Read Luke 15:11-32
During His public ministry, Jesus often illustrated His point by telling a story… a parable. In fact, He told 38 in all. And probably the best known of them all is the one we’re focusing on today. The parable of the prodigal son. And even though the story is quite familiar to most of us, starting in verse 11, let's hear just how Jesus told it.
A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, "I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die." So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. Luke 15:11-14
Now I have to stop the story here because as a Mother, I’m thinking the news of this famine must've reached his father. My first reaction would have been to put together a “care package” – bake some cookies, send a Starbucks gift card, anything. And yet we’re not told that the father attempted in any way to intervene in his rebellious son’s life. What a determined love he must've had. An unshakeable love that this delinquent son was about to discover. Let's pick up the story in verse 17…
When he finally came to his senses... he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Luke 15:17a, 20
The father was filled with love and compassion. The Message Bible says “his heart was pounding.” The Amplified Bible says “he was moved with... tenderness.” There was no bitterness there. His precious son had come home. And while we’re tempted to think of this as a story of a weak-willed and wayward son, I prefer to think of it as the story of a strong-willed and steadfast father. A father that looked at a broken man and saw a needy boy.
At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, the world watched as the story of the father's steadfast love was played out on international television. As the gun sounded for the 400-metre race, Great Britain's Derrick Redman knew that his lifelong dream of winning the gold medal was in view. But as he entered the back stretch, his dream turned into a nightmare. The ripping pain of a torn hamstring sent him sprawling to the ground. By an act of sheer will, in excruciating pain, he struggled to his feet and began hopping toward the finish line. And that's when it happened.
Suddenly Derrick's father bounded out of the stands, past a security guard, and threw his arms around his son. In a voice choked with emotion, he whispered, "Come on, son, let's finish this together." The crowd cheered and wept as they watched the father half-carrying his wounded son down the stretch and across the finish line.
The story of the steadfast father... there is no truer parable than that. Almighty God is that Father. And know this. Just because He hasn’t intruded into your life bringing order out of the chaos, doesn’t mean He doesn’t want to.
It only shows He loves you too much to take control of what He hasn’t been given.
