Party

 When was the last time you went to a really good party?  For me it has been quite a long time.  I think maybe a few years ago when a surprise party was arranged for a friend who emigrated to America years ago.  Her family organised a huge secret get together of all sorts of people she hadn't seen for years and she had no idea it was happening.  It was great fun, both to be in on the surprise and to catch up with people I hadn't seen for ages.  There was food and dancing and loads of chat and everyone was super relaxed and happy.  Great.   The other party that comes to mind is the one we had for Sam's 8th or 9th birthday.  We took a squad of little boys up to grandmas farm and buried a box of ' treasure' which they had to locate by solving cues and then dig up.  They then all got to drive the tractor, play football and have burgers in the barn.  It was messy, cheap and the boys had the best time ever.  Which is surely what a party is supposed to be about.    

The reason Im thinking about parties is that in creche yesterday morning I was talking to the kids about the prodigal son.  When you are telling Bible stories to three year olds you have to distil things down to their simplest components.  So in our version there was a man with two boys  The little boy went away from his Dads house and spent all his money and ended up living with some pigs ( we had toy pigs on hand to make the point) and then the boy remembered that life was so good in his Dad's house so he went home and his Dad wasn't cross with him for being silly - no, he threw him a party!   At which point we threw a party for the kids with balloons and cake and pass the parcel.   Who said preaching the gospel was hard ? 😂😂

Sometimes its really helpful to look at the Bible stories we know well and focus in on the very essence of them.  We have all heard a gazillion sermons on the prodigal, the wayward lifestyle, the waiting Father, the discontented elder brother.  People have dissected the meaning of the pigs and the pig food and the Father running and the ring and the robe.  But at the end of the day, at the heart of the story is a party. A fatted calf and a celebration, much rejoicing. unexpected expense and a late night for all.  Hooray!  And when you think about that in more detail you cannot help but be amazed all over again at the outrageous kindness and generosity of our loving Father.  He doesn't criticise or blame us for our wanderings.  He doesn't castigate us for our greed and our wilfulness.  His heart is genuinely and wholly delighted when we come back to Him and His joy is loud and lavish.  He celebrates our return .  There are parties in heaven whenever someone repents and comes to Jesus - and as over a third of the world are estimated to be Christians that must mean that heaven is just one permanent party!  

This is good news.   Rather than telling people that they are going to hell if they die without knowing Jesus we should be telling them that they are invited to a party where they are going to be spoiled rotten, showed off to the guests, dressed in the finest gear, fed the best food and given the biggest hug.  Who wouldnt want to say yes to that sort of party invitation?  This Easter let us remember what the death and resurrection of Jesus have actually achieved for us.  They have opened the way for us to run home to a waiting Father.   Easter has removed all the roadblocks and checkpoints along the way.  So now all we have to do is turn round and head on home where the party is waiting for us.  No scolding.  No punishment.  No consequences.  Just joy and laughter and love.