The parable of the prodigal son. Full text and interpretation

01.10.2019

One of the two sons asked his father to give him half of the property. The father fulfilled the request, dividing what he had between the sons.

A few days passed and he, taking with him everything that he received, went to distant countries. He lived, did not grieve and squandered his inheritance.

After he ran out of money and famine struck the country. He had a need to find food and shelter. The youngest son settled down to look after the pigs and graze them. He needed so much that he was glad to eat these pets, but he was not allowed to take this food.

As he pondered what was happening, he realized that his father's slaves ate better. I will go and beg forgiveness from my father, and I will be hired to work with him. And so he did.

Even at a distance, his father saw him, took pity on him and forgave him. He hugged his prodigal son, kissed him.
- Father! My sin is great and I am unworthy to be your son! - He said - Get me to work for your servants!

The father ordered his son to be dressed in the best clothes and shoes, Bring the thick calf and we will rejoice, as my son has risen from the dead. And the fun went. The elder brother worked all day in the field, approaching the house, he asked the servants: “Why is everyone walking? And he did not like that his father accepted his younger brother so. He stood and did not want to cross the threshold of his father's house.

For so many years I have been working for you and have never disobeyed you, and you never gave a kid to walk with your friends.

But, the father went out and called the eldest son.

A son! You live inseparably with me and all mine is yours, but we must be glad that the younger brother was lost and found. Died and resurrected!

The parable teaches: Leading a sinful way of life, a person destroys the soul and all the gifts (abilities, health, life), given away by our Father. The Lord, our Father, rejoices with the Angels in the repentance of sinners, passing humbly and with hope.

Picture or drawing The parable of the prodigal son

The biblical parable of the prodigal son: a summary

The father had two sons. One took his part of the property and, far from the family, squandered everything. When the need arose, he was starving and decided to return to his father to become his mercenary, as he felt guilty. But his father was happy that his son returned unharmed, and threw a feast on this occasion. The older brother was unhappy that his father received the dissolute younger one so well. But the father said that he did not infringe upon him in any way, because he was always there in contentment and owned everything together with his father; the youngest son was like dead who knows where, and now we need to rejoice at his return.

The plot of the parable, a detailed retelling

One man had two sons. The younger asked to give him the inheritance due, and the father conceded to his son, dividing the property between the brothers. After some time, the younger took his own and went to a distant country, where he boozed and debauched.

Having spent everything that he had, he began to live in poverty. He hired himself as a servant, began to graze pigs. And he would be glad to eat at least what the pigs ate, but they did not give him. And then he remembered his father, what a rich estate he has and how many servants they do not need, and thought: why die of hunger, I’ll return to my father and ask him to accept me as a mercenary, because he is no longer worthy to be called a son.

And he went to his father. And the father saw him from afar and took pity on his son, ran to meet him, hugged and kissed him. The younger son said: "Father, there is sin on me before heaven and you, and your son, I am no longer worthy to be." And the father ordered the slaves to bring him the finest clothes, shoes and a ring on his hand and slaughter a well-fed calf to eat and celebrate. Because his youngest son was dead, but became alive, was missing, but was found. And they all began to have fun.

The eldest son, meanwhile, was in the field, when he returned, he heard songs and exclamations from the house. Calling the servant, he asked what had happened. They told him that his brother and father had returned with joy, that the son was unharmed, and killed a whole calf. The eldest son was angry and did not want to enter to the celebrants, and the father went out to call him. But the eldest son said: “For so many years I have been with you, I have been working, I always obey you, but you didn’t even give me a goat to feast with friends; and this son, who had spent all your property with the libertines, returned, and you immediately stabbed him well-fed chick. " The father replied to this: "Son, you have always been there and everything mine belongs to you, and you need to rejoice because your younger brother was dead and became alive, was missing and was found."

The parable of the prodigal son - what's the point?

A person who is familiar with Christianity, who believes in God, who is the Father of all living things, can depart from faith, tempted by earthly entertainment and vanity. To take your property and go to a distant country - to move far from God, to lose any connection with him. He will have some kind of supply of grace and spiritual strength, as the prodigal (or lost) younger son had money at first. But over time, the strength will run out, the soul will become empty and dreary. Hunger will come, as he came to the youngest son, only not physical, but spiritual. After all, people, according to Christian teaching, were created by God for communication and union with Him and with each other.

