Second Chances: The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

This story hit me today as a perfect example of Second Chances.  We do not know the name of this young man and we are not even sure he really existed.  Yet Jesus tells us this story to show us God is always willing to forgive us even when we become like the prodigal son.  Scripture is written in the New Living Translation and is in italics.

The Prodigal Son’s Story

I am the youngest of two brothers.  My older brother is hard working and is responsible.  I am just the opposite.  Sure, I do what my father tells me to do but just enough to get by.  I would rather just hang out with my friends.  My older brother is married already and has a child.  He and his family live in their own house on our parent’s estate.  I live with my parents.  We are wealthy from our farm and I only have to help the workers feed and care for the livestock.

A Chance for Excitement

One day one of my friends received his inheritance and decided to move to a country south of Israel.  The country is known for gambling dens and exotic women.  He invited me to go with him.  I knew my friend’s inheritance was not as big as mine would be if I got it now instead of waiting for my father to pass away.  I bet my friend asked me to help support him when his money ran out.  Yet, I was drawn by the excitement of the far away country.  So, I made up my mind to ask my father for my inheritance now.

I could see the hurt in my father’s eyes when I asked him for my inheritance.  He asked me why I wanted it.  I told him I wanted to go with my friend to help him get settled in the other country.  I continued to tell my father my friend had just lost his parents and was heartbroken.  I wanted to help my friend, or that is what I told my father.  My father agreed and said he would have the money for me by the end of the week.

I guess my father had to sell a lot of his livestock to get the money.  I had assumed my father kept plenty of money around since we appeared to be wealthier than our neighbors.  I was wrong. 

Big City, Exotic Women

I got the money and my friend, and I headed south.  It took a few days until we came to a large city.  I could feel the excitement of the city.  There were vendors everywhere selling fine jewelry, carpets, and clothing.  My friend led me to a gambling house.  There I saw a beautiful woman I just wanted to get to know.

My friend and I won big that night.  The beautiful woman noticed me and came over and wrapped her arm around my back.  The wine seemed to be free and flowing.  I was having the time of my life.  Much after midnight my friend and I went back to the inn we were staying at and we each had a woman that night to keep us company into the wee hours.

The next day it was the same thing.  We won big and drank.  We went back to the inn with women and partied some more.  This went on the rest of the week.  I wanted it to last forever.

Yet, our luck started to change.  Then my friend lost his inheritance.  I still had plenty of money, so I just gave my friend a loan.  I am sure he will win big again and pay me back.  But he didn’t!  Instead, he lost it all then got into a fight.  My friend was drunk and decided to fight the biggest guy in the gambling house.  My friend lost the fight and his life that night.

I was devastated but after a few days of mourning the lure of the city called to me.  I went to another gambling house and there was the same beautiful woman.  When she saw me, she detached herself from the ugly guy she was hanging on.  The guy got mad and offered the woman more money to stay with him.  I was amazed.  I thought she liked me, but it turns out she was a prostitute.  But I wanted her anyways, so I offered her five times what the ugly guy was offering her.  She left him immediately.  He was mad but I could tell he was more defeated.  After all, I had money and good looks.

We spent the week going from one gambling house to another.  Most of the time I would win but the woman kept daring me to bid hiring hoping to win more money.  Then I started to lose more often.  I also noticed my woman’s eyes started wandering as my purse became smaller.  Finally, I was down to my last few dollars.  If I did not win big tonight I would be broke.  I did win a little but by the end of the night I had lost all my money and my woman.  I went back to the inn alone.  I knew I had paid up for three more nights, but I did not even have enough money to buy food.  I needed a job!

The Job

A job?  I did not want to work but my stomach started to growl.  I found a pig farmer who was willing to hire me on.  Imagine me, a Jew, working with pigs! Ugh!  Yet it was money.  Except since I had been partying so much, I did not know there was a famine going on.  I thought the farmer would at least feed me, but he said he barely had enough to feed his family.  I was not even allowed to eat what the pigs were eating.  The farmer was so sorry when it came time to collect my wages for the week, but he did not have any money because the famine was getting worse.  Now what am I going to do?  I am so hungry.

The Realization

Then it hit me!  Even my fathers hired servants have plenty of food and are well paid.  I should go back to my father and beg him to forgive me and hire me as a servant.  I do not deserve to be called a son anymore.

The journey seemed to take twice as long.  I was so hungry I stubbled and fell on the highway.  If it were not for a couple of women who spotted me and brought me home and fed me, I would never had made it home. 

As I neared my father’s land, I could see my father’s workers tending to their duties in the fields.  I was so ashamed I kept my head down hoping no one would notice me.  Then I heard someone running towards me.  I looked up and it was my father.  I was frightened as to what my father will do when he got close and learned I had wasted all his money.  I stood still with my head down and started to weep.

Home!

Suddenly, I felt my father’s arms wrapping themselves around me.  I was home!  I did not deserve to be here, but I was home!  My weeping increased and I could hardly speak.  I must tell him I thought to myself, I must!  Will he be willing to take me back as a servant?  Will he want anything to do with me at all?  Finally, I got the words out.  

“Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.  Please hire me to be your servant.  I have lost all my inheritance.  Please forgive me.”  My eyes remained focused on the ground.  Why did I come here?  How could my father forgive me after all the terrible things I have done? 

While I was thinking these things my father’s voice broke my train of thought.  “Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.”

I tried to argue with my father, but he would not listen to me.  My father hugged me all the way to the house.  The servants were scurrying around.  In no time at all it seemed there was a huge feast on the table.  My father beamed all through dinner.  I ate too much but it was all too wonderful.  I was home.  I am forgiven.  I never want to wander to worldly cities again.  I am loved!

Second Chances for the Prodigal Son

As I was writing the ending of this story it almost felt like God was telling me this is how it is when you get home to Heaven.  God is going to wrap His arms around me and hug me.  He has already forgiven me for all the times I have strayed.  He has a wonderful place for me in Heaven.  I will finally be home!  Are you forgiven and on your way home?

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The Prodigal Son, Bible Study Book By Matt Carter The Prodigal Son Bible Study Book includes printed content for eight small group sessions, personal study between meetings, applicable Scripture, “How to Use This Study,” tips for leading a group, and other features.At some point we have all asked Is Christianity really working for me? or Is following Jesus really worth it? But what makes us ask these questions in the first place? Why are we so tempted by the allure of a life outside God’s design?Thankfully, Jesus addressed this question through the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son from the gospel of Luke. In this story, we meet a young man who demands his inheritance, then goes and squanders it in a far-off country away from the watchful eye of his father. When he finds that the world and its pleasures do not deliver on their promises, he arises and returns home.This Bible study walks through the parable verse by verse, showing us what it means to follow God and walk with Him in a relationship of love and commitment, and ultimately illustrating that the best life is found in the love of our Father.1. The Problem 2. The Lie 3. The Step 4. The Consequences 5. The Realization 6. The Speech 7. The Return 8. The Reunion

The Prodigal Son: An Astonishing Study of the Parable Jesus Told to Unveil God’s Grace for You By John MacArthur The Parable of the Prodigal Son still stands out as a crucial lesson about our struggle with sin and dependence on grace. Formerly released as A Tale of Two Sons, John MacArthur provides fascinating new insight into this famous story. Through captivating historical context, you’ll hear this parable as it was originally intended, and experience the richness of God’s love and forgiveness in a new way.