I taught through the story we commonly call "The Parable of the Prodigal Son" from Luke 15 a few weeks ago. It's one of the most popular stories in the Bible. Many of us identify with the younger son who just needed to repent and receive the embrace of his father. Some of us identify with the father, desperately looking for and hoping our wayward kids will come "home". I'm convinced that more people need to identify with the older brother, who refused to celebrate, who refused to come to the table when his younger brother was "found". After all, the primary point for Jesus telling this story was to rebuke the pharisees and scribes who grumbled about Jesus "receiving sinners and eating with them"(Luke 15:1-2).
Many of the religious folks of Jesus' day did not get the gospel, and many people that fill our churches on Sundays don't get it either. "Receiving sinners" for the sake of the gospel is God's plan for transforming lives for eternity. What's the alternative? The alternative is to stay outside with the older brother, lying to yourself about your sinlessness, refusing to rejoice in another's salvation, and looking in on the party you should be going to. That's a sad way to live.
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