And if a person then, in despair, remembers his Heavenly Father, he will want to return. But he will feel repentance and unworthiness to be the Son of God, just as the younger son in the parable felt that he was not worthy to be called a son. Then we return to God with repentance, begging him to help, to comfort our devastated soul, to fill it with the light of faith at least a little - not as children of God, but at least as his mercenaries (it is not for nothing that Orthodox prayers say “servants of God”).

But God is Love, as stated in the Gospel of John. And in his love He is not angry with us and does not remember our sins - after all, we remembered Him, desired His good, returned to Him. Therefore, He delights in our insight and return to the truth. We were dead in sin, but we came to life. And to those who have repented, those who have returned to faith, the Lord gives a lot, often happily arranging destinies, and always sending peace and grace to tormented souls. Just like the father in the parable gave the returning son all the best he had.

The image of the elder brother here is people who did not formally depart from the faith, did not commit serious sins, but forgot the main commandment - about love. The older brother, with resentment and jealousy, tells his father that he tried to do everything right, but the younger son did not. Why is he honored? This is the case with believers who condemn “sinners” and may discuss in church other people's attire that is inappropriate for the occasion, or wrong behavior. And they forget at the same time that if a person came to church, turned to the faith - you need to rejoice for him, because all people are our brothers and sisters, also created by the Lord, who is infinitely happy about their return from darkness.

Another meaning of the parable

The parable of the prodigal son, the summary in particular, can be viewed in a more straightforward manner. It is applicable not only in relation to God to people, but also in relation to those who love each other. We can say that this is a parable about love.

Any close person can leave us - husband or wife, child, friend, even parents sometimes abandon their children. But if we have a pure heart and love in our souls, then we will become like the father from the parable and will be able to forgive the betrayal. And then, meeting a dissolute son, who has betrayed her husband, a missing father, who has forgotten a friend about us, it would never even occur to us to blame them or listen to unkind people who do not understand Christian forgiveness - it will be enough for us that they are near, found, returned, alive.

Publicans and sinners came to Jesus Christ to listen to Him. The proud Pharisees and scribes, teachers of the Jewish people, murmured against Jesus Christ for this and said: "He accepts sinners and eats with them."

To this, Jesus Christ spoke several parables in which he showed that God accepts every repentant sinner with joy and love. Here is one of them:

One man had two sons. The youngest of them said to his father: “Father! give me the portion of the estate that I am following. " The father complied with his request. After a few days, the younger son, having collected everything, went to a distant country and there, living dissolutely, he squandered all his property. When he had lived everything, there came a great famine in that country, and he began to be in need. And he went and joined (ie, joined) one of the inhabitants of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. From hunger, he would be glad to eat the horns that the pigs ate; but nobody gave it to him.

Then, having come to his senses, he remembered his father, repented of his deed and thought: “How many mercenaries (workers) from my father eat bread in abundance, and I am dying of hunger! I will get up, go to my father, and say to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me among your mercenaries. "

And so he did. He got up and went home to his father. And when he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity on him. The father himself ran towards his son, fell on his neck, kissed him.

The son began to say: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son "...

And the father said to his servants: “Bring your best clothes and dress him; give him a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; and slaughter the fattened calf; let's eat and have fun! For this son of mine was dead and has come to life; disappeared and was found. " And they began to have fun.

The eldest son was returning at this time from the field. Hearing singing and jubilation in the house, he called one of the servants and asked: "What is this?"

The servant said to him: “Your brother has come; and your father killed the fatted calf, because he saw him healthy. "

The eldest son got angry and did not want to enter the house. The father went out to him and called him.

But he answered his father: “Behold, I have been serving you for so many years and have never violated (did not violate) your command; but you never gave me a kid to have fun with my friends. And when this son of yours came, having dissipated his property, you killed the fattened calf for him. "

The father said to him: “my son! you are always with me, and all mine is yours. And about this you ought to have rejoiced and rejoiced, that your brother was dead and revived; disappeared and was found. "

In this parable, the father is God, and the prodigal son is the repentant sinner. Every man is like the prodigal son, who with his soul moves away from God and indulges in a willful, sinful life; with his sins, he destroys his soul and all the gifts (life, health, strength, abilities) that he received from God. When a sinner, having reason, brings God sincere repentance, with humility and with hope for His mercy, then the Lord, as a merciful Father, rejoices with His angels at the conversion of the sinner, forgives him all his iniquities (sins), no matter how great they are, and returns to him His favors and gifts.

