11-14 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.  ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15-16 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17-20 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”  So he got up and went to his father. 21-24 ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him. ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24 New International Version

This is one of the most well known of all the stories Jesus told. The reason He told it is given in vs 1-2 of this chapter where it says “the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus - but the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them!’” Jesus responded by telling a story of the great joy of a shepherd who found a sheep that had gone astray, and of a woman who found a silver coin she had lost. Now he speaks of the tremendous joy of a father when his son who’d gone astray and was as good as dead, returns with a humbled and repentant heart.

What do vs 11-14 tell us of how this young man's decline began and then progressed?

It began with 'give me what is mine.' The focus was on self and his 'rights'. Then he chose the sort of bad company and wild lifestyle that money can buy. That easily leads to recklessness and fickle friendships, and often ends up in wealth squandered and a life wasted. The picture of him looking after pigs (which the Jews despised) and grovelling for the food they ate, isn't much different from a life ruined by drugs, prostitution, porn, gambling and adultery. For people who reach rock bottom through such things it will often look to others as if they are as good as dead, and that there's no way out of their situation. That's what the Pharisees and teachers of the Law thought of the sinners and tax collectors in those days.

But there is a way out! What was the start, and what were the steps, that led to this man's recovery? (vs 17-20)

He came to his senses. He took stock of his life. He compared the life of sin to the life he knew existed in his father's house. He humbled himself and got prepared to admit his personal guilt. He didn't try and blame anyone else or try to justify why he had chosen the wrong way. And then he took the first step to seeking his father's mercy. He didn't just think about it, he acted.

The good news of vs 21-24 is that this story isn't mainly about the wayward son – it's more about the compassionate father! The father had been longing and looking for his son's return. He ran to embrace his woeful looking son and rejoiced with great joy. He called his household to celebrate with him that his lost son had been found. It doesn't need much imagination to realize Jesus was speaking of the Father in heaven's joy when someone who has lived far from Him, and whose life has fallen deep into sin, repents and returns. He is a God of great compassion and there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.