What Following Jesus Does Not Mean

For many of us, somewhere along the line, our relationship with God degenerated into a joyless, obligatory maintenance of moral and religious behaviors. This was the case with the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jesus’ day. On one occasion, Jesus had collected a gathering of “tax collectors and sinners” who were listening to him teach. The Pharisees and teachers of the law found this disgusting and criticized Jesus for fraternizing with these low-lives.

Specifically in response to their grumbling, Jesus told the Pharisees and teachers of the law three parables: that of the lost sheep; the lost coin; and the lost son—also known as the parable of the prodigal son. In the parable of the lost son, Jesus gives the Pharisees and teachers of the law at least three stark lessons to chew on.

The first lesson was that any sinner, no matter how bad, can repent and “come home.” In the parable, the son who initially despised his father and then squandered his inheritance on wild and decadent living, finally came to his senses and returned home in humility and repentance. In terms of following Jesus, even the worst of sinners can turn from their sin and come to Jesus and become his disciple.

I know a man who for the past thirty years of his life has lived exclusively for himself. He literally trashed all his relationships and lost all that is dear to him. He was evil personified. But then, just weeks ago, he broke and came home to Jesus in deep repentance and contrition. He is a changed man in Christ!

In 1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT, Paul writes, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

The second lesson Jesus had for the Pharisees and teachers of the law speaks directly to Jesus’ reception of the tax collectors and sinners. The Father loves us dearly and longs to forgive even the worst of sinners. Notice that by their critical and judgmental attitudes the Pharisees and teachers of the law saw themselves as more righteous than God. This is evil. (See also Luke 18:9-14.)

There are really two lessons imbedded in this second one: namely we think way too highly of ourselves; and not highly enough of God. Our heavenly Father is infinitely more loving and forgiving than we think. When the younger reprobate son returned in repentance, his father received him back with open arms, honor and great celebration.

The third lesson Jesus offers the Pharisees and teachers of the law is that the older, “obedient” brother was as alienated from his father as his younger brother had been! Sin was the culprit in both instances. With the younger brother it was blatant rebellion and immoral living. But the older brother rebelled in a much more subtle, yet equally deadly way—by trying to manipulate his father by adhering to a strict standard of outward behaviors.

Make no mistake, the older brother did not obey his father out of love for his father. He maintained an outward show of compliance in order to get what he wanted. When his true colors were revealed he was angry, rebellious and disrespectful toward his father and he detested his brother. Jesus abruptly ends his story there without revealing the outcome. The point is that the conclusion is up to us.

The younger son found love and acceptance in the loving embrace of his father. The older brother stood rigid, with arms crossed in an impudent, holier-than-thou frame of mind and refused his father’s love and his brother’s repentance. It is no secret which brother represents a transformed follower of Christ.

©2009 Rob Fischer