Luke 15:25-32;
Hebrews 2:10-13
"Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
(HEBREWS 2:11)
In the parable of the prodigal son, there is one unhappy person at the party: the older brother. He's disgusted with his brother, and he's furious with their father. Don't you realize, he says, that you're rewarding terrible behavior? He even claims that his own behavior has been perfect. Where's his reward?
Jesus, your older brother, is the only son who has always obeyed His Father. Hebrews 2:10 tells us that His perfect earthly life was completed by suffering. He lived and suffered for His brothers. We are the ones who deserve accusations for our ungrateful, proud and sinful living. But Jesus let Himself be accused. We deserve to perish for our sins. But Jesus gave Himself in our place, took the judgment, and was crucified.
Jesus, "the one who makes men holy" (v.11), will never be ashamed of us. We are "of the same family" with Him. Yet unlike the brother in the parable, He has no animosity towards us. In fact, He invites us to a celebration: praising God with countless brothers in heaven.
INSIGHT
THE BROTHER IN THE PARABLE WOULD HAVE UTTERLY REFUSED TO SHARE HIS PART OF THE INHERITANCE. BUT YOUR OLDER BROTHER, JESUS, FREELY SHARES WITH YOU!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jeremiah 47-48
Psalm 125
2 Corinthians 4-5
Luke 15:25-32
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Hebrews 2:10-13
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”[a]
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”[b]
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[c]
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
b. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
c. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
GOD IN CHARGE [PART 1]
with Eric Metaxas
Whether in the time of the Old Testament prophet Elisha or today in 2012, it's easy to forget who rules the nations. We can be encouraged that, no matter what happens, the Lord reigns.
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