His Father Ran [Devotion]

The Prodigal Princess is, if you haven’t guessed already, very much inspired by the exquisite parable of the Prodigal Son. I strongly encourage you to stop if you have a moment and read Luke 15:11-32 to have the story fresh in your mind as we discuss a couple points.

I’m not going to attempt to teach even everything that I’ve learned from this parable (which I’m sure is only scratching the surface) but I do want to focus on what I think are two of the main themes that Jesus is teaching here.

Both of these themes are actually found in the parable’s context in Luke’s account of the Gospel. Chapter 15 starts off with this bit of information, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (vs 1-2). And Jesus’s response is immediate, “So he told them this parable:” (vs 3).

Now the parable he tells them isn’t the Prodigal Son but we’ll get to that in a second. The story He tells them first is the parable of the lost sheep. He asks what man wouldn’t leave the 99 sheep in the fold to go find the one that was lost. And even more importantly He relates the rejoicing that accompanies the finding of one such lost sheep, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” (vs 6).

He follows this parable with yet another. Nope, still not the lost son, this time it’s the lost coin. He poses another question , asking what woman if she had ten coins and lost one wouldn’t search every inch of her house in order to find the lost coin. And again points out the rejoicing over the finding of that coin, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” (vs 9).

After each of the parables he makes very pointed statements about the meaning of the parables. At the end of the lost sheep He says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (vs 7). And after the lost coin, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (vs 10).

It is after establishing heaven’s joy over the return of lost that Jesus adds one more parable, “And he said, ‘There was a man who had two sons…’” (vs 11). This launches us into what is arguably the most famous of Jesus’ parables as we hear the story of a young man who hurts His father in a deep and personal way when he demands his inheritance (essentially telling his father that he wishes he were dead). But the young man doesn’t sopt there. He takes his newfound wealth to a foreign land where he, “squandered his property in reckless living.” (vs 13).

While it’s easy to get caught up in the story of the son if we’re following the theme of the previous two parables we’ll realize the main point doesn’t come until we see the father again. After the son hits rock bottom and perhaps even lower, “he came to himself,” (vs 17) and decided to return and humble himself before his father. And this… this is where it gets good!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (vs 20). This verse sends chills down my spine because the father was waiting for him!!!!! How beautiful is a love that, after all the injury and insult, is still waiting, with anticipation, rushes to and rejoices in the humble return of the offender! HE RAN!!! The father ran out to his son and embraced Him!

Here Jesus likely shocked his first century audience (perhaps why He prepared the way with the previous two parables). The son deserved to be cast out of the family. He had no right to ask anything of his father! But the father still rejoices. And it is during the party in honor of his son’s return that the second point, not found in the other two parables, comes home.

The other son, the one who didn’t wish his father dead and squander his wealth, refuses to join in the celebration. And to Jesus’ audience this son probably seemed totally justified. But I think this moment was a big part of the build up over the three parables. Remember this is Jesus’ response to the self righteousness of the Pharisees and Scribes.

If the older son had truly been in line with his father’s will as he claimed to be in recounting his obedience (vs 29) then he too would have rejoiced in his father’s rejoicing. But we see in this the contrast between the heart of the Father and the heart of man.

As humans we are often like one or both of the brothers seeking to satisfy ourselves either by living for our passions or by comparing ourselves to those around us thinking we’re righteous because we’re “not as bad as them”. But the father came to both his sons. Both his sons needed his help.

And whether we come as hypocrite or a hedonist, when we realize how we’ve offended God and come humbly back to Him we know that He is watching and waiting, ready to run to embrace His lost child!