THE LOVING FATHER

Today we are going to look at the parable of the prodigal son. However, I want to focus not so much on the son in the story, but on the father.

Some new Bible translations even now call it 'The Parable of the Loving Father', changing the focus from the sins of the son to the amazing forgiveness, grace, and love of the father.

Let’s take a look.

BIBLE READING

11-12 Jesus said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’

12-16 “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.

17-20 “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father.

20-21 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’

22-24 “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.

28-30 “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’

31-32 “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’  Luke 15:11-24, 28-30

THINGS TO CONSIDER

*  How do you think the father felt in the story?

*  How did you expect the father to react when the prodigal son returned?

*  How does it make you feel to know that God loves you no matter what?

*  What do you think it would take to make the father stop loving his son?

*  Think of someone you know who may be running from God.

*  Take a moment to pray that they would turn back to God.

*  Are you running from God?

FINAL THOUGHT

In this parable, Jesus gives a vivid picture of what God the Father is like. God is truly kinder than we are. He does not lose hope or give up when we stray.

We can see this in the way that the father was looking out for his son. He probably looked out for him every day. And what great rejoicing when he saw him. The son had a speech all ready to say sorry

But his father was not really interested in what he’d done, he just wanted to celebrate that his son who was lost was now home.

This is such an important lesson. That nothing can separate us from the love of God. The world is full of hurting people who need to hear this, don’t you think?