The Joy in Repentance

During the spring Holy Day season, and especially prior to Passover, we'll be observing that this Thursday evening, during this time of year we give even more attention to examining ourselves for sin. Of course, we should always be examining ourselves for sin. I do not recommend that you only wait until the spring Holy Day season before you do that. That would not be wise by any means. We must always be on guard for sin in our lives. Now, I don't know about you, but sometimes such close scrutiny of our lives for sin reveals some things that can be very discouraging to us as we find sin in our lives. At the same time, it's a good thing that we find it. It's especially discouraging when we find sins we didn't think we had, or things we thought we'd overcome, we've left behind, and like weeds, they just keep coming back. We can feel quite low when we find ourselves still needing to repent over some of those old sins that we still have yet to overcome. The fact is, lest we forget, we human beings are always going to find sin in our lives. We are always going to find sin in our lives. In Romans 3.23, Paul tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So here's the news flash. If you're human, you are a sinner. If you're human, you are a sinner. Let's turn to 1 John 1, verse 8. Something here we need to read and remind ourselves, lest we forget. 1 John 1, verse 8. Well-known scripture.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. 1 John 1, verse 8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he, God, is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So when we do find sin in our lives, not if, but when we do find sin in our lives and we confess it, we admit it, that means we're being humble, and we're being truthful with ourselves, and we're being truthful especially with God.

With God who now commands all men everywhere to repent. That's Acts 17, 30. God commands all men everywhere now to repent. Sin is lawlessness, we know that. 1 John 3, 4. Sin is contrary to God, to his commandments, to his very way of life. And as Christians, we ought to feel true remorse. We ought to feel profound and godly sorrow for our sins, and we move to repentance because of sin.

Godly sorrow that produces repentance is a good thing. I repeat that. Godly sorrow that produces repentance is a good thing and a cause for joy. What kind of joy in repentance are we talking about? In the New Testament, the Greek word kara means joy, happiness, gladness. In its verb form, kiro, the verb form means to rejoice in action, to be filled with joy. Their opposite meanings are grief, sorrow, and mourning.

That's the opposite of this happiness, this joy. These synonyms for joy sound rather quiet and calm, though, don't they? Joy, happiness, gladness. That's what typically we see joy. That's what it refers to. But can joy in repentance mean a euphoric, jubilant, kind of sort of a, we're all going to Disneyland sort of excitement and joy? Can that be the joy in repentance we find as well? Absolutely, yes, sometimes. Absolutely that sort of joy. But again, the meaning of joy depends on how that word is being used in the larger context. Let's be turning to 2 Corinthians 7.10. 2 Corinthians 7.10, as I work my way to giving you the title for my sermon.

I remembered to give it a title this time. 2 Corinthians 7, verse 10. You can be turning there. Now, as I said, godly sorrow that produces repentance is a good thing. It is a cause for joy. Repentance, you see, does involve both sorrow and joy.

It involves both, doesn't it? But our human tendency is to do what? Our human tendency is to focus on the negative. A lot. For example, how often do you see a water glass half empty rather than half full? I usually say it's half empty. I guess I'm always wanting more.

That's what I'm looking at, the negative aspect of it. How much is not there? But in like manner, do we see repentance as a never-ending, tiresome, bothersome chore that we have to do? Do we look at repentance as something we have to do, like cleaning our bathrooms, which I don't necessarily like to do, but I do, trust me, or taking out the garbage?

Is that how we view repentance something we have to do? I don't think that's how we should view repentance. We feel that way, but that's not quite the way we should look at it. Although repentance requires constant effort, and though it can be wearisome like any chore, repentance is a gift from God. Repentance is a gift from God that leads to forgiveness, and ultimately, where? To salvation. Why do I say that? Because that's what Paul says here in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 10. Let's read it. 2 Corinthians 7, verse 10. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted. Don't grump about repenting. But the sorrow of the world just feeling bad because you did something wrong and then you get over it.

That sort of sorrow of the world produces death. That produces death. What we know is that repentance is what God allows us to do. God allows us to repent, and he wants us to repent so that we might receive salvation. In other words, brethren, and I have to change my own view about this too, repentance is something we get to do.

