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The wild son who returned

A rebellious son repents and asks his father for forgiveness.
Contributed by Richard Gunther
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, German, French
1
Jesus told a story about a rich man who had two sons. The rich man had a very big farm, with many servants who looked after it. – Slide 1
2
One day the younger son went to his father and demanded. ‘Father I want you to give me my share of your inheritance now.’ – Slide 2
3
The father was sad but reluctantly agreed to give his rebellious son his share of the inheritance. – Slide 3
4
The younger son then left home to go to another country. There he wasted all the money on wild living. – Slide 4
5
After he had spent everything, the new friends he had made left him. Then there was a famine in the land. He was poor, with no money, no friends and nowhere to live. – Slide 5
6
He was forced to look for a job but the only one he could find was looking after pigs. – Slide 6
7
He spent many days and nights feeling very lonely and hungry. He was so miserable he longed to eat the food the pigs were eating. He was beginning to starve to death. – Slide 7
8
At that moment he realized how foolish he had been. ‘All of my father’s servants have food and here I am starving. I will go home again and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and you. I am not good enough to be your son. Please let me be one of your servants.”’ – Slide 8
9
So he set off on the long journey home along dusty roads. – Slide 9
10
His father missed his son and always looked out, hoping he would return. – Slide 10
11
Then one day while when he looked out he could see his son a long way off coming down the road. He ran towards his son and threw his arms around him. ‘My son has come home again!’ he cried. – Slide 11
12
The son was so surprised. He never expected such a welcome. He wept, ‘Father I have sinned against God and against you. I am not good enough to be called your son!’ – Slide 12
13
His father wiped way the tears from his eyes and replied. ‘My son, I forgive you because and said, ‘My Son, I love you so much and forgive you.’ – Slide 13
14
The father then called to his servants. ‘Quick! Bring me the best clothes and sandals for my son and a ring for his finger. Then kill the best calf as we are going to have a big feast to celebrate my son returning. My son was dead – now he is alive. He was lost but now is found.’ – Slide 14
15
Some time later the older son returned to the farm after a hard day’s work in the fields. He could hear the sounds of a great celebration in the distance. A servant told him, ‘Your father is celebrating the safe return of your younger brother. – Slide 15
16
The older brother was annoyed that his rebellious younger brother was getting such a loving welcome home. He sulked outside and his father came out to see him. – Slide 16
17
‘I have been working for you for many years but you have never had a celebration feast for me. But my brother has been behaving disgracefully, wasting money, yet when he returns, you celebrate.’ – Slide 17
18
His father explained, ‘You have always been with me and everything I have is yours. We are celebrating because your brother was dead and is now alive. He was lost but now he’s found.’ – Slide 18
19
Jesus told this story to let us know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much. Even when we disobey Him, when we are really sorry, stop being disobedient, and return to Him, He welcomes us with open arms.’ – Slide 19
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Slide 20