With the story of the eldest son, the Savior teaches that every believing Christian should wholeheartedly wish everyone salvation, rejoice at the conversion of sinners, not envy God's love for them and not consider themselves worthy of God's mercies more than those who turn to God from their former lawlessness. life.

NOTE: See Luke ().

Luke, 79 credits, xv, 11-32.

11 A certain man had two sons; 12 And the younger of them said to his father: Father! give me the next to me part of the estate. AND father divided the estate to them.

13 After a few days, the younger son, having gathered everything, went to a distant country, and there he squandered his property, living dissolutely.

14 When he had lived through everything, there came a great famine in that country, and he began to be in need; 15 And he went and joined himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 and he was glad to fill his belly with the horns that the pigs ate, but no one gave him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said: How many of my father's hired workers have enough bread, but I am dying of hunger; 18 I will rise, I will go to my father, and I will say to him: Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you 19 and am no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me as your mercenary.

20 He got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity; and running, fell on his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.

22 And the father said to his servants, Bring your best clothes and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand and shoes for his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf, and kill; let's eat and have fun! 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to have fun.

25 And his elder son was in the field; and returning, when he approached the house, he heard singing and exultation; 26 And calling one of the servants, he asked: What is this?

27 And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he received him safe.

28 He was angry and did not want to enter. But his father went out and called him.

29 But he answered his father: behold, I have served you for so many years and have never violated your command, but you have never given me a goat to have fun with my friends; 30 But when this thy son, who squandered his property with harlots, came, you killed the fatted calf for him.

31 But he said to him, My son! you are always with me, and all mine is yours, 32 but about that it was necessary to rejoice and be glad, that your brother was dead and came to life, was lost and is found.

Interpretation of the parable of the prodigal son

In the parable of the prodigal son, the Lord likens the joy of God over the sinner's repentance to the joy of a child-loving father, to whom his prodigal son returned (vv. 11-32).

A certain person had two sons: God is represented under the image of this person; two sons are sinners and imaginary righteous - scribes and Pharisees. The younger, apparently having already reached the age of majority, but, of course, still inexperienced and frivolous, asks to allocate to him the allotted part of his father's estate, according to the Law of Moses (Deut. 21:17), a third part, while the older brother received two-thirds ...

Upon receiving the estate, the youngest son had a desire to live in freedom, of his own free will, and he left for a distant country, where he squandered the property he received, living prodigally. Thus, a person endowed with spiritual and bodily gifts from God, feeling an attraction to sin, begins to be weighed down by the Divine law, rejects life according to the will of God, indulges in lawlessness, and in spiritual and bodily profligacy he squanders all the gifts that God has endowed him with.

“A great famine has come” - this is how God often sends a sinner who has gone too far in his sinful life, and external calamities to force him to reason. These external calamities are both God's punishment and God's call to repentance.

“Shepherding pigs” is the most humiliating occupation for a true Jew, for the Jewish law abhorred the pig as it was unclean animals. Thus, a sinner, when attached to any object through which he satisfies his sinful passion, often brings himself to the most humiliating state. No one even gave him horns - these are the fruits of one tree growing in Syria and Asia Minor, which feed pigs. This indicates the extremely miserable condition of the sinner. And now he "comes to his senses."

“Coming to your senses” is an extremely expressive turn of speech. Just as a sick person recovering from a serious illness accompanied by loss of consciousness comes to his senses, so a sinner, all embraced by sin, can be likened to such a sick person who has lost consciousness, for he is no longer aware of the requirements of the law of God and his conscience seems to freeze. The grave consequences of sin, combined with external disasters, finally force him to wake up: as he wakes up, he comes to himself from his previous unconscious state, and a sober consciousness returns to him: he begins to see and understand all the misery of his state, and is looking for a way out of him.

“I will rise, I will go to my father” - this is the sinner's determination to forsake sin and repent. “Sinned into Heaven”, i.e. before the holy dwelling place of God and pure sinless spirits, “and before you” disdain for a loving father, “and your son is already worthy to be baptized” is an expression of deep humility and consciousness of his unworthiness, which always accompanies the sinner's sincere repentance.

