One of Jesus’ best-loved parables is the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Jesus told it to people who were asking why He welcomed sinners and ate with them. His answer was a story about a lost son and a father who never stopped waiting for him.
Leaving home
The younger son asks for his share of the inheritance and leaves for a distant country, where he wastes everything. At his lowest point he comes to his senses and makes a decision: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” (Luke 15:18). True repentance begins right here: when we recognise where we are and decide to go home.
Perhaps we too have drifted away from God, through wrong choices or simple indifference. The good news of this parable is that the road home is still open.
The father who runs
The most moving part of the story is not about the son, but about the father: “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20). In that culture, a respectable man did not run. But this father forgets his dignity, because his love is greater.
In this way Jesus shows us what God is like: not a cold judge waiting to punish us, but a Father who seeks us, forgives us and welcomes us with joy.
A celebration for the one who was found
The father throws a celebration and explains why: “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24). Jesus says that in the same way there is joy in heaven over every person who returns to God.
The parable also has an older son who refuses to rejoice. He reminds us that we can be “at home” and still far from the Father’s heart. God invites both sons to the table, and He invites us too.
For reflection
Do you see yourself more in the younger son or the older son? What does this parable tell you about how God sees you? Read the whole of Luke 15 and notice how each of the three parables ends.
Bible verses are quoted from the King James Version.