At The Table of the Lord

 "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!"1Cor: 11:17-22

In the Greco-Roman world in which the early Church emerged, and the Holy Scriptures were written, there were many cultural customs and practices which the people of the day followed. 

The cultural practices of the day influenced their daily lives, often without any thought as to what or why people followed many of these practices; and some of them have found their way in and among Christians fellowships even in our day.

The Roman dining practice of dividing guest at social occasions was often used, unfortunately, even among Christians during times of fellowship and even at the very Table of the Lord where Christians were meant to be able to be “as one” and to find themselves accepted as part of the greater body of Church.

 "Echeloned Society"

The practice, which was prevalent among even Christians, was, that of an "echeloned society" which was driven by social status. This "echeloned society" kept persons "in their place" and spoke volumes regarding their relationship with those around them and their place with in the greater community of the times. It was a very station and class-conscious world. (even as it is today)

This "echeloned society" shackled persons into a divided world dictated by economic realities, rich poor, free and slave, included and excluded. It was very difficult for a person of that time to find a means of upward social mobility.

Echeloned Social Events

This “echelon" of relationship(s) would manifest itself in the social events of the day, when a "person of station" within the community would hold a social occasion there would be a decided "echelon" of status among the guest in relation to the person who hosted the gathering. 

This "echelon" of relationship(s) would divide the guest(s) into groups; those who were of a lesser social "echelon" found themselves confined to a rather un-opulent part of the house hold or dining hall away from the host with little or no direct contact with the host aside from a brief ceremonial greeting, that at least to, some extent, acknowledged that these guests had come to the occasion.

This confined common gathering area, in which the "lesser social echeloned" guest(s) were to congregate, was called the atrium and was often bland and minimally adorned, there would be no or few furnishings, maybe an uncomfortable communal bench or some small chairs. 

These "lesser social echelon guest “often found themselves standing in the atrium while they dined rather than reclining or sitting at a table, and they often ate at a later time, after the more important guest had been served, and some of the guest ,   did not get to eat at all.

The "lesser social echeloned" guest(s) found themselves often kept waiting to be served, and were often directed to the nearest exit after they had eaten. They, as well, were discouraged from wondering out of this area to explore other areas of the gathering, and they found themselves excluded.

The quality of the food and libations as well as the attentiveness of the service to these "lesser" guest(s), was in stark contrast to that of the guest(s) of higher "social echelon" who enjoyed a greater quality social and dining experience. 

 Higher Echelon

These more" important guest(s)" were escorted into the presence of the gatherings host, who would be seated in room or garden setting. This place of reception was called the triclinium, this "triclinium”, which would be well appointed and adorned. 

These "important guest(s)” had their names announced publicly and shown to a place(s) of honor where they were able to recline in comfort on plush couches at a table laden with the highest quality food and libations. These important guests could dine to their contentment often to excess. 

This place of honor was separate from the "lesser guest(s)" which emphasized the distinctness of the social "echelons" of the day.

At The Lord's Table

This "echeloned" society in which the people lived in, and still live in, unfortunately found its way even into the Church. This divided Roman dining practice came to manifest itself at the Table of the Lord among the Christians in the Greek city of Corinth and served to divide the fellowship of those Christians into social "echelons”.

This issue became such a problem that the Apostle St. Paul had to deal with in his Epistle to the Corinthian Church.

"In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!" 1Cor: 11:17-22

This Roman dining practice was dividing the Church at the very place where the greatest unity and place of inclusion of all should have been manifested at the Communion supper at the table of the Lord. 

The Lord's table was intended to bring Christians together as one in Jesus, all fully included and wanted, yet the Corinth Christians were flouting their social "echelons" and excluding those who hand little means to change their station in life or had little means.

This brought a sense of humiliation to some of the "poorer" Church members and created the impression that some Christians belong to a lesser "atrium" within the fellowship of the Church. While others ,  could be accounted to dining in the "triclinium" as honored guest, inferring that they had greater access to the host of the occasion which is in truth ,Jesus Christ himself.

They were viewing their social "echelon" as some sort of material evidence of God's favor residing upon them and that the lower social "echelon" was somehow less favored by God, yet, their behavior at the Lord's table was unseemly for those who claim such statues and caused division among the Church.