“Create me, as one from your mercenary” - an expression of deep love for the home and shelter of the fatherly and consent, even on the most difficult conditions, to be accepted into the father's house. All further portrayal of events is intended to emphasize the infinity of God's love for the repentant sinner, Divine forgiveness and the joy that happens, according to Christ, in heaven about the only sinner who repents (Luke 15: 7).

The elder father, seeing his son returning from afar and still not knowing anything about his inner mood, runs to meet him, hugs and kisses him, not letting him finish his repentant words, orders him to shoe and dress him, instead of rags, in the best clothes and arranges a home feast in honor of his return. All these are human-like features of how, out of love for a repentant sinner, the Lord mercifully accepts his repentance and endows him with new spiritual blessings and gifts, instead of those he lost through sin.

“Be dead and come alive” - a sinner alienated from God is the same as a dead person, for the true life of a person depends only on the source of life - God: the conversion of a sinner to God is therefore presented as a resurrection from the dead.

The elder brother, who is angry with his father for having mercy on his younger brother, is a living image of the scribes and Pharisees, who are proud of their appearance by the exact and strict fulfillment of the law, but in their souls they are cold and heartless in relation to their brethren, who boast of the fulfillment of the will of God, but do not want to have communion with repentant tax collectors and sinners. Just as the elder brother “was angry and did not even hear it,” so the alleged exact executors of the law, the Pharisees, were angry with the Lord Jesus Christ because He entered into close fellowship with repentant sinners. Instead of sympathizing with his brother and father, the elder brother begins to show his merits, he does not even want to call his brother “brother”, but contemptuously says: “this son is yours”.

“You are always with me and all mine is yours” - this indicates that the Pharisees, in whose hands the law, can always have access to God and spiritual goods, but cannot deserve the favor of the Heavenly Father with such a perverse and cruel spiritual and moral mood.

history of the holiday

The establishment of the week of the prodigal son dates back to the ancient times of Christianity. In addition to the church charter, the fathers and writers of the Church of the 4th and 5th centuries testify to its antiquity, who spoke in conversations this week, such as St. Chrysostom, Augustine, Asterius, Bishop of Amasia, and others. In the 8th century, Joseph the Studite wrote a canon for the week about the prodigal son, which is now sung by the Church that week.

Interpretations and sayings of the holy fathers:

Until death came, until the doors were closed, the opportunity to enter was not taken away, until terror fell on the universe, until the light faded ..., ask, sinner, bounty from the Lord (St. Ephraim the Syrian).
If we are hated by God for our sins, then we will again be loved for repentance (St. Nilus of Sinai).
Weep for sin, so that you do not weep for punishment, justify yourself before the Judge before you appear before the judgment seat ... Repentance opens heaven for man, it elevates him to paradise, it conquers the devil.
There is no sin, no matter how great, that overcomes God's love for mankind, if at the right time we bring repentance and ask for forgiveness.
Great is the power of repentance if it makes us pure like snow and white like a wave, even if sin has previously stained our souls (St. John Chrysostom).
Whether you are in the house of your father, do not rush to freedom. You see how this experience ended! Have you run away and are running away, stop quickly. Whether you squandered everything and are in distress, make up your mind to return as soon as possible, and return. All the indulgence, the old love and contentment awaits you there. The last step is the most necessary. But there is nothing to expand on about him. Everything is said briefly and clearly. Come to your senses, make up your mind to return, get up and hurry to the Father. His arms are open and ready to receive you (St. Theophan the Recluse).

Features of the worship of the week (week) about the prodigal son

1) At Matins on the Week of the Prodigal Son and then in the Meat and Cheese Week, after singing the polyeleos psalms (134 and 135) “Praise the name of the Lord” and “Confess to the Lord,” psalm 136 is sung: “On the rivers of Babylon ... "" with Red Alleluia. This psalm excites sinners who are in captivity to sin and the devil to realize their unhappy, sinful state, like the Jews who realized their bitter situation in captivity in Babylon and subsequently repented. Then Sunday troparia are sung - "The Cathedral of the Angel ...".

2) Singing at Matins after the 50th psalm of the penitent troparion: "Open the doors of repentance ...".

3) Reading at the liturgy: Apostle - Corinth., Credits. 135, Gospel - from Luke, cred. 79.

4) The week (Sunday) of the prodigal son concludes a week (under the same name), which, as already indicated, is continuous (abolition of fasting on Wednesday and Friday), Participated: "Praise the Lord from heaven ...".

