A Forgiving Father

Stories capture our attention.  Look at how we spend hours upon hours in social media reading or enjoying the stories told regarding friends and family.  Before the days of MySpace, Facebook, and other medias people spoke face to face.

There were some that were talented storytellers.  A Great Storyteller did not just spin an interesting tale, but they engaged their audience in the story.  Every person sat on the edge of their seat waiting the next piece of the story.  The best Storytellers would create a story in which the audience could identify.

In Luke 15 we find just such a man, Jesus.  He had been telling parables to convey heavenly principles using earthly constrains.  One such story was that of the Prodigal Son.  The main theme of the story is "There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents."  But an underlying counterpoint is also being made.

In this story the father represents God; the Prodigal represents defiant sinners, who eventually in humility come to the father seeking repentance and forgiveness; and the Eldest Son, who represents those seeking to earn their way to heaven through works and adherence to the Law.

The Father is confronted by his younger son who requests his inheritance before his time and then taking the money he leaves for a foreign land, only to loose it all, come to his senses and return home in hopes his father would forgive him and allow him to remain as a lowly servant.

The Father holds out that one day his wayward son would return and when he does the Father wastes no time in celebrating his return and offering complete forgiveness and restoration.

The response of the Elder son is the one that we often overlook.  His behavior seems justified and righteous, but when we look at it through the eyes of the storyteller a different picture tends to come into focus.  This son was consumed with anger, even hatred for his father for receiving his wayward brother back into the family so readily.

The Pharisees and scribes who were in Christ's audience would have identified with this brother.  They would have agreed that the Father was too free with his forgiveness and that atonement would need to be paid before forgiveness could be granted.  Jesus was again trying to express that atonement cannot be made by those tainted with sin; only the grace of the Father and the willing sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb can atone for our sin.

For the full message shared on 03-24-13 at First Church of God, Racine, WI; go to:
A Forgiving Father