SERIES
Sojourn: Toward an Enduring City
2016-10-16T11:00:00-05:00
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright (c)2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org
This week’s sermon referenced the painting above, “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” by Rembrandt. It is a masterful portrayal of the dramatic climax of Jesus’ parable, as told in Luke 15:11-32. There are many interpretive layers to this painting, but one of the most obvious is how Rembrandt used the three main characters’ posture to convey their emotions. The tender love of the father is seen in his tender embrace the younger son. The deep contrition of the now impoverished younger son is seen in his kneeling and in his head laid on his father. And the self-righteousness of the older son is seen in his towering stiffness.
Consider for a moment how those emotions might have influenced lives of these two sons the next day. Both sons probably woke up still in shock that their father threw a party to celebrate the occasion. As he resumed his daily responsibilities, the older son likely did so with an all-too-familiar attitude of bitterness. But the younger son probably experienced a new attitude. As he reacquainted himself with life in his father’s house, the younger son was likely filled gratitude. Not long ago, he felt such strong entitlement that he asked for an advance on his inheritance. Now, he felt such profound gratitude for his father’s forgiveness and welcome that he was glad to take on whatever duties his father entrusted to him.
Peter too was a prodigal, and knew what it was to be welcomed home after time in the “far country” of sin (John 18:17; 25-27). So for him, the topic of holiness can never be divorced from the remembrance of our guilt and God’s grace (1 Peter 1:14-18). The remembrance of our rescue from "the passions of our former ignorance" and our "futile ways" rekindles our gratitude. And that gratitude propels us to pursue holiness with gladness.