The Lost Son
The Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:11-31
We’ve probably all heard this story before. Most of us know it as the story of the “prodigal” son, which by definition means he was the son who spent money recklessly and was wastefully extravagant, (and that’s fair because that’s exactly what he did). But while he certainly was selfish, impatient, and obscenely impetuous, those were all just symptoms of what he really was, and what he really was, was lost.
This young man took an early inheritance from his father, too impatient to come by it traditionally, and “set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living,” (v.13). Today we may call him entitled, a prime example of the younger generation who doesn’t understand the value of a hard-earned paycheck. We may call him a typical 20-something, taking a “gap year,” to travel, experiment, and wander until he finds his true passion. But Jesus calls him lost, and those who are lost don’t set out to lose their way, do they? They have a plan, a purpose, a mission to find something, but something happens and eventually, they’ve found themselves in unfamiliar territory. It’s happened to all of us, in one way or another. We think we know what we’re doing until we realize we were dead wrong, and like the lost son, we come to our senses and set out to fix our mistakes (v.17). God understands this, and like a good father, He waits patiently for us to come walking back.
Jesus shares this parable immediately after two others, one about a lost sheep, the other about a lost coin, (Luke 15:3-10), to clearly show how God responds to those who have lost their way. Each one ends the same, with a celebration. What hope this offers to those who are sitting in the shame of their wayward choices! The reassurance of God’s love is in the details of the father’s story: “But while [the son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him,” (v.20). The father was watching for his son, and when he finally saw him still a long way off, he RAN. He ran and threw his arms around his son. This reaction implies the father’s relief, rejoice and love for his child. There is no condemnation, only love. Next, he gives him the ring off his finger, and his finest robe, and prepares a feast to celebrate. Later he explains his reaction to his other son, the one who stayed: “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” (v. 32). “We had to,” he says. As if there was no other choice. It is the same with God. His love for us is so deep, so unconditional, that the only way He can respond to our repentance is with a compassionate, enthusiastic embrace, and a really great party.
Study & Reflection: Read through The Parable of the Lost Son again. What do you think the prodigal son set out to do when he first left? What caused him to realize he was lost? What was his plan for finding his way back? What do you think he was anticipating as he headed back to his father’s house?
Read the conclusion to each of the three parables Jesus shares about those who are lost: Luke 15:5-7, 9-10, and 22-31. What awaits us when we come to our senses? Why is this so hard to remember when we’re sitting in our shame?
Prayer: In what way are you feeling lost today? Ask God to meet you where you are. Thank Him for patiently waiting for you to find your way back. Seek His forgiveness for the choices you made that led you far from Him, then fall into His warm embrace and let Him celebrate your return.