1. Lost Son Parables of the Messiah

2. Shema – Hebrew Shema Israel, Adonai elohenu – Adonai echad Ve’ahavta et Adonai eloeikah B’khol levavkah Uve’khol naphshekah Uve’khol m’odekah Ve’ahavta le’reacha Kamocha, Amen

3. Shema Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord alone. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And Love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.

4. 1 Parable – 3 “acts” Lost sheep – A shepherd loses one of his sheep? Lost coin Lost son Lost don’t do anything to be found Celebrate He who found us 1 st Century folk tale

5. Lost Son “Father, give me my share of the estate.” – Dad, I want you dead – I want a share of what is the community’s – How do you divide something everyone owns?

6. Bethsaida Insula

7. Korazin Insula

8. Modern Insula

9. Lost Son “Father, give me my share of the estate.” – Dad, I want you dead – I want a share of what is the community’s – How do you divide something everyone owns? Father must liquidate his assets – No one in the town would contribute to the shame of the father

10. Distant Country Decapolis – Father could see where his son went

11. Decapolis

12. Capernaum from Decapolis

13. Distant Country Ideology of the land was “distant” – They had nothing in common – Son was turning his back on being a Jew Decapolis – Father could see where his son went

14. Different Ideology

15. Repentance? Son “comes to himself” – still selfish motivation – He is only considering his own situation – No concern for what he did to his father or community

16. Reconcile How can father reconcile this son? – Kazaza – publicly shamed – Father must find a way to reinstate son before he enters the town Initiates a Sul’ha – Reconciliation meal – Father takes all financial responsibility for son – Son is under father’s protection at the table – This will never be spoken of again

17. Sul’ha meal

18. Older Son He is also invited to the table of grace It is left open whether he accepts or not

19. Father He does the searching – the effort He runs to his son – Shaming himself to show his love to his son Responsibility lands on him His table of grace protects both sons How GREAT is his love!!

20. Next week Parable of the Sower Mark 4:1-20