"No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval"

 These Christians were, and, unfortunately are, missing the point of coming to the Lord's table. It is not a place of self-advancement for their own purposes yet this is how some of them viewed it.

 "So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers"

St. Paul states that this division was being reported and that some were not exercising self-control in their uses of wine and food this reflected the self-serving nature of their thinking.

"I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you”, "As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk."

Not At the Lord's Table

St. Paul contexts the Corinth Church' s division to a lack spiritual discernment regarding just who the Church truly belongs, that the Church is not just a social fellowship but a gathering of those who are in fellowship with the great God thru Jesus.

St. Paul is moved to corrects this division as immature behavior, and is not praise worthy among Christians, as it is among the world and should not be found when Christians gather together at the Lord's Table.

"Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!"

The Purpose of the Supper

St. Paul begins to remind them, and all of us, the true purpose and the nature of the Lord's supper, that it is to point us ever to Jesus Christ and all that Jesus has accomplished for us, and all that Lord is for us. 

The Lord's table is to encourage us to live in constant remembrance of Jesus, that is, not just recounting the past but an ongoing remembrance, or awareness of Jesus.

"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."(23-26)

St. Paul is not just speaking of what had happened in the past, but St. Paul is telling them, (those who believed that they had God's approval as evidenced by their perceived social "echelon”, and all of us,) that we are all in need of Jesus, that we could not save ourselves regardless as to where we believe ourselves to be in the social "echelon”. We are all equally in need of Jesus.

St. Paul, then cautions all Christians to approach the table of the Lord as no mere social occasion, but rather, to see it for what it is, or acknowledgment of humanities inability to save it's self regardless of who we might think we are.

The Table of the Lord is the great equalizer of all humanity that breaks down the social "echelons" that humanity has erected and divides us apart and relegates some to lesser status.

As One, the Self of God

Jesus wants us to care for one another as members of the body of Christ and to one another as he and the Father is one. Jesus did not view the Father as being separate from himself in the way we normally think of it. Jesus is the "self of God”, if Jesus is not the "self of God", God could not reveal himself in Jesus. Jesus wants this "oneness" for all of us as well, and Jesus prayed such just before his death.

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."Jhn:17:20b-21

Jesus does not want us to see each other as separate from one another. Some of the Corinthian Christians saw the others as just that, "others", not a part of them, they were not seeing Jesus as the one by whom this unity would come into our lives which would have transformed them and their behavior reflected this oneness.

Some of these Christians, however, did not rightly discern the Lord's Body, that is the other members of the Church, who they were humiliating by their actions of segregating them to a lesser station reflected in their area of dinning.

"For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves" (29)

The Lord's Body

St. Paul warns each and all Christians to approach the Lord's table with reverence and honor, a lesser mindset could bring problems upon us. Jesus, has made it possible for us all to come together as one in full recognition of who Jesus is and who we are in him.

When we Christians come to the Lord's table, we are acknowledging who Jesus is and who we are in him. St. Paul wants us to reflect upon this truth each time we come together at the Lord's able, and all times.

"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment." (27-31)

 St. Paul tells Christians that we need to assemble in full acceptance of one another and not to look upon others as “less than ourselves”,  but see us all Christians as having a place of high honor with one another, St. Paul calls this "eat together" meaning more than just being at a common location but rather it is unity in fellowship.

"Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment”. (32-34)

 The Accessible Host

In the Roman dining culture, the host was removed from most of the guest who attended their social occasions, or had very limited access to them. Jesus, however, is the accessible host of his supper. Jesus welcomes any and all equally to his table and walks among his guest and assures each of them of their honored place as his guest at his table and provides and offers freely to us all with the very best.

 Our Lord Jesus has called us all, to be guest at his table where we are wanted and included. Here is a place for any and all who will but come and share in the joyous fellowship at the Table of the Lord.

Benediction: May we each join together as one at the table of our Lord, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma 

Prayer: Encountering Jesus

 "Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel: 

for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, 

your words were heard, and I am come for your words." Daniel: 12:12

 

The Prophet Daniel sought the Lord God of Israel in the third year of Cyrus King of Persia.

