Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32
Luke 15 records Jesus’ parables about a man who searches for a lost sheep (v4-7), a woman who searches for a lost coin (v8-10), and the joy each experienced upon finding that which was lost. Then Jesus turns to the Parable of the Lost or Prodigal Son.
Beyond telling a powerful story of redemption, the parable presents a metaphor of life in the body of Christ. There’s a younger son—the saint who strays then returns home, an older son—the faithful saint who stands in judge of his brother for his errant ways, and their father—the compassionate, merciful God who loves each equally and offers them grace according to their particular need.
While the younger son’s wasteful, reckless (prodigal) behavior is an essential part of the parable, the “lost” theme throughout Luke 15 tells us the parable is about more than the son’s reckless behavior; it is about his lost condition and restoration.
The father sees the son “when he was still a great way off” because, like the other Luke 15 parables, the father is searching for what is lost, his son. Just as the son lived lavishly in the far away land, the father receives his son with lavish gifts and celebrations.
This parable father is the personification of God’s care for us as His children; graciously allowing us the freedom to explore the world, but eagerly searching and patiently waiting for our return home. The Father shows no condemnation, retribution or inquisition; simply love, compassion and joy. He never gives up, never loses hope, never stops looking for our return.
No matter what we have done or where we have gone, God is searching for us to come back, even while we are still a great way off from home.
“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”—Psalm 86:15
