Portraits of our Father - Luke 15 - Part One

Since 2016, I have periodically preached through the Gospel of Luke.  This fascinating gospel written by a Gentile captures the heart of God for the outcasts, women, Gentiles, and the poor.  Nowhere is this seen more than in the infamous chapter 15 of Luke.

In 2016 I preached through Luke 15 on the theme of "Coming Home."  As I have just finished this summer Luke 14 and I don't plan to go back preaching through Luke 15, I thought I would give some fresh thoughts on this great chapter.

I am entitled these writings "The Portrait of the Father" for Luke 15 is not about a lost sheep, lost coin, or a prodigal son; instead, it is about who Jesus' Father is.

You will notice in the graphic above the frame is empty.  This is done on purpose so you are faced with the idea of filing in that frame with your picture of God, the Father.  

How do you view the Father?  Harsh? Angry? Sulking?  Smiling? Winking? Do you picture just as a God of judgment?  Or is He full of grace?

Jesus shocked the Jews when He said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9).  This was blasphemous to the religious Jew.  

So what does Jesus reveal to us about the Father in Luke 15?  The opening verses read "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Our Father receives sinners!!!  Now we know He is holy and cannot have fellowship with unchanged sinners, but that is not the point of Luke 15.  While the point is vital; it is not the emphasis of Luke 15.

I love the way Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message: "By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religious scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased.  They growled, 'He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.' their grumbling triggered this story." 

They, like many of us, forget what we were like before coming to Christ.  Or do we have a false estimation of our own sin and filthiness before a holy God. Did they believe these "men and women of doubtful reputation" were beyond saving?  Do we?

In 1718, this hymn was written with this chorus:

"Sing it o'er and o'er again:

Christ receiveth sinful men.

Make the message clear and plain:

Christ receiveth sinful men."

Instead, our Father receives sinners and rejoices over them when they are found.  This is our God.