The Prodigal Son + More Parables of the Bible | Stories of the Bible

Stories of the Bible, The Prodigal Son. This is Jesus, who is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. While Jesus was on earth, he taught everyone about God's love. He healed many people from their sickness, performed many miracles like calming storms, and even raised people from the dead. Jesus taught everyone about God's love. All kinds of people would come to hear Jesus speak, including tax collectors and people who made bad choices. This made the Pharisees and Jewish leaders mad. Ah, yuck. They didn't think that Jesus should be around these kind of people. So Jesus told them this story. A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, Um, excuse me? I want my share of your estate now, before you die. Okay. So his father agreed and gave his son his inheritance. A whoop-whoo! A few days later, this younger son packed all his belongings. See ya! And moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. Huh? About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land. Aw, man. And he began to starve. Hey, you! He convinced a local farmer to hire him. Thank God. And the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the food he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. Finally, he said to himself, at home even the servants have food enough to spare, and here I'm dying of hunger. I know. I will go home to my father and apologize, and ask him to take me on as a servant. So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son. Son! His son said to him, father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. But his father said to the servants, quick, bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet, and kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead, and now has returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began. Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house. Hey, you! And he asked one of the servants what was going on. Your brother is back, he was told, and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return. Woohoo, all right, party time, all right, yahoo! The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him. But he replied, all these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time, you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after wasting your money, you celebrate by giving him a great feast. His father said to him, look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day, for your brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost, but now he is found. Stories of the Bible, The Parable of the Farmer. This is Jesus. Heyo! Who is the son of God and the savior of the world. While Jesus was on earth, he taught everyone about God's love. He healed many people from their sickness, performed many miracles like calming storms, and even raised people from the dead. One day, Jesus went and sat beside the sea. A great crowd gathered around him. Oh, hey everyone. So he got in a boat and told them many things in parables. Okay, listen to this. He told them this story. A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil among rocks. The seed began to grow quickly because the soil was shallow, but the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted. When Jesus had said this, he called out, "'Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.'" Damn Jesus. Yeah. Later, the disciples came to Jesus and asked what this parable meant. Jesus said, "'The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others. "'The seed that fell on the footpath "'represents those who hear the message, "'only to have Satan come at once and take it away. "'The seed on the rocky soil "'represents those who hear the message "'and immediately receive it with joy, "'but since they don't have deep roots, "'they don't last long. "'They fall away as soon as they have problems "'or are treated badly for believing God's word. "'The seed that fell among the thorns "'represents others who hear God's word, "'but all too quickly, the message is crowded out "'by the worries of this life "'and the desire for other things. "'And the seed that fell on good soil "'represents those who hear and accept God's word "'and produce a harvest of 30, 60, "'or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.'" Stories of the Bible. The Good Samaritan. This is Jesus. Hey-oh! Who is the son of God and the savior of the world. You see, when Jesus was on earth, he wanted everyone to know what God thought about things, so he took every opportunity to teach people about God's heart. Ahem. One day, a religious expert stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question, "'Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?' "'Jesus replied, "'What does the law say?' "'The man answered, "'You must love the Lord, "'your God, with all your heart, "'all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind, "'and love your neighbor as yourself.'" Eh? Right. All right. "'Do this and you will live.'" Wait. "'The man then asked, "'And who is my neighbor?' "'Jesus replied with a story. "'A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho "'and he was attacked by bandits. "'They stripped him of his clothes, "'beat him up, and left him half-dead beside the road. "'By chance, a priest came along, "'but when he saw the man lying there, "'he crossed to the other side of the road "'and passed him by. "'Another man who worked in the temple "'who was called a Levite, "'walked over and looked at him lying there, "'but he also passed by on the other side. "'Then a Samaritan came along. "'Samaritans were hated by Jews. "'They were seen as lesser people "'and Jews would not interact with them. "'But when the Samaritan saw the man, "'he felt compassion for him. "'Going over to him, "'the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine "'and bandaged them. "'Then he put the man on his donkey "'and took him to an inn, "'where he took care of him. "'One room, please.' "'The next day, he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, "'telling him, "'Take care of this man. "'If his bill runs higher than this, "'I'll pay you the next time I'm here. "'Now, which of these three would you say "'was a neighbor to the man "'who was attacked by bandits?' "'The man replied, "'The one who showed him mercy.' "'Then Jesus said, "'I am the one who showed him mercy.' "'Yes. "'Now go and do the same.'" Stories of the Bible, the parable of the great banquet. This is Jesus. Hey-o! Who is the son of God and the savior of the world. While Jesus was on earth, he taught everyone about God's love and healed people from their sickness. He did many miracles like walking on water. Oh, hey, guys. And even raised people from the dead. Wahoo! One day, Jesus went to eat at the house of a Pharisee. He said to the Pharisee who was hosting the meal, "'When you give a dinner, "'do not invite your friends, "'your family, or your rich neighbors, "'for they will invite you back, "'and that will be your only reward. "'But invite the poor "'and those who have trouble seeing and walking. "'Then God will reward you "'for inviting those who could not repay you.'" When a man at the table heard what Jesus said, Ahem! He said to Jesus, "'What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet "'in the kingdom of God.'" Jesus replied with a story. A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. All ready! When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, "'Come, the banquet is ready.'" Got it! But they all began making excuses. One said, "'I have just bought a field and must inspect it. "'Please excuse me.'" Another said, "'I have just bought five pairs of oxen "'and I want to try them out. "'Please excuse me.'" Another said, "'I just got married, so I can't come.'" The servant returned and told his master what they had said. What? No way! His master was furious and said, "'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town "'and invite the poor "'and those who have trouble seeing and walking.'" After the servant had done this, he reported, "'There is still room for more.'" Great, all right! So his master said, "'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges "'and urge anyone you find to come "'so that the house will be full, "'for none of those I first invited "'will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.'" Stories of the Bible, The Lost Sheep. This is Jesus. Hey-o! Who is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. While Jesus was on earth, he taught everyone about God's love. He healed many people from their sickness, performed many miracles like calming storms, and even raised people from the dead. Wahoo! Jesus taught everyone about God's love. All kinds of people would come to hear Jesus speak, including tax collectors and people who made bad choices. This made the Pharisees and Jewish leaders mad. Ah, yuck! They didn't think that Jesus should be around these kind of people. So Jesus told them this story. If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? You stay here. Won't he leave the 99 others and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he's found it, he will joyfully carry it home. When he gets home, he will call together his friends and neighbors saying, Oh, everyone, come here, come here. Celebrate with me because I have found my lost sheep. Wahoo! In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who returns to God than over 99 others who haven't strayed away.