Tuesday, March 29

Tuesday

We have examined the parable of the Prodigal from just about every possible angle over the past several weeks.  We have looked at the younger brother’s external rebellion & the older brother’s internal rebellion.  We have looked at how each of these brothers corresponds to one of the two groups that made up Jesus’ original audience.  We have examined the gracious heart of the father for both of his lost sons, and we have even looked at the significance of the father’s feast at the end of the parable. 

In these last few days of reflection and study, I want to focus on how this remarkable story is really about the one who told it – it is all about Jesus!  If yesterday’s devotional reading of Jesus in every book of the Bible did not convince you, let’s look at just how Jesus Himself is the central theme of His own parable.

Throughout this story, Jesus repeatedly (and subtly) puts himself in the place of the father.  The father is the one who pursues each of his rebellious sons.  He runs down the road to meet his younger son while he is still a long way off, and he goes out to plead with his older son to come in to the celebration feast.  This is precisely what Jesus says that He came to do for the world.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”    – Luke 19:10

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”       –   John 10:16

When the younger brother returns home and the father kills the fattened calf and throws a lavish party to celebrate the return of his lost son, the older son refuses to join the feast.  Why?  One reason is because he thinks that his father is making a big mistake.  He thinks that this younger son does not deserve such kindness and generosity.  Basically he thinks his father is wrong, and he will not lower himself to sit and eat with his undeserving younger brother.  Now think back to the first few verses of Luke 15.  What was the major complaint that the Pharisees had against Jesus?  “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Can you see how Jesus again puts himself into the place of the father?

“On hearing this, Jesus said to them,  “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  - Luke 2:17

Finally, the father in Jesus’ story is willing to make incredible sacrifices for the good of his sons.  He sacrifices his pride and dignity when he allows his younger son to treat him so shamefully, and when he runs down the road to meet his son.   He sacrifices his wealth and security when he gives the younger son his share of the estate and allows him to leave the family and waste it all.  He even sacrifices his pride when he leaves his own feast to go out and plead with his bitter and self-righteous older son.  The Bible is abundantly clear that Jesus Christ did not just make a sacrifice for us, but He became the sacrifice for us.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!”  - Philippians 2:5-8

Oh Lord Jesus, we confess that it is always all about You!  You are our source of strength.  You are our hope and our peace.  You are the bread of life and living water. You are the light of our lives and we have nothing without You  – Amen.


Jeff Frazier