Sermon on Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, The 4th Sunday in Lent
"Scandalous Love" In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. The sermon text for this 4th Sunday in Lent is the Gospel, the story of the Prodigal Son. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. It would seem that scandal followed Him around. He scandalized Pharisees by healing on the Sabbath, He scandalized the multitudes by telling them that He was the Bread of Life, and they must eat His flesh and drink His blood if they were to have life in them. And today the Pharisees and teachers of the law are scandalized that this man eats with sinners. Do you…eat with sinners? Would people be scandalized if they knew? This man Jesus, who was followed by scandal, presents a story to the crowd to show them their lack of love, but even moreso, to show the scandalous love of our Heavenly Father. Probably one of the best known and best-loved parables of Jesus, is the Prodigal Son. It begins with the out...