“Known by the Company” (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32)

We have all heard the quote before . . . “A man is known by the company he keeps.”  It is often believed that a person tends to be very similar in attitude, character, ability, or personality to the people with whom they associate or spend time with.  We probably heard it from our parents, preachers, teachers, and coaches as they thought they were watching out for our best interests.  They didn’t want us falling into the wrong crowd.  I will let you determine what “wrong” was, but I think that you get the point.  “A person is known by the company that he or she keeps.”

I share this because this is the attitude being expressed by the Pharisees and teachers of the law as they watch Jesus.  Jesus seems to have the tendency of drawing the wrong crowd around himself . . . people like sinners and tax collectors.  The Pharisees and teachers of the law believed that this had a lot to say about Jesus, his character, and intentions.  They muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  In other words, those who Jesus was hanging out with told a lot about him . . . and, it wasn’t positive or good.  The Pharisees and teachers of the law saw Jesus as being no better than the scum he associated with.

Apparently, Jesus had pretty good hearing because he heard all the muttering going on about his associations.  Probably did not please him, but the writer doesn’t tell us Jesus’ reaction.  The writer only goes on to tell us that Jesus tells a parable . . . actually three parables, but we are only dealing with the last parable . . . the parable of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son.  Most prefer the title, The Prodigal Son, but I think it is more aptly named The Lost Son.  I think you will figure it out as we go along.

In the first two parables about lost sheep and a lost coin, the emphasis is upon the two individuals dropping everything and looking for the lost until it is found.  Then upon finding the lost sheep and coin the two individuals call upon everyone they know—family, friends, and neighbors—to rejoice with them for the lost had been found.  So it will be in heaven, says Jesus, whenever one lost sinner repents and returns to the fold.

The third parable, The Lost Son, is similar, but different.  This time the “lost” is the younger son who chooses to take his inheritance, run off, and sow his oats with despicable living—wine, women, and song.  He runs around with the wrong crowd.  Things were great for the younger son until a catastrophe hits and he runs out of money . . . things get tough, really quick.  Reality for the young son sucks.  In the meantime, the older son decides to stay home, work the property with his father, and be a good son.  And, that is what he does . . . he stays home and works hard each and every day.  He does everything that his father asks him to do . . . and, he never complains.

At least he never complains until his younger brother decides to lick his wounds, admit defeat and fault, and come back to the homestead by throwing himself at the mercy of his father.  This irritates the older sibling to no ends.  Upon learning of his brother’s return being heralded with an all-out party, he refuses to have anything to do with either of them.  Instead he complains to his father about having done everything right . . . everything by the book, and in the end, he gets nothing. Needless to say, the older son feels duped.

It is apparent, in all three parables, that the “lost” get associated with the “wrong crowd” . . . in the first two, repentance is the key to the rejoicing.  In the third one, the wayward son comes to his senses having chosen to run with the wrong crowd, seeks forgiveness, and is willing to turn around and start at the bottom of the pile.  I think that qualifies as repentance.  In other words, the “lost” are equated as “sinners”, or as the Pharisees and teachers of the law would say, the “wrong crowd.”  The bad people. 

In the parable of the two sons, which one is actually “lost”?

Of course, we know the younger son—the prodigal—is the one identified as being lost; but, Jesus has a way of making people have to think differently.  So, is it really the younger son who is “lost” or is it the older son?

I imagine that the evidence speaks for itself.  The younger son went off and did all the wrong things.  He ran around with all the wrong people.  He was in the wrong crowd.  His older brother even points this out to their father.  He also points out that he has done everything right . . . he stayed home to help his father . . . he did not run with the wrong crowd . . . and, he did not squander his inheritance.  As far as the older brother is concerned, his younger brother is what he is . . . scum.  Scum does not deserve grace.  Scum especially doesn’t deserve a party.  The younger brother is the one who has been lost.

The father does not disagree.  No, instead, it is because this child has been lost, but is now returned home, that he should be welcomed with love and grace back into the family.  Or, as the father put it, “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”  It is the right thing to do . . . the godly thing to do.  He tells his older son, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”  The father doesn’t understand his older son’s anger and refusal to welcome his brother home.

So, which son is the “lost” son?

A lot of theologians will argue that whoever you identify with in the story tells a lot of about you.  Who do you identify with . . . the prodigal son, the loving and grace-filled father, or the angry brother who feels burned by it all?  I guess those theologians fall into that common understanding of the phrase, “A person is known by the company that he or she keeps.”  That there are only “good” people or “bad” people.  There is either the “right” crowd or the “wrong” crowd.  And, depending upon which group or crowd you run around with, it says a lot about you.

Unfortunately, this is not true with Jesus.  Jesus ran around with the wrong crowd . . . the wrong people.  Jesus ran around with “sinners”.  He hung out with the tax collectors . . . the prostitutes . . . criminals . . . all sorts of sinners.  Of course, there were always those around who liked to point this out . . . like to let everyone know that Jesus was no better than the people he ran around with.  But, we know that this is not true.  Jesus hung out with the those who were disenfranchised . . . those who were left out . . . those who were on the outside looking in . . . those who were not included . . . those deemed less than good enough . . . those that others did not want.  Jesus hung out with those that the religious in power deemed to be the “wrong” crowd.  He not only hung out with them, but he welcomed them into the fullness of God’s love and grace . . . welcomed them back into the family of God.  These were the ones who God desired . . . those who were lost but are now found.

Jesus wasn’t going to find them in the places that the Pharisees and teachers of the law hung out.  They weren’t in any need of being “included” . . . though they did want what Jesus was offering.  Thus, they were offended . . . offended that the wrong crowd—the sinners—were reaping the rewards . . . after all, they had done everything that was expected of them.  It seems to me that this group was the “lost” group.

We all know that Jesus put more into “action” than “words”, especially when it comes to love and grace . . . especially when it comes to relationships.  Jesus hung out with those who needed love and grace . . . with those who needed to be included . . . with those society and the world deemed as the “wrong crowd”.  Jesus understood the power of God’s love and grace . . . of God’s desire to restore that which was “lost”.  Jesus lived God’s will.

And, Jesus calls us to do likewise.  Don’t be “lost” . . . and, watch the crowd you hang out with because in the end, it says a lot about you.  It did for Jesus.  Amen.