 It was the end of the Seventy years of captivity that had been spoken of by the Prophet Jeremiah, (Jeremiah 29,) yet, the people of Israel had not made any move to return to their land which God had given to them.  Daniel was moved to understand why his people stayed in the land of their captivity and not returned home.

  Sought Understanding

 Israel should have been going back to their land and fulfill God's purpose for them but they made no sign of leaving. They had become so much a part of the world of their captivity that where they were captives seemed to them to be where they belonged.

This realization concerned the prophet, so he sought to understand and set himself to seek Gods' answer as to why. For three weeks Daniel fasted and prayed for understanding.

"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled "Dan:10:2-3

Daniel made understanding a priority, he enlisted the help of others who would pray along with him for God to send an answer to the situation.  Daniel, and those who agreed to assist in prayer gathered on the banks of the Tigris River, together they sought Gods' answer.

God Responds

After three week of committed prayer the Lord answers Daniel.

"And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; (Tigris )Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude."(4-6)

Daniel finds God's answer in a vision of a glorious angelic encounter, the angel appears as the representative of God himself . The angels glorious  appearance is to stress that the One truly being encounters is God himself  , the One who would come through the incarnation in the Person of  Jesus Christ.

"Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude".(5-6)

Daniels' encounter here is similar to the Apostle St. John’s on the Island of Patmos  where St. John sees the Glorified Jesus.

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. "Rev: 1:12-16.
  
 Encounter Christ

Both the Prophet and the Apostle encounter the Supernatural realty of God. This encounter with the Great God reveals the One who Daniel seeks. This is not only for Daniel, or other Biblical personalities, but for all Who will seek God, that is, in prayer there is revelation given about Our Lord. That when we seek him and his purpose, we will encounter Jesus.

In prayer we gain insight and discernment of the Spiritual and above all, we encounter our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Opens Our Eyes

Prayer gives us spiritual perception, we can see this in Daniel's encounter, he was committed to revelation from God but the others who had offered prayerful support fled in fear when that revelation came.  Only Daniel saw the vision.

"And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision" Dan:10:7-8

We again, can see how prayer gives us spiritual perception in the case of Elisha's servant, who was filled with fear when the enemies of Israel threaten the town of Dothan. Elisha prayed and his servants’ eyes were opened to the power of God represented by Chariots of Fire upon the hill tops. 2Kings: 6:15-17

That same power is available to us today as well, prayer opens our eyes to God's power for each of us. Our God has the power to deliver us in any and all circumstance even when it seems hopeless.

Touched Before Christ

Daniel at his encounter with the Great God falls as if lifeless, no strength as if to emphasizes the futility of the power of the flesh. Daniel falls before the Lord. This tells us that there is no strength   found within us. In a posture of prayerful worship is where we all should be in relationship with our Lord. It is here that our Lord's voice is best heard.

"for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground."Dan:10:8b-9

As the Prophet Daniel is before the Lord, Daniel is touched by the very hand of God, that is in a powerful way our Lord is giving affirmation and assurances that Daniels' prayers are heard and will be answered.

When God touches our lives, it is no mere symbolism it is to tell us that we matter to him, we are loved, wanted and included in his divine purposes. The Lord God's touch gives strength and comfort and encouragement and to lift us up to stand in him.

"And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright: for to you am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling" (10-11)

In like manner the Apostle St. John is touched by the Pierced hand of our Lord Jesus even as he, like Daniel falls before the Lord and is comforted by the words, "do not be afraid", Jesus then gives revelation to St. John just as he did for Daniel. 

Jesus will do the same for each of us, when we pray and encounter the living Christ, he will touch each of us and give us revelation and to help us to understand the things we face in life.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."Rev:1:17-19

We all should, when we enter prayer, encounter our Lord. The one that Daniel and St. John encounter is the same Jesus that we too can bow before and seek understanding in times of uncertainty, when we need to understand, to have strength or to be comforted, to be given assurances that he is with us, that his will is to be accomplished and none can stop it.

From the moment that Daniel set himself to understanding, it was determined by God that and answer was to come, in spite of opposition God's answer was to come.