We get to repent. We should want to repent. See it as that beautiful positive thing God allows us. Instead of encouraging our efforts in repentance today, we will consider the joy in repentance. And that's the title of my sermon, the joy in repentance.

With sorrow, there is joy in repentance. How is there joy in repentance? How? How so? Well, quite possibly, the most joyous aspect of repentance is the fact, as we've read and understood from Paul, it's a fact that repentance leads to salvation. Repentance is a major part of the conversion process to salvation. Please turn with me to Luke 17, verse 3.

Jesus couldn't be more clear in stating our need to repent. Luke 13, verse 3. Did I hope I said that right? I turned to the wrong chapter. Luke 13, verse 3.

I must have said the wrong thing. You're turning differently. Luke 13, verse 3. Jesus couldn't be more clear in stating our need to repent. Here he declares, Luke 13.3, I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. The Greek word used for perish here is apolumi. Apolumi, A-P-O-L-L-Y-M-I. Apolumi means to perish. It means to be lost, ruined, destroyed. And in case we didn't, or his audience didn't hear him the first time, he repeats the very same point in verse 5. I tell you no, verse 5, and unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Any good teacher repeats points that are very important, and he wants to make sure we hear. Without repentance, we will perish. We will cease to exist. In short, we will not receive eternal life. We will not receive salvation. That's what it says. Repentance must also, as part of this conversion process, proceed baptism. In Acts 2, verses 36-38, Peter made clear the place of repentance in the conversion process. At the end of his sermon, as we read here, Peter convicted his listeners. He convicted his listeners of their sins. Here's what he said, verse 36. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? We've got to do something. And then Peter said to them, verse 38, Again, repentance leads to baptism. And repentance that leads to baptism is characterized by this total change of heart, a change of action. And it's based on personal faith in and a total commitment to Jesus Christ and God the Father. And we understand that through baptism, we outwardly show our faith that the blood of Jesus Christ, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, removes from us sin's penalty of death. His blood allows death to be passed over. We do not carry that death penalty. And rising up from the grave of baptism, that watery grave, represents our resurrection to this new spirit-led life, free from sin's penalty of death. It's all what we remember this time of year annually, lest we forget. After repentance and baptism, the process continues. We receive God's Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. And the Holy Spirit then leads our lives, leads us to live God's way. And it helps us to be motivated to want to keep God's laws. And true Christians have the Holy Spirit and strive to live as Christ lived. Even as John said in 1 John 2.6, you can jut that down in your notes, 1 John 2.6, 1 John 2.6, He who says he abides in him, in Christ, ought himself also to walk just as he walked. We ought to walk as Christ walked.

Why should we have joy and repentance? It's essential to our receiving eternal life. Without repentance born of godly sorrows, we read in 2 Corinthians 7.10, and the conviction of our sins in Acts 2.37, like we saw there, our baptism, frankly, would mean that we're just getting wet. We'd just be getting wet. It would be a show. No matter how well intended, if we don't do the steps in this process, we'd be getting wet. Without repentance from sin, we will not receive the begettle of God's Holy Spirit, and that is so very critical. Notice Romans 8, verses 9 through 11. Romans 8, verses 9 through 11.

Here Paul wrote Romans 8, 9 through 11, But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, which dwells in you.

So again, in short, without repentance, the process of conversion could not occur, and we would remain in our sins.

Doesn't that mean we should be filled with joy and repentance? Even though repentance can be difficult and daunting, do we have reason to rejoice in it? That demonstrates our faith in our hope of salvation? Through Jesus Christ? Absolutely. We should have great joy. We should have great joy in repentance. Let's turn to 1 Peter chapter 1. Here in 1 Peter, we can read a very encouraging exhortation to continue on in repentance from sin.

