when one was lost and didn't want to admit it
Some run into the Father’s arms, and some stand outside trying to earn what was already theirs
a question danced in my thoughts the moment i learned something from the pulpit that the story was about two lost sons one was lost in his goodness and the other in his badness i heard it with new ears that the father ran lifting his dress the father cared so much about restoration while the older brother cared more about reputation i learned and it's interesting right how could we miss that how did i missed that before that day my eyes were finally opened both longed for the same thing what the father had and not the father himself so both were lost both were outside the house then came the question i can't stop pondering what if the older brother had met him on the road first? well we'd probably all take the right guess while we wait in the suspense tears stream down my pen cause i picture him standing arms crossed saying what are you doing here? do you think Dad wants to see you after all you've done to him! i know this is me filling in the blanks on a text that is sacred but i mean no disrespect painting his brother heart in 21st century terms all to say this my friend he probably would never known that love was waiting for him at the table but the father had found the rebellious son first clothing him in mercy and prepared a house party then the father went out back outside to fetch the older brother blinded by self-righteousness for prison explaining his heart's reasoning to go out and find his lost kin but what did his brother say after? well we just don't know what came out of his lips turns out the story required active participation leaving us with this mirror to stare at our reflection so it seems would the audience hearing go into the house themselves? and now for some reason i can't help but see too the letters written by Mr. Screwtape himself to his nephew Wormwood about a son blinded by legalism so much he thinks he's better than his own mother isn't that the trap? falling into religion and not realizing that you're also in sin one you can't see like outright rebellion but in truth also a dangerous poison both sons were in need of the father both sons were outside the house one stepped inside while the other didn't which camp do we find ourselves in? well we each have our default settings and there's no exception but are we aware of the log there planted a shadow for the life giving tree in our hearts redemption is knocking it's not an old story and no man not one is righteous that's why He came this story began long ago in the garden a tree is what is all started with and He was nailed on another to make us a son and daughter.
Heart Call:
We’ve been learning about this story that it was never about the prodigal son. But really about two lost son, one lost in rebellion and the other self-righteousness.
One son chose repentance while the other didn’t. And Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who were against him eating with tax collectors and others.
In some ways, this parable really becomes a mirror for them; and for us too because it ends with a cliff hanger…
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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
Are you inside the house, or standing outside trying to earn a place on the table?
Photo Credits: Houcine Ncib.