This Great God is with us even now, even if answers to the challenges we face seemed to be delayed God will answer us in our times of need and give us revelation that we need.

"Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I am come for your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."Dan:10:12-14

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote of God's willingness to answer our prayers  when he quotes the Great God.

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jer: 33:3

This is what Daniel did and so might we.

 Opposition

When Daniel sought understanding there was opposition in the spiritual realm that sought to resist Daniel receiving the answer to his prayer.

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." Dan: 10:13-14

However, this opposition was manifested it comes from the spiritual powers in the world around us as Paul wrote the battle is not against flesh and blood but spiritual. Eph: 6:12

In the early years of the Christian Church there was opposition to the message of the Gospel, the church dealt with this opposition that came through the religious leaders by taking their pleas to the very Throne of God, we see this in Acts:4:27-31.

The church prayed and they were empowered and embolden to preach the message of our Lord Jesus. The church prayed and God answered.

The Answer

Daniel is now, after receiving the answer to his prayer, overwhelmed by the import of the revelation, he bows down again; what the Prophet has heard is hard to receive.

"And when he had spoken such words to me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I have retained no strength.For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me." Dan: 10:15-17
 

God responds again to reassure the Prophet that God is in complete control and will provide Daniel the help he needs, that God's purpose will be carried out in the life of Israel and even Daniels' life and in all of ours. 

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me. Then said he, Know you why I come to you? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, see, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holds with me in these things, but Michael your prince." (18-21)

The Lord Jesus Christ will help us today as well, when times and circumstance are difficult, and opposition rises against God's working in our lives, whatever we face, God is there to help us. Our Lord invites each and all to call out to him and He will help us regardless of what we face.  

When we pray, we will encounter our Lord Jesus Christ and receive from Him all that is needed. We gain insight, and power to face all that is before, all through coming to Our Lord in Prayer. In Prayer we encounter our Lord Jesus Christ

Benediction: May we each and all encounter our Lord Jesus Christ as we pray, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch,  Norman, Oklahoma 

 

Tokens of Sonship

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate". 

"So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate". LK: 15:20-24

One of the best known and loved of all the parables of Jesus is the Prodigal Son, it has given much encouragement over the centuries to many who have come to their heavenly Father and found his loving embrace and his full acceptances of each and all of us his children, and had found their full sonship restored to them by a loving and gracious Father.

This Parable, is part of the "Parables of the Lost" all found in St. Luke’s Gospel. Lost sheep and lost coin and lost son, all three ends in great rejoicing at the Lost being found.

In the parable, as the son returns to his Father’s house, his Father calls for his servants to fetch and to bring three items and to place each upon his now restored son.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."

The Robe

In the ancient cultures, and even in contemporary culture, robes represented a position of office and authority within society and in the family as well. One who was adorned in a robe stood out to those around them. The robe designated that a person occupied a place in which they were to be heard and regarded.  

We can see an example of this in the Patriarchal household of Israel (Jacob) when he gave his favorite son Joseph a multi colored robe which set him apart from his brothers. 

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a robe of many colors for him" Gen:37:3

This robe, gave Joseph a designation and a distinction within the household and family which reflected his father's favor toward Joseph and his unique position.  

In the ancient world robes were only worn by full members of the household and never worn by any household servant. 

Robes were also associated with those who held positions of authority.  There were special robes which were worn by the Priest who ministered at the Temple of God which only they could put on.

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor "Ex: 28:2.

These robes of the Priesthood, these sacred garments, reflected their position among the people.

Even in the society of Israel the members of the Sanhedrin were dressed in garments which showed that they were rulers among the people and part of the governing body of Israel.

The Best Robe

The robe called for by the Father of the prodigal is referred to as the "best Robe" and the Father commanded his servants to place it upon the returned son, again emphasizing that they now served this son and should show him all proper accord. 

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him."   

 This Father wanted to make sure that his son knew that he was received back in full status by he, and the whole household, and that this son did not return to a diminished status.

A Ring

 The Father called for a ring to be placed upon his son’s hand by the servants. 

"Put a ring on his finger"     

 This ring, the Father's signet, like the robe before it, reflected the status which the son had been restored to.

