My Son was Dead and is Alive Again - Luke 15:24

The beloved physician Luke wrote how 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. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-four of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said the father said, “my son was dead, and is alive again” where we read:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The verse reads, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again;” Luke began with the words, “for this my son was dead” or “because, since and on account that my younger son was as one who breathed their last, destitute of life, force of power, inactive and inoperative”, “and is alive again” which means “and is living, recovered and restored even so and indeed”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “father” declared his son was like a “dead person” who was now living and restored once again.

The verse goes on to say, “he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke continued with the words, “he was lost” or “the younger son was as destroyed, ruined, perished and destroyed”, “and is found” which means “and exists as discovered, seen and present”. “And they began” or “and the father, his younger son and the servants started and made a beginning” “to be merry” which means “of being gladdened, joyful and delighted”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “father” declared his younger son to have been in “ruin and destruction” and was now “present and seen”, and they “celebrated” because he returned home.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover the reason Jesus said the “father” celebrated his son's return. The “father” knew his younger son was living as though he were “dead”, but he now was “alive” again. The younger son was “ruined” and was “discovered” and restored. God loves “restoring” and “rebuilding” lives. Many people have destroyed themselves and become like “dead” people living in the world, and when they yield their lives to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, God begins to rebuild their lives and to help them live again. Those who are wise will submit themselves to Jesus and allow Him to give them the most “abundant” life they may ever live.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus said, “his elder son was in the field”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".