In a previous sermon Pastor Nic helped us to re-discover the heart of God through the parable of the prodigal son. The younger brother in this story was lost. He turned his back on the father and demanded his inheritance even before his father’s death! But later he was found and welcomed back into his father’s household. So the familiar story goes. Yet Jesus tells us that the elder brother was also lost.
It’s not like the elder brother was a good boy and the younger brother was a bad boy. No. Jesus said they are all wrong.
A Tale of Two Sons
“If I asked you, 1 father, 2 brothers. The elder brother and the younger. Who is wrong? Who is faulty or guilty? Now most people would say the younger brother. Because that is what we’ve been taught, isn’t it? That’s what we’ve been taught since we were kids. That is what kind of transpired from the teaching at least. But I would argue this evening that when Jesus told this story, he said that both were wrong.
It’s not like the elder brother was a good boy and the younger brother was a bad boy. No. Jesus said, “they are all wrong. They are all guilty, they are all faulty, they are all lost.” One father, two children, and both children are lost.
The Plight of the Elder Brother
In the story, and in our particular story here, Jesus is painting to us the lostness, the guilt, the fault of the elder brother. From the outside it appeared that the elder brother is a good boy. He is an obedient boy. He stayed at home and worked with his father – he was good. Apparently. From outside. But as you dig deep you start realising that he is also lost. He is also just like his younger brother. But there is something particular about him – there is something specific about him. And that is why Jesus told the story.
Jesus is saying that between the two brothers one was lost and is found. But the other one is lost and we don’t know if he is found.”
The elder brother was in a perilous position. For he was lost and not found. Indeed, this part of the story is a great warning for all Christians. We must beware of being a Pharisee, a religious person who believes God accepts us based on who you are or what you do!
Preacher: Nic Kyalangalilwa
Title: Rediscovering the Heart of God 2 – The Elder Brother
Text: Luke 15:11-15
Date Preached: 14 May 2017
Location: Le Phare Church, Bukavu, DRC-Congo
