What a passage this is!
Luke 15:11-32
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 servants 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 servants.” 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 round 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.
25 ‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 “Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
28 ‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
31 ‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”’
This has to be one of the best-known stories in the Bible told by the Bible’s best storyteller – Jesus. Let’s grab hold of the big picture in this great story that shows us the heart of the Father as he yearns to bring back to himself his two sons each lost to him but in different ways.
This younger son firstly insults his father in asking him for his share of the inheritance. In that culture this was similar to wishing his father dead already! His father gives him the money and off he goes to a distant country. He removes himself far from his father’s influence and love. After spending and wasting all his funds he comes to his senses. This is a turning point in the story. Many people testify to hitting rock bottom before they are able to make significant changes in their lives. This is what is described here.
Meanwhile the father waits and watches. The younger son makes his way home thinking he might if he’s lucky be able to return to his father’s house as a servant of some kind. But his father runs towards him glad that this son of his who was lost has now come home. As far as the father is concerned this son will have all the privileges of sonship restored- without question.
But the story doesn’t end there as we now focus on this older son. The one who did the right thing always as he worked hard for his father. He doesn’t share his father’s joy but to the contrary we see his anger and resentment on display. He’s not going to celebrate with this prodigal of a brother!
The big picture leaves us with one loving father with two lost sons. They are both lost to their father’s heart of love but lost in different ways.
Who do you identify with in this story? Maybe you are like the younger son who strayed into distant countries far from the father’s love. But that love reached you at the moment when you came to your senses and returned towards home to find your lostness replaced by overflowing grace and mercy and a restored position of a washed clean child of God with a place in the father’s house. Maybe you are like the older son who didn’t go far away geographically but who stayed close by but grew cold to the father’s love and his mission and cultivated an anger towards his brother and father. The father loved this son also despite his need for his heart to be changed from coldness to compassion. Maybe we all need to better identify with the father who reached out to these sons of his and actively urged them to return to that place of home where there is love, grace, gratitude, acceptance and restored relationships. The father’s work continues, and we are invited to join with the father’s heart in that work.
Head: Do you consider the older son also lost? Does that interpretation surprise you? Do you agree with it?
Heart: if you identify with the older son what heart attitudes do you have towards others that need to change? If you identify with the younger son have you fully embraced your status as a forgiven child of the father?
Hands: Is there an older son or a younger son you can encourage this week by sharing a word from their loving Father?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this timeless story that speaks volumes to our own souls and volumes about your love for lost people. Help us to examine our hearts to check that we are not moving away from your love either wilfully and obviously to a distant land where your name is not known or honoured or silently within our own heart where devotion and joy are replaced by coldness and cynicism. May we throw ourselves on your mercy each day and rely on your Spirit as we walk with you. May you grow a love in our heart that reflects Jesus’ love for others who are lost and far from you.
A song to listen to: The Love of the Father
Tim Hewlett
Living Church – Creek Road
