Definition: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this incredibly important passage from Luke 15:24. It's a really powerful message about God’s love and forgiveness. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Jesus is talking about the life of His firstborn son, Jesus Christ. He was born into a world where people feared and didn't understand him because he was considered special and different. He was essentially "dead" – meaning he wasn’t alive or present. Then, God intervened! God took Jesus away from the world and placed him in a safe place, like a garden, where he could be nurtured and protected. It's like a miracle! And then… He was found! Jesus came back to life after being lost – meaning he wasn’t fully alive or present. He was brought back to the world. Finally... They Started to Be Merry! This is the key part. The people who saw this miracle were filled with joy and celebration because they understood that Jesus had been resurrected – that He was alive again after being lost. It’s a joyous, celebratory moment of hope and love. In short: Luke 15:24 means that God loved Jesus so much that He brought Him back to life, and His followers were filled with happiness and celebration because they saw this incredible miracle. It speaks about the power of God's grace and forgiveness. What does it teach us? God’s Love is Unconditional: This verse emphasizes that God loves all of His creations, even those who seem lost or forgotten. God Can Restore What Is Lost: It shows that God can bring things back to life and restore what has been lost. Joyful Hope: It inspires us with hope because it demonstrates God's power to overcome death and despair. --- Would you like me to explain any of these points in more detail, or perhaps explore a related verse? For example, I could go into the symbolism of the garden, or talk about why this story is important for Christians.