1 Peter chapter 1 verse 3.

Peter exhorts us, and all who follow Christ, he says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time Christ returned. In this, in this fact of our salvation, you greatly rejoice. Though now for a little while, for a little bit, if need be, you have been grieved, you have been caused to sorrow by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Sounds like us. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy, inexpressible, and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The salvation of your souls. Continuing verse 13, it continues with this exhortation, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, or rather, he says, Get ready for action, and stay ready for action. Be sober and rest your hope completely upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to your former lust, as in your ignorance, reminding us we should be living this life of repentance. But as He who called you is holy, who called us to salvation, God the Father, as He who called you is holy, meaning God the Father, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.

And so we see that our efforts in repenting from the ways of the world, and repenting from our own carnal nature, it's not in vain. It's not in vain. Repentance means we are striving to conform to the ways of God, to be holy as He is holy. And with faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which covers our sins, and with the help, the comforting help of God's Holy Spirit, we can endure and rejoice. We can endure with joy, our continuing struggle against sin.

That repentance leads to salvation is cause for great joy, joy for ourselves, causes great joy for God, and in time it's going to cause great joy for every human being. There is great joy in repentance.

There are other reasons to rejoice in repentance. But this one, the one we just covered, it's supreme. And all the other joys seem to follow under its umbrella. For example, repentance also allows us to maintain a right and joyful relationship with God. And don't we value that relationship with God?

Let's be turning to Psalm 51. I just want to look at a few scriptures here. Repentance allows us to maintain a right and joyful relationship with God. That's a point to be learned in Psalm 51. It's based on King David's sin, a sin he had with regard to Uriah the Hittite and Bathsheba, his wife. And I don't want to focus on David's sin. I don't want to elaborate on it. That's something you can read more about on your own. But what I want to do is to remind us of the joy David lost when he sinned.

In verses 3-4 of Psalm 51, here David is admitting, talking about, his sins to God. In verse 3 he says, For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. It's like a mountain, the sin he did. He just can't forget what he did. It was such a terrible thing. In verse 4 he says, Against you, as Psalm is a prayer to God, as it were, against you, you only, speaking to God, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.

It's nothing you did wrong, God, it's me, that you may be found just when you speak, and blameless when you judge. And in verses 8-12, let's keep reading here, in verses 8-12, David admits that his sins have ruined his relationship with God. David, we get a sense when we read this, he feels lost. He feels cut off and apart from God. And much what he pleads for in this psalm, he pleads with God to forgive him and to restore that relationship he had. He wants to have restored the joy of their relationship. Verse 8, David says, Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones you have broken may rejoice.

He feels crushed because of his sin, his guilt. Verse 9, hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by your generous spirit. What David is calling out for, for God, we read this knowing that he is confident that God will accept his repentance. He is confident that God will forgive him and answer his prayer.

David is revealing that sin cuts us off from God and the joy we have in that relationship, but repentance allows us the joy of being made right with God once again. Repentance allows us to maintain a right and joyful relationship with God. Repentance also means that we can have a more meaningful life with greater contentment. We're here in Psalms. We're in the neighborhood. Let's go to Psalm 119. There's a couple of lines here. Psalm 119, verse 165. Again, repentance means having a more meaningful life with greater contentment. Psalm 119, verse 165. Psalm 119, verse 165 gives us these comforting words.

These words, I'm sure, were forged in belief and obedience to God. It's a matter of faith. They read, Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing, nothing causes them to stumble. Though we repent and keep God's law, we know it doesn't mean that we won't have sorrow. It doesn't mean we won't have troubles in our lives. However, God will and does help us bear up through all of life's trials. We've all seen plenty of troubles, troubles, sorrows in our lives. But God will comfort us, and He will help us to receive reasons for having joy in our trials.

If we ask God to help us see joy in our trials, He will help us. He will help us to see that there's more to life's trials than just suffering with injustice, than just suffering with problems that we do not feel we've deserved, or that everything that goes wrong in our life is meaningless. God will give us joy and hope to help us see that there is meaning, even in sorrows.

