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Scripture
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:22-24 KJV
Devotion
The 15th chapter of Luke presents three well-known parables of Jesus: the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We may have thought that each of these parables hold a distinctive lesson between Christ and his relationship with sinners (and they do). But we would miss a larger truth if we neglected to see the connectedness between each of the parables, the first two building toward the realities in the lengthier parable of the Prodigal Son (more likely, a ‘Prodigal Father’). Key words connect the first two parables together: lost, found, and rejoice. They both focus on one direct object, a sinner, upon whom the searcher (i.e., the shepherd or woman) has placed great value.
So, when we come to the third parable, each of the connective words (lost, found, and rejoice) are fleshed out to provide a more comprehensive story between a father (the searcher) and his wayward son. The disrespect, the squander, and the reckless living describe the lostness of a son who would have received his inheritance anyway. The realization of his consequences and his confession highlight his being found by a father who seemingly was watching for his arrival, perhaps every day! And then, when he is found, this father runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him, so diametrically opposite the presumed behavior called for by the culture of that day. And, then again, this father calls for this rag-torn son, this one who had lived in repudiation of all the father had stood for, to be completely dressed in the dignity of the father! Such a love was being lavished upon such a loathsome one! All in the father’s household were now being told…not to rejoice, but to celebrate!
The word ‘prodigal’ (a word never used in this passage but readily descriptive of it) has both a negative and a positive dimension attached to it. Negatively it describes wanton wastefulness. Certainly, this was an apt description of this son. But positively, the word portrays one who displays undeserved extravagance upon another. That certainly describes the father and suggests that both father and son were ‘prodigals’ in their own way…like father, like son to become like him? Obviously, the story is given for all believers at all times to see their own waywardness in relation to our heavenly Father who has loved us with such an extravagant love, a love that could never be rectified by any good intentions on our part. Let the love of the Father, expressed through the Son, clothe you in a robe of righteousness befitting of setting your place in the family of God (Isaiah 61:10).
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