Known By JOY
Luke 15:11b-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The Power of Perspective
There's an old story about a shoe company that sent two salesmen to a remote village. After a few days, one salesman sent a message back to headquarters:
"No one wears shoes here. No potential."
The second salesman sent a very different message:
"No one wears shoes here. Huge opportunity!"
Both men saw the same situation, but their perspectives made all the difference. One saw a problem; the other saw potential.
How often do we allow our perspective to limit our joy? Maybe we define ourselves by our past mistakes or view others through the lens of their shortcomings. Maybe we hold onto resentment and miss the good unfolding right in front of us. But what if we could see differently? What if we saw ourselves and others through God’s eyes?
In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Paul challenges us:
"From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view... If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
This isn’t just about optimism—it’s about transformation. When we learn to see as God sees, we discover joy in places we never expected.
The Father’s Joyful Perspective (Luke 15:11b-32)
Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son offers one of the most profound images of God’s joy.
A father has two sons. The younger one demands his inheritance early, essentially saying, "I wish you were dead." He then wastes it all on reckless living. When he finds himself starving, feeding pigs, he decides to return home, not as a son, but as a servant.
From a human perspective, he has ruined everything. He deserves shame, maybe punishment, at best a place among the household workers. But his father sees differently.
Before the son can even reach the house, the father runs to him. In Jesus’ culture, older men didn’t run. It was considered undignified. But the father doesn’t care about appearances—he is overwhelmed with joy. He throws his arms around his son, orders the best robe, the finest meal, and declares, "This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"
Joy isn’t just an emotion here—it’s a perspective. The father could have focused on his son’s past mistakes, but instead, he chooses to celebrate his return.
Sharing Joy: The Father’s Invitation to the Older Son
At this point, the parable could have ended. But Jesus isn’t done. There’s another perspective at play.
The older son hears the celebration and refuses to go inside. He is bitter, angry. “I have worked for you all these years,” he says, “and you’ve never given me a party.” He sees his brother’s return as an injustice, not a cause for joy.
Now watch the father’s response. He goes out to his older son, just as he ran to the younger one. He doesn’t rebuke him or dismiss his feelings. Instead, he says, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate because your brother was dead and is alive again.”
The father extends the same joyful love to both sons. To the prodigal, he says, "Come home." To the older son, he says, "Come inside." But only one responds with joy.
How often do we, like the older brother, refuse to celebrate because we’re focused on fairness rather than grace? The father’s invitation is clear: Joy is meant to be shared.
Insights from "The Book of Joy"
In The Book of Joy, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu explore how to cultivate joy, even in difficult circumstances. Their wisdom beautifully connects with this parable.
Choosing Joy: Embracing God’s Perspective
How do we make joy a habit? Three practical shifts can help:
Living into the Joy of the Father
There’s a story about a pastor who visited a prison for a Bible study. One of the inmates, Kevin, had been incarcerated for over 20 years. After hearing about God’s grace, he asked, "Do you think God really sees me as new? Do you think he really looks at me and sees a different man?"
The pastor replied, "Kevin, the real question is—do you?"
2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us: "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. The old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
The father in the parable knew this truth. He saw both sons as beloved, not because of what they did, but because of who they were.
So today, let me ask:
The invitation is before us. How will they know? Let them know by our joy. Amen.
Luke 15:11b-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The Power of Perspective
There's an old story about a shoe company that sent two salesmen to a remote village. After a few days, one salesman sent a message back to headquarters:
"No one wears shoes here. No potential."
The second salesman sent a very different message:
"No one wears shoes here. Huge opportunity!"
Both men saw the same situation, but their perspectives made all the difference. One saw a problem; the other saw potential.
How often do we allow our perspective to limit our joy? Maybe we define ourselves by our past mistakes or view others through the lens of their shortcomings. Maybe we hold onto resentment and miss the good unfolding right in front of us. But what if we could see differently? What if we saw ourselves and others through God’s eyes?
In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Paul challenges us:
"From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view... If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
This isn’t just about optimism—it’s about transformation. When we learn to see as God sees, we discover joy in places we never expected.
The Father’s Joyful Perspective (Luke 15:11b-32)
Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son offers one of the most profound images of God’s joy.