And in that sorrow, we can have joy. Let's be turning to James 1, 2, through 4. To find joy in trials and in repenting of sin, we need to meditate on these encouraging words. These words from James will help us to be encouraged in repentance. James 1, verses 2 through 4. Well-known Scripture. James writes, My brethren, count it all joy, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

It helps us to be content. It helps us to be strong in God. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing, lacking nothing that is most valuable for salvation. And so, we do need to ask God to help us see the joy in what He allows to us. Ask God to help us see the joy in what He allows to us as we live out our lives in daily repentance towards Him.

Now, there are many more reasons. I started to do this. I started to make all this list. And I realized, this is going to be a long list. And then I put on my teacher cap and I realized, wait a minute, why am I doing this? I could list a long list for the joy and repentance that is ours. But instead of doing that, I would encourage you and me, all of us, to create our own list. I would encourage us to make our own list.

Make it part of your meditation on God's Word. Sometimes we don't know what to meditate on. Sometimes we don't know what to study about in our Bibles. What I would encourage us to do is to make our own list of what joy do you have in repentance because of repentance. I'm starting my list and it's something. Afterwards, I think maybe the days, weeks ahead, I think that would be a great conversation topic. Instead of talking about the weather, which we know what it's going to be in East Texas. Well, at the time of our fellowship, let's use it well.

We could talk about the joy we find in repentance, the gratitude we have for the joy God allows us in repentance. But now, I want to shift. I want to shift from telling you, or telling us, about the joy in repentance to showing us what Jesus Christ had to say about it. I love show and tell as a little kid.

They don't do that anymore. I understand in school. But we're doing show and tell today. We did some telling about repentance. Now we're going to look at some showing from Jesus Christ in His Word. What did Jesus teach us and show us about God's love and mercy through repentance? Well, let's be turning to Luke 15. At least turn to me to Luke chapter 15. And we find here three powerful... Boy, I need a drink of water. Excuse me. We find here in Luke 15 recorded for us three parables that Jesus told to teach and illustrate us about God's willingness to receive sinners who repent and how He rejoices at their turning to Him.

These three parables illustrate God's willingness to receive sinners who repent and how He rejoices at their turning. God has joy and repentance, too, is what we're going to see. Now, Jesus' original audience for these parables were His disciples and others that were curious to know what He had to say. But many times in His audience there were Pharisees and scribes. Pharisees and scribes, in case we haven't figured this out yet, they constantly condemned Jesus for associating with sinners, for associating with other people who, in their self-righteous judgment, found to be despicable, cast-offs of society.

Such as we see, listed here, Luke 15, verse 1-2. Here's an example of the Pharisees and scribes and their attitudes and their perceptions. Verses 1-2, Luke 15. Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him, Jesus, to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained. They loved to complain. They said, this man, this, referring to Jesus, received sinners. He receives welcome sinners and He eats with them. He's hanging out with the wrong crowd. Now, this is important to remember.

This is a larger framework, the context of these three parables we're going to be reading. So, as we begin to read this first parable, which is the parable of the lost sheep, we should remember that what Jesus is speaking, He's also speaking to these Pharisees and scribes. And this is true for the other two parables we're going to look at. They're part of the audience. He's speaking to Pharisees and scribes who are self-righteous and other people like them who share their mindset.

So, let's read the parable now. Luke 15.3. So Jesus spoke this parable to them. Notice it makes it sound like He's speaking directly to the Pharisees and scribes, which He quite possibly could be. He spoke saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it.

And when He has found it, He lays it on His shoulders, rejoicing. He has joy. And when He comes home, He calls together all His friends and neighbors and He says to them, Rejoice with Me, share in My joy. For I have found that My sheep which was lost. By the way, that's Apollomie. That's the same word we read earlier when Jesus said, Repent or perish. It's the same word. For I have found My sheep which was lost.

