on the Parables for Pentecost, today our text is from the Gospel of Luke 12:13-21, we begin with verses 13-14: “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ ” The message is entitled, “A Hostile Takeover,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                The man in the crowd didn’t know it, but he was praying about money. We do plenty of that in these uncertain times. “Lord, will I hold on to my job?” And that’s for reasons that may have nothing to do with your performance. It’s hardball at high levels behind closed doors that have nothing to do with you. It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job, or how much your boss loves you. If the company you work for collides with a company that’s higher on the food chain, guess what? You and your boss are cleaning out your desk, and “Hit the road, Jack, but don’t take it personally.” Corporate mergers, foreign acquisitions, hostile takeovers—we hear about them every day, but for the one who built his or her life around that job, it’s always a hostile takeover. What does all that have to do with this text? Everything!

3.                Remember the transfiguration? The voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” Then, as soon as Jesus and the disciples come down from the mountain, the Gospel shifts gears: “He set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51). Listen to this Jesus as he travels to Jerusalem.

4.                “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ ” This fellow sounds like a typical heckler in the crowd, trying to get Jesus off message. Jesus’ reply almost sounds as if he were silencing a heckler: “Man, who made me judge or arbitrator over you?” The reasons it sounds to us as if Jesus is dismissing the guy are two: first, because I would have answered a fool like a fool, and rolled my eyes. The second reason is because, at first glance, this doesn’t sound like something Jesus would say, at least according to popular theology. He told those two brothers, “That’s your problem,” and I say, “What?” He said, “That’s not part of my job description,” and we say, “Whoa! I thought . . .”

5.                We’re surrounded by a huge sector of Christianity that really thinks that is Jesus’ job description. I’m living the American dream, making a better life. What’s the point of being a Christian in the land of opportunity if I can’t rub the lamp and make a wish? Jesus, out of love for this guy, told him the truth: “I’m not your genie, and this isn’t small-claims court. You have a problem.” This man had the ear of God in a body, and this is all he could come up with? Get my money? And when you receive the key to heaven, and we have the ear of the King, do we ask for important things, or have we taken his name in vain?

6.                Pop theology teaches that as a Christian I have the right to more stuff. Is “more stuff” what it all boils down to? Trust me when I tell you more stuff doesn’t make for happiness. It makes for sore muscles! I remember when I first got a call to Grace and I told Tony Mirenda that I needed to move my books into my office. I told him I had 66 boxes of books and Tony thought I had 66 books to bring to my office. Talk about back breaking. The more subtle malfunction is if we think that we already know the right questions to ask, and Jesus’ only job is to pony up the answer we expect. If God would only give me what I ask, that would be my happy ending! Money? Stuff? That is a wrongheaded illusion. Jesus knew it (he always knows!) and told the man, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

7.                You want to know how it turns out if you get what you want? Jesus tells us another parable. A rich man’s land produced a bumper crop. And he began to say to himself, “What shall I do? ” (Luke 12:16b–17a). The farmer consults with . . . himself. “I have no place to store my surplus. What to do?” “What shall I do? I have no place to store my surplus. Here’s what I’ll do, I’ll tear down my barns and I’ll build huge barns and gather all my grain and my goods.” My surplus. My grain. My goods. I’ll bet he called himself a “self-made millionaire” too.

8.                The rich farmer never questioned whether the bumper crop was for him to keep. No, this spells early retirement. “Relax, eat, drink, be merry” (Luke 12:19c). Isn’t it obvious? “And I will say to my soul” (Luke 12:19a). Folks all just assume their souls are theirs to keep. “To keep” is the operative phrase. For this man, “to keep” was everything! Greed is a downward spiral. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim 6:9). Look at him plunging. “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years” (Luke 12:19b). Many good things—to keep…many good years—my years.

9.                “But God said to him, ‘Fool!’ ” (Luke 12:20a). Who told you they were your things? Who told you they were your years? And who told you it was your soul? “Fool! This night your soul is required of [demanded back from] you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20). “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Mt 16:26a). For that man, death was a hostile takeover. But man, despite his riches, “will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish” (Ps 49:12). For sinners, the reign of death, hell, and grave is a hostile takeover. It swallows you up even while you go about your business—even if you’re good at your business. Makes no difference. That’s why it’s a hostile takeover. You’re out. Empty your desk. It’s heartbreaking.

10.             The punch line is even more heartbreaking: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).  He thought he had good things, but he had no idea how good things could be. He wasn’t “rich toward God.” He thought he had many years more. What, ten, twenty, thirty? Thirty years goes by in a second! He had no concept of “many”! “My ship has come in. I won’t have to work, and I’ll have plenty of stuff ’til I die!” That’s all there is to life when you’re made in the image of God? Hoarding and hiding? That’s what they mean by “be merry”?

11.             One could assume that the rich fool laid up for himself and as a result wasn’t rich toward God. But that’s not right. The truth is, he wasn’t rich toward God, and as a result he couldn’t afford not to lay up for himself. Giving a real offering to God doesn’t make you rich toward God. It means you already are. Already rich enough and merry enough to lay up thank-you presents in heaven by taking care of people here.

12.             But what about this poor guy in the crowd? What does a wrong question and a stiff warning and a sad parable change? The man in the crowd now knows that he’s not rich toward God. He’s going to lose his soul, and Jesus is headed for Jerusalem. When the man asked Jesus to get him his money, Jesus wasn’t saying, “No can do! You’re asking too much!” He was saying, “Wake Up! Wake Up! You’re Asking Too Little!” Ask me what I mean by “rich toward God.” Ask me why it matters to you. Say to your soul, “Soul, you’re not rich toward God. You haven’t any good things, and you haven’t many years, but death will spring on you like a trap, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.” None of our good deeds could ever make us rich toward God, and every sin put us deeper in the red. And death picks people off and hell gulps people down even while they go about their business, because death knows and hell knows there’s no one big enough to stand up against them. So, they thought.

13.             There’s a new kid in town. They call him Immanuel. He’s not a consultant, and he’s not interested in a merger when it comes time to pay for your sin. He looks at you and me and every sinner and says, “I know you planned on facing death, hell, and the grave when the wrath of God falls, but you know something? You’re out. Clean out your desk. This is not a negotiation!” This is a Hostile Takeover!

14.             That’s why Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem. He aimed his feet to where the nails were waiting. He reached his goal and things got hostile. They crucified him. The sky turned black, and it was Jesus’ turn to ask the question “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The voice in the parable answered, “Fool!” But this time it was no parable. This was the real voice of God the Father aimed at Jesus! “Fool! Their souls are required of you this night.” He became sin for us. This is the Hostile Takeover of what we had coming. The Hostile Takeover of our judgment: “Not rich toward God.” The notice of accusations against us that hung over our heads was ripped from us and was now hanging over his head on the cross.

15.             “And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” And the things he had prepared, good deeds of love, righteousness, and innocence that he had to build bigger storehouses for it all! Whose will they be? Whose?!! Yours. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). It was all for you. With every good work and every act of love in his sinless life, Jesus laid up many good things for you for many years. You are rich in God.

16.             At this altar, you will show what it really means to eat, drink, and be merry! You can afford anything, especially if it means good news to those who have been slaves to the giant corporation of sin, death, hell, and the grave. While you give yourselves away, announce that hostile takeover: all power is given to Jesus in heaven and in earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of [teach] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). New products and services: the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. New Owner. No worries. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.