Harry Potter meets Jesus Sermon Podcast 7 - The Remorse of Hagrid and the Return of Percy Weasly

Series: Harry Potter meets Jesus

June 23, 2019
Langdon Palmer

Today we look at two stories in Harry Potter to help us understand the multidimensional meaning of three crucial words: Temptation, Repentance, and Reconciliation. We track what happened to Hagrid and Percy, and discover an amazing parallel to the story given by the master story teller, Jesus, known as “The Prodigal Son.”

Episode Notes

Compare the wisdom of the evil character Voldermort, to the Wisdom of the biblical book of James:

“There is no good or evil – there is only power… 
and those too weak to seek it…” – Voldemort

James 1:14-15

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

LUKE 15:11-24

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’

 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.‘ So they began to celebrate.

True Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with God that occurs when I make Jesus the Lord and Savior of my life.
  
EPHESIANS 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works


Several points made in the sermon were drawn from the work of Connie Neal in her book “The Gospel according to Harry Potter.”  For a podcast of this sermon and other resources, go to www.Leverington.org

Musical Credit: John Williams “Leaving Hogwarts”  https://music.apple.com/us/album/leaving-hogwarts/89286124?i=89285919

Content Copyright Belongs to Langdon Palmer
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