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Who need no repentance. Apparently the circumstances described in this parable were common at the time. If you've ever had livestock, and we have some ranchers here, and chicken farmers and what have you, critters tend to wander off and get lost. They could get injured. And the shepherd could either stay with the ninety-nine and merely count that one as an unimportant loss. Oh well, I'll let it be eaten by the coyotes or whatever. Just forget it. It's not worth my trouble. Or a shepherd could leave the ninety-nine and go search for that one. Well, this analogy depicts Jesus Christ as the sort of shepherd who is concerned for all of His sheep. And He will take time to diligently search for that one lost sheep. He's a good shepherd. That's what good shepherds do. He is diligent to find those people who are lost spiritually. Luke 13, verse 3, again, we're reminded this word, perish, unless you repent, you're perished. Jesus, we see, is looking for those who are perishing, who are lost. He doesn't count them as something to ignore. I don't need Him. Let Him go. He's not going to do that to us or anybody. We also find much rejoicing that occurs over finding the lost sheep or sinner. In verse 7, Jesus tells us that there is great joy, there is great joy, in heaven over one sinner who repents. Some scholars suggest that the word in heaven can be a euphemistic way of saying that the Father who is in heaven also rejoices. In heaven, the Father rejoices more when one sinner repents than he rejoices over 99 just persons who need no repentance. I think that's intended to be an ironic statement directed at the Pharisees and scribes and other people who feel rather confident in their righteousness before God. After all, we know that we've read that all people have sinned, and God does desire all men to repent. The so-called just 99, I suspect, fail to truly examine themselves and to recognize their own self-righteousness. Of course, we don't want to be part of that group that doesn't need saving. Now, the second parable moves immediately into the second parable, verses 8-10. The parable here is the parable of the lost coin. It immediately follows. Here we read, It continues, Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses, Apollomy, lost, one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, She really tears the house apart, looking for that lost coin, doesn't she? She searches carefully until she finds it. Who wouldn't do that? What woman wouldn't do that, he says? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and she says, Rejoice with me, for I have found the peace which I lost. Verse 10, Jesus says this, Jesus said, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Now, isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing? Jesus Christ taught that the angels in heaven rejoice when we repent. Do you believe that?

I do, he said it. How important is repentance? If the angels are rejoicing about our repentance, it makes me really stop and think, Have I been looking at repentance as too much of a negative thing? Maybe I need to start seeing it like the angels as something to be greatly jubilant about. Something we should all be very jubilant and grateful to God for. Now, the silver coin the woman searches for is a drachma. That's the word, the Greek word. And it's likely worth about one day's wages. Now, imagine if we lost something as equally valuable to us, such as your, I'm going to look at the teenagers, such as your iPhones. And I'm going to look at the adults because we'd be as frantic too, wouldn't we? I would be. Or how about if you lost your car keys? Yeah, we'd be pretty frantic. How determined would we be for its recovery? That helps us understand the woman's rejoicing then in her celebration when she found that one coin. It meant a whole lot to her. And Jesus is explaining that a similar rejoicing, imagine this, a similar rejoicing occurs in heaven even among the angels in God's presence over one sinner who repents.

They rejoice when we repent. We should never doubt that God our Father is also joyful when we repent. That's an amazing, encouraging thing to consider. Now, in both of these parables, Jesus emphasized the importance of each sinner's repentance. And that would include our repentance too. It's very important. True repentance is an entire change of life. It's the change of direction from a life of worldliness and sin that only leads to death to a life of belief and obedience lived for God. So when Jesus described how heaven rejoices when a sinner repents, we should more fully understand that heaven rejoices between that sinner has also turned to salvation. You've got to remember the bigger point. It's niss not repentance. It's the whole package. Repentance means they're headed toward salvation. They're headed to the kingdom of God. They're headed to becoming sons and daughters of God our Father, brothers of Jesus Christ. They're looking at the big picture. We mustn't forget to look at the big picture when we're repenting. This is very encouraging. I find it very encouraging. There is joy in repentance.

