FATTED CALF PARTIES

FATTED CALF PARTIES

Luke 15:23-24 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

What a strange God we serve. Sometimes His responses seem to come out of left field. For example, the way the Father responds to His wayward son in the parable of the prodigal son is revolutionary. When everyone is expecting lectures and retribution The Lord responds with kisses and a party. The older son didn’t get it. He was offended by his Father’s mercy and willingness to forgive and embrace His son. The prodigal, like all good pharisees wanted judgment (at least for everyone else). This story reminds me of the 1970’s and the Jesus movement. Suddenly, long haired Jesus freaks started popping up all over the country. Just a few months before they, had been wasting their lives, an entire generation of prodigal sons. Suddenly, unexpectedly, hippies were being born again, walking away from their lives of sexual promiscuity and substance abuse, and now they were headed to church. For some church folks this was too much (at least they could get a shave and a haircut). Our great God not only tolerated it, He initiated and celebrated the Jesus Revolution. Matthew Henry spoke about the shocking nature of this fatted calf celebration, check this out.

“He came home hungry, and his father not only fed him, but feasted him: “Bring hither the fatted calf, that has been stall-fed, and long reserved for some special occasion, and kill it, that my son may be satisfied with the best we have.” Cold meat might have served, or the leavings of the last meal; but he shall have fresh meat and hot meat, and the fatted calf can never be better bestowed. Note, There is excellent food provided by our heavenly Father for all those that arise and come to him. Christ himself is the Bread of Life; his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; in him there is a feast for souls, a feast for fat things. It was a great change with the prodigal, who just before would fain have filled his belly with husks. How sweet will the supplies of the new covenant be, and the relishes of its comforts, to those who have been laboring in vain for satisfaction in the creature! Now he found his own words made good, In my father’s house there is bread enough and to spare.”

Maybe its time for another prodigal homecoming. If it happens, what will be your response? Will you be offended with the older brother or will you be celebrating and dancing with the Father? These unexpected parties have a way of breaking out at the strangest moments in history. No one was expecting Azusa or Toronto, at least no one but the Father. If you hear the sound of joy breaking out a church we shouldn’t be surprised, maybe it’s time to kill another fatted calf.