Luke 15:11-24 ~ The Lost Son:

I went to a funeral today for a lady who was in our Sunday school class; she was 103 years old. She never married, but she had a few nephews and nieces. One of the nephews stood up and gave a eulogy in her behalf: he first shared the story of Martha and Mary, and then said that, “Aunt Dot was like Mary, always more interested in Jesus than anything else. Secondly he spoke about the prodigal son; he said, “Aunt Dot never married or had any kids of her own, but she was like a mom to me.” He went on to say that he spent some time in his life walking away from God; but as he wept, he said, “Aunt Dot was always waiting there for me with a robe.” Not unlike the Father in the story of the Prodigal son.

Interesting observation from this parable: In these 14 verses the word “Father” is used nine times; the word “Son” is used four times. In the whole parable from verse 11 through 32 the word “Father is used twelve times and the word “Son” is use six times. Warren Wiersbe says, “We call this story ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son’ (the word prodigal means ‘wasteful’), but it could also be called, ‘The Parable of the Loving Father,’ for it emphasizes the graciousness of the father more than the sinfulness of the son”(p.234).

While this parable shows the path of the young man: from rejecting his father, to a penitent heart, to being forgiven. It also shows the love of the father: willing to loosen his grip on the son in the beginning, then watching daily for his return, and finally embracing him tighter than ever upon his return.

Our father in heaven seems to operate the same way: He doesn’t force us to love Him, and daily wants us to be in fellowship with Him, and ultimately will embrace us tightly as we walk in humility and harmony with Him.

Andy