Lost Son

Parables of the Messiah

Shema – HebrewShema Israel, Adonai elohenu – Adonai

echadVe’ahavta et Adonai eloeikahB’khol levavkahUve’khol naphshekahUve’khol m’odekahVe’ahavta le’reacha Kamocha, Amen

Shema

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

And Love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.

1 Parable – 3 “acts”• Lost sheep– A shepherd loses one of his sheep?

• Lost coin• Lost son

• Lost don’t do anything to be found• Celebrate He who found us

• 1st Century folk tale

Lost Son

• “Father, give me my share of the estate.”– Dad, I want you dead– I want a share of what is the community’s– How do you divide something everyone owns?

Bethsaida Insula

Korazin Insula

Modern Insula

Lost Son

• “Father, give me my share of the estate.”– Dad, I want you dead– I want a share of what is the community’s– How do you divide something everyone owns?

• Father must liquidate his assets– No one in the town would contribute to the

shame of the father

Distant Country

• Decapolis– Father could see where his son went

Decapolis

Capernaum from Decapolis

Distant Country

• Ideology of the land was “distant”– They had nothing in common– Son was turning his back on being a Jew

• Decapolis– Father could see where his son went

Different Ideology

Repentance?

• Son “comes to himself” – still selfish motivation– He is only considering his own situation– No concern for what he did to his father or

community

Reconcile• How can father reconcile this son?– Kazaza – publicly shamed– Father must find a way to reinstate son before he

enters the town

• Initiates a Sul’ha– Reconciliation meal– Father takes all financial responsibility for son– Son is under father’s protection at the table– This will never be spoken of again

Sul’ha meal

Older Son

• He is also invited to the table of grace• It is left open whether he accepts or not

Father

• He does the searching – the effort• He runs to his son– Shaming himself to show his love to his son

• Responsibility lands on him• His table of grace protects both sons• How GREAT is his love!!

Next week

• Parable of the Sower• Mark 4:1-20