We've learned about Jesus' teaching stories called the Parable of the Sower,
the Parable of the Weeds
the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl,
the Parable of the Wandering Sheep,
the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant,
the Parable of the Wedding Banquet,
the Parable of the Bags of Gold,
the Parable of the Two Sons,
the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and the Parable of the Rich Fool.
Another Parable Jesus told his followers was called the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Jesus told a story about a rich man who had two sons.
One son came up and said that he wanted his father to let him have his part of the family farm.
So the father split up the farm and gave the son what was his.
The son sold everything his father gave him and then ran off to live in another place where he wasted his money until he had nothing left.
He was poor after that and had to get a job feeding pigs. He was so hungry he even wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating!
He thought to himself that maybe he could just go home to his father and say sorry, and work as a servant there and at least get good food.
He went home, and when his father saw him coming he ran out to see him and gave him a big hug.
The son said that he was very sorry, and was not even good enough to be called the man's son anymore.
But the father was so happy to see that his son was alive that he threw a big party and welcomed him home.
The man's other son that did not leave was upset because he had stayed at home and worked while the other son was out wasting all of his money.
He didn't think it was fair that they would throw a big party for the son who left.
The father told him that he should not be sad because the father was always with him every day.
He was just so happy that his son came back because he thought he had lost his son forever.
Jesus didn't mean we should go run off with all of our money and it's still ok to come home!
He was trying to tell people that it didn't matter what they had done wrong in the world, he would always forgive them and be happy to welcome them into heaven.
(from: wikipedia - parable of the prodigal son)
Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Tested