The
‘Parable of the Prodigal Son’ may well be a misnomer. It could be the ‘Parable
of the Prodigal Sons’ (plural). We customarily see the insolent younger
son as being the center figure in this story, but in fact, it is the Father. The
second most important figure is the eldest son! Surprised?
In
telling this parable, Jesus ended the story at the point adequate to accent and
demonstrate the recovered prodigal (younger) son, and the Father’s love, but
also to expose the hidden darkness in the heart and mind of the eldest son who
thought and believed he was so faithful, loving and loyal.
Jesus
stopped there, but using your imagination and keen understanding of human
nature, especially of you, yourself, let’s go a bit further. What do you
imagine might have been the remaining scenes of this story, and what would you
envision as its typical conclusion? If you were making a movie production using
this storyline, and knowledge of your own personality, what would movie goers
see on the screen of your imagination?? Of course, only you and God can see
your movie.
The
eldest son in the parable was apparently blind to the realization that his
brother’s (‘this son of yours’) prodigal experience had successfully ended, and
his own prodigal heart was uncloaked and exposed. Thus began his own personal
prodigal experience! His mind and heart were apparently not faithful or in sync
with those of his Father, and he was rather hostile and unforgiving toward his
brother. Yet he thought he was A-Ok with Dad because he apparently had not
accepted/spent his share of the family inheritance (which, according to
reported customs of the day, was twice the share of the younger brother).
With
this insight, the first core message of the parable is that both sons
were prodigals, not only the younger son. This point is reflective of
all of God’s sons. While all humanity is God’s creation, not all humanity are
His sons. ‘Sonship’ is a special, ‘new species’ of humans who experience spiritual
re-birth available only through faith in Christ as Savior. This is the
iterative love message of The Bible. Of God’s sons, only Jesus, the first ‘re-born’
Son of God (Hebrews 1:5), has been totally faithful (non-prodigal). To that
we all agree. Thus, all the rest of us either have been, are, or will be
prodigals at one time and in one sense or another -- i.e., not fully faithful
(UN-faithful) in our Christian walk, though pride may lead some to take
exception to this statement.
The
second core message highlights the awesome and unwavering love of the Father
for His sons during every phase of their prodigal experiences. This is
reflective to all of God’s sons since God loves all His sons as
much as He loves Jesus. (John 17:23) So as noted above, the ‘Parable of
the Prodigal Son’ may well be a misnomer. It could be the ‘Parable of the
Prodigal Sons’ (plural), but it is best referred to as the ‘Parable of The
Father’s Love’, or ‘Parable of The Loving Father’.
Key: Since
all re-born humans (Christians) either have been, are currently, or will become
prodigals at some point and in some manner, we should be attentive re. how we
treat prodigals, whether during, and especially after our ‘wayward’
(unfaithful) experience(s). According to the spiritual Law of Reaping and
Sowing, the manner in which we think/talk about and respond to God’s prodigal
sons -- of which I certainly am one, will be reflected on the canvas and in the
video of…
…your own
prodigal experience(s).
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