Today I was given a great perspective on this parable. There are many things that can be taken from this parable and it follows in line with the Parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. All of these parables contain one prevailing theme, it's the theme of redemption. You have a women that cleans her whole house looking for 1 coin, although she has 9 others, A Shepard that faces eminent danger to bring back a single lost sheep, and a father who welcomes home a wasteful son. All of these cases drive home the point that no matter where we are at or what we have done, there is redemption in Christ.
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 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.
25 “Meanwhile, the older 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 older 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.’”
In the particular case of the prodigal son there are three main characters. The father, the lost son, and the older brother. The son follows through on satisfying his flesh while his brother follows the rules and supports the household.
When the son realizes that his life is not how he imagined it and he had run into the ground he seeks to be anywhere close to his father, even if he is not restored to his original position. Often times we can find ourselves in the same place. We've gone off on our own, satisfying ourselves, and when it returns us empty, we go back to the feet of Jesus begging for forgiveness.
When the father sees his son is coming back to him, he runs to embrace him. There is no anger or frustration, just redeeming grace. The father forgives all wrongs and rejoices at his son's return. He immediately throws a feast to celebrate the return of a lost son. Grace has made all the wrongs turn into nothing, he will never remember his son leaving or what he did but only his return. The same celebration is thrown every time we turn back to God. So when it's been a while since you've come to God for any reason, just remember he welcomes and celebrates your return.
The last piece is the brother. The brother isn't so happy to see the son return and a celebration be thrown for him. He wants some form of punishment, he feels wronged. His brother went out and had all this fun, that he likely wished he could have, and he comes home to a celebration. He's angry that he follows all the rules and never gets a party. He doesn't understand the grace that his father shows and sees it as foolishness. He missed the point that his missing brother was back. He also doesn't understand that even if there is no punishment from his father, the son still has to deal with the consequences of his choices. Grace is all he can give and punishment is not up to him.
Grace from the Father does not mean that your choices hold no consequence. The son likely had to deal with debt collectors coming to collect. He may have suffered some illness while laying with pigs. He could have emotional damage from unfulfilling relationships. The son has to face the fall out of the choices he made. He no longer has an inheritance, his family will likely have trouble trusting him, and as he can see from his brother, he wont get the same grace from everyone.
The ultimate point Jesus was trying to make when telling this parable was redemption. He wants us to be like the father in this story. The one who runs to those whom have wronged him and embraces them with grace. The one who celebrates the return of lost friends and forgives the wrongs of the past. Grace is the best way to approach every situation. It's not always that easy but if we remember the warm embrace we receive from God after every fall, we can understand that there isn't any shortness of grace we receive and to freely give it is what we should do.
Always expect to face the consequences of your choices but remember that God always welcomes you back with open, rejoicing arms. I will always give grace to you son, as I know that without it, I would not be standing.
Love ya,
Dad
