The Father

Introduction

You have seen the videos. Soldiers coming home to a hero’s welcome. Soldiers greeting their families after being away for so long. Some of you have had a similar experience. It may be a child or a friend but to see someone after so long a separation the joy is indescribable. Today our text takes us to another homecoming. Often called the parable of the Prodigal Son, it is more aptly named the Parable of the Forgiving Father. Let’s set the stage.

In 15:1-2, sinners are gathering around Jesus to hear him teach. Those who are “good” people looked down on the sinner and on Jesus for allowing them to come close. Jesus tells three parables to deal with the misplaced judging from the Pharisees. He tells a story of a shepherd who loses a sheep and leaves the 99 in safety and goes out to search for the one that is lost. The point is that God goes looking for one who is lost.

Then he tells the story of a woman who loses a silver coin. The ten coins are important. They are her “insurance” in the event that her husband dies. This isn’t like losing a dime, nickel or quarter. This is losing 10% of her wealth. And so she goes to great lengths to find the lost coin and when it is found there is great rejoicing.

Then Jesus tells the story that has become revered even in our culture. The term “prodigal” is still used to describe one who leaves home and to engage life in very selfish ways only to come back home at some point. The focus of this parable is on the Father. And it is the Father that we want to celebrate today.

The Text

There are so many levels to this parable. The Father represents God. The younger son represents the sinners. The older son represents the Pharisees who are judging the sinners. The story is straightforward. The younger son wants his share of the inheritance. In Jewish custom this would have represented about 1/3 of the estate. The father doesn’t have enough “cash” on hand. Property must be divided and sold. This would have brought great shame to the family. For one did not sell property except in dire circumstances. The Father allows the son to choose his direction for life. And the son leaves.

The young man goes off. He spends the money but as often happens something beyond his control occurs. A famine. No resources to deal with this turn of events. But the son acts. He works for a Gentile feeding pigs. He takes whatever he can get. The pigs are better fed than he is. Coming to his senses he begins the journey home. He rehearses the speech he will make when he arrives home. He will offer himself as a hired man. A common laborer.

There will be no attempt to reclaim his place. He will gladly take the lowliest position. But the father in verse 20 breaks all protocol. He runs out to his son. He hugs and kisses him. He has the best clothes brought out. A ring and shoes are given. And a real celebration begins.

The older brother, however, comes in from working to the sounds of the celebration. He is curious. When he asks, he finds out that his brother has returned home and everyone is celebrating. Verse 28 the brother is angry and refuses to enter into the house for the celebration. The Father comes outside to plead with the older brother to come inside. The Father wants both of his sons with him. The Father wants both to join the celebration. But the older brother looks at things differently. His response demands justice. He wants fairness. The younger brother gave up his place among us. There is no room for him now. So disgusted is the older brother that in verse 30 he refuses to even call his brother “brother.”

The older brother knows full well Deuteronomy 21:18-21. The rebellious son is to be rejected. He is to be stoned by the city elders. He is to be purged from the city to maintain purity. This is what is demanded. But the Father with great kindness and compassion reminds his son of two things. First, his place is secure. Everything the Father has belongs to him already. Second, his brother has been brought back from the dead.

A Father’s Love

Who do you identify with in this story? The younger brother who willfully left the side of God in order to live life as he chose to live. The selfishness of the younger brother cannot be underestimated. Here is a young man who so much wanted his way that he was willing for his family to be shamed to indulge his sinfulness. With no thought about how his actions would hurt his family, this young man lived a selfish life.

Or the older brother demanding justice not mercy. The older brother who sees his young brother and as far as he is concerned he died when he left and his return changes nothing. The shame brought about by his younger brother cannot be forgiven.

Or do you identify with the younger brother who comes to the Father. The one who comes in great repentance. The one who recognizes that he has no right to reclaim his place.

Some of us have never come face to face with our sin. Some of us have never been away from God and like the older brother we are always demanding justice. But the focus of this parable is on the Father. The Father who allows his younger son to choose to leave and who allows blessing to go with him and the Father who looks longingly for his return. The God who suffers the shame of his child’s poor decision but he aches to hold his child one more time and who refuses to stop kissing him when he finally holds him again. Who hears the repentance and restores family.

Do you see the father who pleads with those demanding justice to come inside and celebrate? Do you see the father who only wants his children all together? And do you see that the older brother is sees himself as an insider is now an outsider? And do you see that the son who claims to always be obedient has become disobedient by standing outside refusing to join the celebration?

For some God waits. He is looking for you to come home. Like that little boy, he will hug you and kiss you and not let you go. For some God is pleading. He is pleading for you to join in the celebration. He is pleading for you to see things as they really are. God wants all to be with him. Will you join the celebration?

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