Then we come to the third parable about the lost, the parable of the lost son. It's often known as the prodigal son. Now, the three, this parable perhaps best illustrates the point about God's willingness to receive sinners who repent and how he rejoices after turning to him. Jesus uses many details to create this beautiful, memorable story of a younger son who repents, a story of a father who forgives, and an elder son who apparently says, and seems not to forgive. So let's look at verse 11. Jesus said a certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. So the father divided them his livelihood, and not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to the far country, and there wasted. He wasted his possessions with prodigal living. In other words, he squandered his wealth with wild and extravagant living. Verse 14, but when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in the land, and he began to be in want, in need. And then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, hired himself out, it sounds like, and he was sent to his fields to feed swine. In Nebraska we call him pigs. And he, this younger son, would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, probably carob pods, scholars tell us. And by the way, no one gave him anything. There is no agape house helping him. No good will, not even a place called Good Will. Feeding pigs would have been a terribly demeaning job for this younger son, especially in the opinion of Jesus's Jewish audience at that time. The pods he would have gladly eaten, if he could have, carob pods. And then no one gave him anything, it really suggests just how insignificant he had become in the eyes of the people in that far country. He's not our problem, he's lost, we're not going to worry about him. He was alone, he was destitute, and it seems that he was close to starving, doesn't it? And it's in this predicament, it sounds about as low as he could go, he wised up and he chose to repent. Verse 17, when he came to himself, a light bulb came on, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bred enough to spare, and I perish with hunger? I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. I'd like to put the word, please, please make me like one of your hired servants. It's in this deeply repentant state, finally, the son now is motivated. He's motivated with the assurance because he knows his dad. He's assured that his father would forgive him and would help him. Not because he thought his father had to help him, not because he felt his father deserved or was required that his father help him, but because he knows his father. He knows what kind of man he is. I really don't think the son is suffering from what we today would call an entitlement mentality. Well, I'm owed this. I'm your child. You've got to do this for me. No, he didn't.

He realizes that his father owed him nothing, and that's why, you see, he intended to go to his father and plead for his mercy. In his repentance and desire for God's and for his father's forgiveness, we can see that the son had hope, and I also think expectant joy that his father would welcome him and his father would aid him in his need. Verse 20, And he arose, then he was motivated, he got up, and he came to his father. And when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion. He ran and fell on his neck and he kissed him. I love this part of the story. I'm sorry. It jokes me up. I love this part. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.

Hmm. What a loving father! What a loving dad he had! You know, you read this, I just can't help but think, and he must have been watching that road for his son such a day he left. He saw him coming right away. And it's interesting, before the son can even finish saying all that he had planned to say, like we saw earlier, his father had already forgiven him, and was already rejoicing in his return.

He was that quick to welcome his repentant son. Verse 22, The father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. This word is eufreno, merry, and it means rejoice. It means celebrate, celebration, big feast, big happenings. Great time for rejoicing. For this my son, my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost.

Apollomie is perishing and is found. And they began to be merry. He's calling everybody. He's sharing in the joy. And this is a truly joyful reunion. As Jesus described in the other two parables, there is great rejoicing at the return of a sinner who was lost. But, Jesus has only finished half of his story. The parable doesn't end here. At this point, Jesus turns to describe the elder son's reaction. Verse 25, Now his older son was in the field. It sounds like he's out working. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. That tells you what kind of joy they're having. They're having a big fest of occasion here, even dancing.

And so he called to one of the servants, the elder son called to one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. If I were the older son, I'd have gone in the house. What's going on? But no, he asked his servant. It was interesting. And the servant said to him, Well, your brother has come. And because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.

It's a pure sign of great rejoicing and festivities. Now notice the sharp contrast we see between the elder son and his father, and how they received the younger son's repentance. It's very interesting. Verse 28, But he, the elder son, was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. His father seems very kind. His father came out and pleaded with him.

So he answered, said to his father, Father, lo, look, look here. These many years I have been serving you. I never transgressed your commandment at any time. Wow, I wonder about that, but I believe what he says. And you never gave me a young goat that I may make merry, have a euphrenal celebration, that I may make merry with my friends.

But as soon as this son of yours, by the way, we are speaking of his brother, but this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, and you killed the fatted calf for him. I don't know if he said it with disdain, but I'm imagining here a little bit, for him. Quite a contrast from the father's reaction, isn't it? Obviously he's angry. There is no joy in his heart for his brother's return. And though his father pleads with him to share in the celebration and rejoice, there's great cause for rejoicing. The elder son remains bitter. I wonder if perhaps he's a bit jealous. And maybe he's filled with a sense of injustice.

