This my son . . .
3/3/18
Luke 15:24-32 (KJV)
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
While doing my Bible reading today this jumped out at me. For years I have heard a few preachers quote part of verse 24, "this my son was dead, and is alive again;" and having read all of this chapter many times over the years today God brought it to my attention. Not only in verse 24 but also in verse 32 does it say almost the same thing; "this thy brother was dead, and is alive again;" and years ago I read that if the Bible states the same thing more than once it is important.
If it is important enough for Jesus to say it twice in two ways so that it includes the older generation to the younger and the younger generation to their piers wouldn't you say it is important for all to know and understand. Therefore it boils down to the six words: "was dead, and is alive again."
Many times the Bible states that we have to be born again to enter Heaven. It also states old things are passed away and all things are new again. So If Jesus told the parable of a son leaving the father and living away from him and then he returns that he "was dead, and is alive again" let us know that just beacause you accepted Jesus as your saviour and you lived for him for awhile then went back to your old sinful lifestyle that you have a need to ask forgiveness of those sins and be "born again" therefore becoming a new Child of God or Christian?
We need to have and keep a close relationship with our Heavenly Father and Brother so that we can make Heaven our home.
C.I. Wilson