The Prodigal Father: Luke 15v25-32

We’ve all heard the parable of the prodigal son. It’s inspired many powerful sermons and brought people of many different tribes, tongues and nations into a clearer understanding of the Father’s graceful and forgiving nature, the nature that both inspired and was the source of Jesus own ministry and person. The author of Hebrews tells us that Yeshua is the radiance of YHWY’s glory and the exact representation of YHWY’s nature, very God of very God as we say. Therefore if you want to know what God is like you simply need to look at Jesus. This loving merciful forgiveness has moved many to repentance and to again take up their roles and responsibilities as Children of God in His household. There is so much here, but I hope to look primarily at what Jesus purposed the parable to accomplish in His hearers.

The younger son was an absolute scoundrel. He’s all but wished his father dead. Then, what’s worse, he’s sold half his families property off. Then he went off to party on his own, only to find himself destitute and bound to a citizen of this other country, not only feeding the pigs…who are the dirtiest of animals but the ones who would likely trample under foot your pearls and then turn and tear you to pieces…but also so destitute and hungry that he wanted for their food. If you’ve got ears, chew on all that.

Despite all that the younger son was and did however what is more scandalous is the father. Any son asking for his inheritance early would have been disowned and told to get on. This father doesn’t do that, he gives the son what he asks for. As much as it must have broken his heart, love doesn’t insist on its own way. Then, when the son comes back, not only does the father forgive him…he gets up and runs to him. We don’t understand how scandalous this story is in our culture, men of age and renown, Jewish men, wise men… do not run anywhere, much less into the arms of a foolish son like this one. Has he no shame! Love does not respect traditions or laws when a son who was dead, is alive again. This father is a departure from what the world of Jesus understood of being a father, he was separate from the world...Holy, Holy, Holy. Indeed, His ways are higher than our ways, His justice beyond our comprehension...mercy triumphs over judgment.

We should not miss Israel’s story in all this, keeping both with the Exodus theme of Jesus’ journey and the immediate situation Jesus is dealing with, all the pushback he’s getting for the company he’s keeping. God had led Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. There God endured years of Israel’s rebellion until they were sent into exile in Babylon. During Jesus’ time most believed that they were still living in exile even though many had returned to the land. They were occupied by foreigners, becoming more and more Hellenized (and desiring that food), a ridicule of the nations and what they truly hungered for was liberation and for God to lead them out of all this in a new Exodus. They were looking for resurrection! A common metaphor had developed from Ezekiel 37 where resurrection is picture language for the true return from exile. Paul points to this regarding his hope for apostate Israel being driven by jealousy to repent and receive the gospel of Messiah Jesus, in Romans he writes specifically… “Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” But we will get to the older brother tomorrow…

For now, Jesus is here to say…YES!!! It’s happening and shouldn’t we be celebrating? “My son was dead and now is alive!” I AM…the resurrection! God is fulfilling His promises right in front of you! Why shouldn’t we be celebrating? …it just doesn’t look like what they want it to…the Kingdom of God does not come in signs to be observed…things are slowly worked together…leaven hidden in three lumps of flour… a tiny mustard seed that grows, over time, and becomes a sanctuary even for the birds…a new creation bursting forth, right in the midst of this one… “You are the Messiah who is coming into the world!” says Martha to Jesus.

May we be ever more reconciled to God our Father through Jesus, the Messiah. May we understand that it’s happening right in the midst of us, come to our senses and hasten the day of His coming through a repentant and humble life lived in the Way. May our hearts and minds not be set on what we see, but fixed firmly on God’s future which comes down into our exiles and wildernesses and oppressed lands to meet us as we turn our hearts to Him and then makes us to walk in grateful celebration with Him in the house His hands have made, the works prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

‘One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.’

May we worship Almighty God in Spirit and Truth, for the day has come in Christ Jesus. Amen