A father has two sons. The younger one demands his inheritance early, essentially saying, "I wish you were dead." He then wastes it all on reckless living. When he finds himself starving, feeding pigs, he decides to return home, not as a son, but as a servant.
From a human perspective, he has ruined everything. He deserves shame, maybe punishment, at best a place among the household workers. But his father sees differently.
Before the son can even reach the house, the father runs to him. In Jesus’ culture, older men didn’t run. It was considered undignified. But the father doesn’t care about appearances—he is overwhelmed with joy. He throws his arms around his son, orders the best robe, the finest meal, and declares, "This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"
Joy isn’t just an emotion here—it’s a perspective. The father could have focused on his son’s past mistakes, but instead, he chooses to celebrate his return.
Sharing Joy: The Father’s Invitation to the Older Son
At this point, the parable could have ended. But Jesus isn’t done. There’s another perspective at play.
The older son hears the celebration and refuses to go inside. He is bitter, angry. “I have worked for you all these years,” he says, “and you’ve never given me a party.” He sees his brother’s return as an injustice, not a cause for joy.
Now watch the father’s response. He goes out to his older son, just as he ran to the younger one. He doesn’t rebuke him or dismiss his feelings. Instead, he says, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate because your brother was dead and is alive again.”
The father extends the same joyful love to both sons. To the prodigal, he says, "Come home." To the older son, he says, "Come inside." But only one responds with joy.
How often do we, like the older brother, refuse to celebrate because we’re focused on fairness rather than grace? The father’s invitation is clear: Joy is meant to be shared.
Insights from "The Book of Joy"
In The Book of Joy, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu explore how to cultivate joy, even in difficult circumstances. Their wisdom beautifully connects with this parable.
- Perspective Shapes Our Experience of Joy.
- The Dalai Lama and Tutu emphasize that suffering is inevitable, but our perspective determines whether we become bitter or joyful.
- The older son saw unfairness; the father saw restoration.
- When we shift our focus from resentment to gratitude, from judgment to grace, we find joy waiting for us.
- Forgiveness Is the Path to Joy.
- Archbishop Tutu, who helped lead South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, often said that "without forgiveness, there is no future."
- The father forgave immediately, without hesitation. The older son, however, couldn’t forgive and therefore couldn’t rejoice.
- How often do we let unforgiveness rob us of joy?
- Joy Is Found in Connection.
- Tutu and the Dalai Lama emphasize that joy is not a solo endeavor. It grows in community.
- The father wanted both sons at the banquet. He wanted them together, reconciled, whole.
Choosing Joy: Embracing God’s Perspective
How do we make joy a habit? Three practical shifts can help:
- Recognize Our Own Need for Grace.
- We are all the prodigal at some point. When we remember that we’ve been forgiven, it’s easier to extend grace to others.
- When we see ourselves as God sees us—a new creation—we stop defining ourselves by our past and start living into joy.
- Celebrate Reconciliation.
- The father’s joy was contagious—he wanted everyone to celebrate!
- Who in your life needs to hear, “I’m glad you’re here”?
- What would it look like to be people who celebrate rather than critique, who lift others up rather than keep score?
- Practice Gratitude.
- The older brother focused on what he lacked; the father focused on what he had.
- What if we started each day thanking God for what is already ours?
Living into the Joy of the Father
There’s a story about a pastor who visited a prison for a Bible study. One of the inmates, Kevin, had been incarcerated for over 20 years. After hearing about God’s grace, he asked, "Do you think God really sees me as new? Do you think he really looks at me and sees a different man?"
The pastor replied, "Kevin, the real question is—do you?"
2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us: "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. The old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"
The father in the parable knew this truth. He saw both sons as beloved, not because of what they did, but because of who they were.
So today, let me ask:
- Are you standing outside the feast, like the older son, refusing to accept the joy of God and join the celebration?
- Are you the prodigal, struggling to receive joy and believe in grace?
- Or are you ready to live out the joy of this father— a contagious joy that forgives, an exuberant joy that restores, an inclusive joy that welcomes?
The invitation is before us. How will they know? Let them know by our joy. Amen.
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