This just isn't fair. And I wonder, could the elder brother also be making false accusations about his brother? I mean, how would he actually know whether his brother lived with harlots? Is that something he just came up with? He's just speculating and guessing? And I say that because remember the audience. Don't forget the audience, the larger audience here. Jesus also faced similar false accusations from the Pharisees and scribes. He got accused of a lot of things that he never did. Verse 31, the father said to him, Son, son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

You and I were together. It was right that we should make merry, and be glad, joyful for your brother, for, read this right, and be glad, for because your brother was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And the story ends. Here's another one of those endings that's just going to hang.

It happens a lot. The story ends without indicating whether there was a change in the elder son. It seems that the story ends with him still refusing to rejoice. The father makes no apology for rejoicing over the younger son's return. Joy is the right response for his repentance. But it's interesting that, nonetheless, the father's response is tender and loving to both his sons.

He loves both his sons, even though one seems to be a little wrong right now and needs something to work on. And so in this parable as well, this third parable, the parable of the lost son, we do find similar joys, the other two parables, about the loss being found, about joy and the repentance of a sinner. Interestingly, when you think of the third parable, there is movement in this parable. The younger son rises, as it were, he rises in his moral state. He humbled himself.

Then he repented, and he sought repentance. He sought forgiveness. He's moving in the right direction. In contrast, the elder son falls in his moral state. He became angry, becomes a little bit self-righteous, and possibly refuses to forgive his brother. It's interesting to note how the younger son repented of his sin and was forgiven, but the elder son was sinning and didn't seem to recognize his need to repent and to be forgiven.

Interesting contrast in these two sons, these two brothers. Again, a reason for Jesus to tell these parables was to explain God's willingness to receive sinners who repent and how God rejoices in the return to him. More specifically, it seems that Jesus told these stories in hope, in hope and compassion, that the self-righteous ones who hear these parables would recognize their sins and repent so that they also could come to have reason for rejoicing.

That they, too, could give God a reason for rejoicing in their repentance. Jesus didn't tell these stories to beat up on the Pharisees and scribes. He's telling the story because he loves them and he wants them to repent. He can't make them repent. No more than he can make us repent.

I think we can also take this fact away about repentance from these parables that Jesus taught. One thing I think we can carry away here is that joy and repentance is not something to be contained only within ourselves.

Joy and repentance is not to be contained only within ourselves. Clearly, joy and repentance is shared with God and the angels. In each parable, Jesus described how joy and repentance was also shared with other people, with family, with neighbors. Repentance, in other words, is something we should all rejoice in, not just when we see it in ourselves, but when we see it and pray for it in other people.

And when you think about it, it's right. That's right. The shared joy in a sinner's repentance is most appropriate because our repentance, our turning away from sin and selfishness, and towards the way of God, should impact our relationship with God and with every other human being in a very real and positive way. My repentance and turning to God should make me a better Christian. It should make me a better, kinder person and more helpful, more loving towards others. Imagine what happens if we're all doing that. How enriched is the body of Christ? How enriched is our families, our communities? When we recognize the reasons for having joy and repentance, and we share that joy by striving harder to repent. Repentance means we are striving to be holy even as God is holy. Bottom line, that's a cliché. I shouldn't have used it. Sorry. The fact is, repentance is a joy we're sharing and celebrating. There is joy and repentance, along with the sorrow.

And I think we need to focus a lot more at times on the joy and repentance. So, we do have great need to rejoice in the repentance that we are allowed to have to partake of before our God. I hope we will think on these things we've read and considered today, the sermon, especially now prior to Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. We owe God such heartfelt and profound praise and worship. I've tried hard to express that, to share that joy, that praise we owe our Father and Christ. Frankly, I don't know if any of us would have the right words to adequately express the vast gratitude we owe to God, our Father and Jesus Christ. Therefore, I'd like to conclude with these words of praise. You don't have to turn there. But these words of praise from the last two verses of the book of Jude. This is Jude 1, verse 24-25. I'd like to read these to you. Jude 1, 24-25. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior, who alone is wise be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.