God is Relationship
The Father
The parable of the prodigal son isn’t actually about the wayward wanderer
It’s about the father eagerly waiting to receive his son back.
Please read Luke 15:11-32. Reflect on the story until you can find yourself in it. As you do so, ask yourself the core questions of the Discover, Share, Obey approach BEFORE watching the video. What is God saying through this passage? How does it impact my faith that God reveals Himself as Father? How should it change the way I live and think, and is there something tangible I can do this week to act on it? Who can I share these truths with?
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Which character most captures your attention?
There are three principle characters in this parable: the younger son who hits rock bottom, the older son who works hard at home, and the father who celebrates the return of his boy. We can find ourselves in each of these characters, and each of them have something to say about the way that we relate to God. I would argue that the most important character is not the younger son, it is the father. This father reflects the true heart of the Heavenly Father, a heart we may misunderstand because of our concepts of fatherhood and relationship.
Consider the parable itself, the Rembrandt painting, and Nouwen’s personal experience. How have you “been” the younger son, the older son, or the father? What things might God want to address in your faith-life through this passage?
Test Yourself
Answer
Talk it Through
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1.5 God Is Relationship: Father
Apply the Discover, Share, Obey approach to Luke 15:11-32.
Consider the parable itself, the Rembrandt painting, and Nouwen’s personal experience. How have you “been” the younger son, the older son, or the father? What things might God want to address in your faith life through this passage? What is God saying through this passage? How does it impact my faith that God reveals Himself as Father? How should it change the way I live and think, and is there something tangible I can do this week to act on it? Who can I share these truths with?
Share some of your reflections in a brief paragraph.
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9 Replies
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I can’t help but relate to the father in this parable. I have gone through this with a son. I remember always holding my phone, waiting, hoping, longing, looking out the window, hoping for his return. I think on this and it’s more than a story. To realize God is so constant, while letting us do what we do, and our actions are not always good and wise…He’s constantly watching and waiting for us. His eyes are never off of us. He is so constant and solid. He celebrates our return without pause. That’s so merciful. He never fails us. So! Never take our eyes off Him. It’s really so simple.
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@gatewaystuff I was studying this parable recently and ran across this quote by Henri J. M. Nouwen that I thought you might appreciate:
“God rejoices. Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, nor because thousands of people have been converted and are now praising him for his goodness. No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found.”
He is always, and constantly looking for reasons to extend his mercy, but most importantly, reasons to share his joy.
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Until recently I actually never really felt like I could relate much to this story. I grew up as a Christian and never had one of those radical “turn to Jesus” moments. The last few months/year God has been speaking to me more about how I can relate to the prodigal son even as a Christian.
As I was reading and listening to Holy Spirit this time, God showed me how I can be like the older brother sometimes. I have been a faithful Christian my whole life, but I get caught up in the things of life and sometimes my faith can feel like I’m just going through the motions because that is what is expected of me. I should be grateful I never had to go through life without Jesus, instead of moping about how my relationship with Him should look more like X, Y, or Z.
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@JWasmuth thanks for your honesty. Your comments remind me of this quote regarding the older brother from Kenneth Bailey’s book, The Cross and the Prodigal: “The younger son was a rebel and knew it. His brother is a rebel and does not know it. He answers, ‘I have never disobeyed you.’” It’s great that you have enough self-awareness that you are able to name your own shortcomings regarding obedience and love of the Father.
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Like the younger son, I had to come completely to the end of myself before returning to the Father. How much more was the Father’s welcoming embrace. From that point on, every blessing from the Father is received with overwhelming gratitude. In order to truly receive and marvel at the Father’s love, the older son has to see his own brokenness and the fact that, in fact, he is no different than his younger brother. It reminds me of Jesus’s words that the one who has been forgiven much, loves much (e.g. Luke 7.47). The portrait of the older son also makes me think about how divided the body of Christ sometimes is. The older brother distances himself from his brother when he bitterly says “this son of yours” (Luke 11.30). The Father is pleading with him and this gives me a glimpse as to how brokenhearted God must be when He sees contention, competitiveness, and divisiveness in the church. The Father’s words “this brother of yours” (Luke 11.32) makes it clear that relationship is the key. He must be reconciled to his brother—sharing in the joy and celebration of the Father.
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I feel as though I can relate more to the younger son. I have definitely rebelled, as we all have. I didn’t try to work for salvation like the older brother, I was Luke warm. Knew the truth but didn’t live like it. I can see how it is tempting to want to work for your salvation, now that I take this seriously. But I turn to God and give Him my all, I try to lay everything on the table for Him, even though He already knows. I also remember a point in my life of hitting “rock bottom” so to say and turning my life to Him. I started to read my Bible faithfully and as I did that I became more sensitive and aware of the sins in my life. God is telling me in this passage to know that He loves and wants me. That all I need to do is go to Him and He is there, waiting for me with open arms.
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