Sermon by Patriarch Kirill in the week (week) about the prodigal son

Sermons on the Week (week) about the prodigal son

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh about the parable of the prodigal son.

Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann about the parable of the prodigal son.

Priest Philip Parfenov about the parable of the prodigal son.

Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev. The parable of the prodigal son

Poems about the parable of the prodigal son

About the prodigal son

Father and brother are my family.
Our home is both holy and abundant.
I don't know about sickness or tears
And the external enemy is powerless for us,
But something alien in me:
Desire to live in a foreign country.

Forgetting that only being an orphan,
I can inherit a property
I asked the Father, despising my shame,
Took a part and without a blessing
He left immediately. And the way lay for me
A cross of four roads.

Forefather Adam for insolence
He was expelled from paradise with a curse.
Nobody chased me. I myself
Indulging your pride,
Left the house. Goodbye Father.
And brother. For them I became a dead man.

To me God is pagan Baal,
Wine, libertines, vices ...
I tasted everything I wanted
Forgetting the times and terms.
But hunger fell on that ground
And I have experienced poverty.

So I'm God's prodigal son
In disbelief, in feasts and quarrels,
Lavishing inheritance, one
Grazing pigs. In sins and punishments
I live. The horns are my food
And they are not always full.

All at once left me.
In a hungry year, a stranger is not needed.
By a lonely fire
I'm making my own sad supper.
Night comes. And with her
Reproaches of my conscience.

What to do? Who will give me advice?
There is no oblivion in the decayed tent,
No sleep. Dawn is not coming
And there is no hope of salvation.
And hears my hungry roof
Only the screeching of pigs and the howling of wolves.

And in the Father's house everyone is full:
Shepherd, singer, minister, warrior ...
The father will not forgive betrayal.
I'm not worthy to be called a son.
I will say in my repentance:
"Father, hire me."

I will bow to my father, but elder brother!
How to endure his contempt,
Reproaches from servants if back
Will I come? Let me have enough humility
On the eve of a new path
Determination to find in yourself

Turn the course of life
Walk from drain to source,
Worlds mysterious essence
Feel again in the blink of an eye
Fall on your knees by the porch
In tears to wait for the mercy of the father.

Morning comes, I must
Today the main choice is to make:
Return to the Fatherland
Or to the death of soul and body
Stay? God, give some reason!
I'm coming. Have mercy and accept.

Dust, headwind, home is far away
And the legs are filled with weight,
Ravines, holes across
Secret roads are open
The rise is both rocky and steep,
And sinners are calling back.

The old way was wide for me.
The rich, proud went to destruction ...
Enough strength to turn.
Pig faces are looking after me ...
I'm going home in awe
Unhappy, beggar, but alive.

What an excuse to tell me!
I am guilty of my father and heaven.
Having bought debauchery for grace,
No longer worthy to be a son.
I will tell the Father, swearing my sin:
Take them as slaves. Forgive me.

A sultry day obscures my eyes,
At night the people I meet laugh laugh
In the face. Exile and disgrace
They prophesy with evil joy.
But here are the birthmarks.
Here I must descend from the cross.

I see our house. He is rich
He is both holy and exudes goodness.
My brother did not come out to meet me.
But, God, who meets me!
The wanderings have come to an end:
He himself hurries to me. Father.

I cried out: “Father! I was weak
Was in the dark on his deathbed
Like a pitiful and worthless slave
All before You, here I am, God!
Like a slave, without a home, without relatives.
In tears I pray: Do not drive away. "

Behold, the veil fell from my eyes,
The rumor returned. And the essence of the world
I felt. And God's voice:
"Do not make yourself an idol!"
I hear it again. And it reopened
That God is Grace and Love.

... A feast in the house. I am forgiven by the Father,
On the finger is a ring - a symbol of power,
Shod, clothed and oiled,
Taurus is stabbed. Fruit, sweets,
Friends, contentment and comfort,
Everyone is having fun and singing.

The elder brother comes from the field.
And seeing joyful faces,
I asked the servant what he was glad about,
Found out the answer, and great anger
He embraced him. Will not come here
And asks the Father's judgment:

“I am always in obedience,
I didn't take a kid for a friend ...
And this one, who knows no shame,
Your son, came with an empty knapsack,
Speaking a lie with his lips!
And you are calling him to a feast! "

By the fruits of your labor
You are proud and looking for justice.
But above all judgment
Love and Grace always stand!
Do not condemn anyone:
Neither servants, nor your brother! "

Father and brother are my family.
I'm in the house. The strength returned.
I know my calling:
Serve the Father to the grave
To pray until I die
Fallen sinners in the world.