Rings of this type carried the family seal or crest engraved upon it. Those sons who wore such rings were able to conduct the Father’s business with his full authority. 

These rings were intricate and of great value and those who wore them were to recognized that they held place of great regard among the family and society at large, and were expected to uses that authority wisely and justly within and without the household. 

The signet ring represents a place of rulership and authority within the family household.

"Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand,"Gen:42:41

This conferring of the signet ring to Joseph showed that he acted under Pharaoh's authority to rule.  

Sandals

The rejoicing Father then commands that his servants place sandals upon the son's feet. 

"and sandals on his feet" 

 In the ancient world very few slaves or servants wore sandals. It was rear that a household servant was given sandals to place then upon his feet, usually only family members were found with them.  

Without sandals slaves and servants were limited to where they could go and gave them few options.  Again, the sandals represented the status of the son as one who had freedom to come and go as he needed and to conduct their Father’s affairs and walk in authority. 

Sandals also represent among the people a calling of great importance as defend the Father's honor and properties, even as solders who's feet were shod with special sandals which allowed them to march and to hold their ground and place in the ranks.    

Tokens of Sonship

Jesus gave this parable to illustrate to us all, about how our Father in Heaven, who stands and watches for us, looking daily for us, and when he sees us approaching, he runs toward us rejoices when any and all, who like the lost Prodigal son, comes to see that they have squandered their inheritance in a far country and have now come home to his loving embrace and a celebration.

The Fattened Calf

The Father then calls for a fattened calf to be slaughtered and served as the main course of a celebration in honor of the return of his son. This is joy which only a Father can know, with the return to the household of an estranged son, now who is now fully reconciled. 

As the Father sacrificed the very best of his livestock for his son, our God gave the best he could, the life of his own son Jesus, for each and all of Prodigal humanity.

"for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" Jhn: 3:16

Celebration of this type were reserved for members of the family and their family friends; servants seldom received such honors.

It was an expense, even for the wealthy to part with a calf of this kind. Calves represented wealth and were the future of the lives stock properties, yet this Father gave it up joyfully for his returned son. 

The servants assess to celebration would have been relegated to that of serving the honored guest and the household.

This celebration is to reflect the Heavenly joy at the return of any and all who return home to their Father from the far country of "lostness"

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents" Lk: 15:7

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (10)

What the Prodigal son is given upon his return reflects what our Father in Heaven confers upon each of us when we come home to his household.

The Robe 

We are dressed in the very garment or robe of our elder brother Jesus Christ.

"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."Gal:3:27

"Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."Rm:13:14

We have all , through Jesus been given the right to be the very Children of God to conduct ourselves as full members of the household of God with full rights of sonship.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--" Jhn:1:12

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" Rm:8:17

As the robes designated the rulers and priest in the ancient cultures we are now seen as Kings and Priest of our God 

"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth"Rev:5:10

The Signet 

We as Children of God, with full rights of the family, like our older brother Jesus carries the seal of our God; the Holy Spirit who directs us in living out our sonship. We have been given the very signet of our Father upon us, his very seal.

"set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2Crth:1:22

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," Eph:1:13

The Sandal's Upon Our Feet

We then are like the bare foot Prodigal son have returned home, and have been given the sandals of sonship placed upon our feet. Showing we can now walk as free sons of the household of the Father knowing we have entered into his peace.

"and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace" Eph: 6:15.

We can with the sandals of the Gospel walk as members of the household of God spreading his peace to those around us, and like the solders, we have been given the traction we need as we walk thru this like.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."Eph:4:1

The Calf

The great sacrifice which was given so that we all could rejoice together was the costliest of all that of our Lord Jesus who died so that our place as rejoiced over sons of God who have returned home to our Fathers' household.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2Crth: 5:22

This great sacrifice of the Son of God has made possible the celebration which is enacted in the Heavens but will carry on thru out eternity among us as we come and sit down together in the household of our Father as he rejoices over us and with us

The Parable's celebration looks ahead to the rejoicing which will last for all eternity for the son(s) which were lost has come home.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate".

 Benediction: May we each and all rejoice in our Father's household as we walk and adorned with   the tokens of Sonship, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen 

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma