“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'”
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” Luke 15:28-32 (NIV)
If you have ever lost anything that you valued then you know what it feels like to celebrate when the recovery is made. Can you imagine someone you treasure being displaced? Do you sense the anticipation of their return? How would you respond?
The prodigal son was fortunate to have a father waiting, watching, and anticipating his return. However, the older brother was not in a celebrative frame of mind. He was bitter and resentful. The older brother could not understand why his father would throw such a massive party for his young wayward brother. It just did not make sense.
The father made a distinction between the two brothers. Did you see it in the passage? The father affirmed the older son’s distinction by acknowledging their special connection that was not hindered by the younger son’s rebellion. On the other hand, the father made a clear distinction by identifying that the younger son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. The prodigal son was in desperate need of the father’s mercy, grace, and love.
Have you been there? Spend some time thinking about how God has fathered you through difficult times. Aren’t you grateful that He doesn’t give you what you deserve?
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care