Leonid Alekseevich

Art based on the parable of the prodigal son

The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most frequently depicted gospel parables in art. Its plot usually includes the following scenes: the prodigal son receives his share of the inheritance; he leaves home; he feasts with courtesans at an inn; they chase him away when he runs out of money; he grazes pigs; he returns home and repents to his Father.

Click on the image to view the gallery

Gerrit van Honthorst. Prodigal son. 1622

Expulsion of the prodigal son. Bartolomeo Murillo. 1660

Then, coming to his senses, he remembered his father, repented of his deed and thought: “How many of my father’s mercenaries (workers) eat bread in abundance, and I am dying of hunger! I will get up, go to my father, and say to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me among your mercenaries. "

The return of the prodigal son. Bartolomeo Murillo. 1667-1670

Prodigal son. James Tissot

The return of the prodigal son. Liz Swindle. 2005

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Return of the prodigal son

Images: Open Source

Another parable Jesus told the people: "A certain man had two sons; and the youngest of them said to his father:" Father! Give me the share of the estate that follows me. "And the father divided the estate to them. After a few days, the younger son, having collected everything, went to the far side and there squandered his estate, living dissolutely. When he had lived everything, a great famine came in that country, and he began to be in need; and he went and joined himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs: and he was glad to fill his belly with the horns that the pigs ate, but no one gave him. said: "How many of my father's mercenaries have enough bread, but I am dying of hunger; I will get up, go to my father and say to him: Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me among your mercenaries. "He got up and went to his father."
LUKE 15: 11-19

Christ continued the parable of the prodigal son: "And when he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity; and running, fell on his neck and kissed him. The son said to him:" Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. "And the father said to his servants:" Bring your best clothes and clothe him, and give a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and slaughter: let us eat and be merry! For this my son was dead and came to life, was lost and is found. "And they began to rejoice. But his eldest son was in the field; and returning, when he approached the house, he heard singing and exultation; and calling one of the servants, he asked:" What is it? "He said to him:" Your brother has come, and your father killed the fatted calf, because he received him healthy. "He was angry and did not want to go in. But his father went out and called him. : "Behold, I have served you for so many years and have never violated your orders, but you never gave me a kid to have fun with my friends; but when this son of yours, who wasted his property with harlots, came, you killed a fatted calf for him. ”He said to him:“ My son! you are always with me, and all mine is yours, and about that I had to rejoice and be glad that this brother of yours was dead and came to life, was lost and is found. ”With this parable Jesus once again showed with what joy and forgiveness the Heavenly Father accepts every sinner coming to Him with a repentant heart.
LUKE 15: 20-32

Not far from Jerusalem there was a village called Bethany. Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary lived there. They were friends of Jesus. Once, while in the same secluded place with His disciples, Jesus received sad news. The sick's sisters sent to say to Him: "Lord, behold, whom you love is sick." Jesus, hearing that, said: "This disease is not to death, but to the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Then He stayed two more days in the place where He was, and went to Bethany, knowing that Lazarus had already died. Many Jews came to the sisters and consoled them in grief over their dead brother. Martha saw Jesus and said to Him: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that what you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus answered: "Your brother will be resurrected ... I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, even if he dies, will come to life. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha said, "So, Lord! I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, coming into the world." Then she went and called her sister Mary. When Jesus saw the weeping Mary and the weeping Jews who had come with her, He Himself grieved in spirit and said: "Where did you put him?" They answered him: "Lord! Go and see." Jesus went to the cave in which Lazarus was buried. (In that country then they usually buried in a cave, rolling a stone to the entrance). Jesus ordered the stone to be rolled away, but Martha said that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Jesus answered her: "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" When the stone was rolled away, Jesus lifted his eyes to heaven and said: "Father, I thank You that You heard Me ... I knew that You would always hear Me ..." Having said this. He called in a loud voice: "Lazarus, go out! And the dead man came out, wrapped hand and foot in burial shroud ..." Many Jews who saw this miracle believed in Him, but the Pharisees and high priests gathered a council to discuss how to kill Jesus ...
JOHN 11: 1-50