The Father's Love

By Pastor Jeffrey Smith 

Large numbers of people were drawn to Jesus and his teachings throughout the Gospels. The religious leaders of the day were repulsed by the types of people that followed Jesus...tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes, and other kinds of “questionable” people.  Jesus exemplified the heart of the Father to the world around him. He responded to the Pharisees with a story.

In Luke 15:11-31 Jesus shared a parable of the Prodigal Son.  The story begins with a  younger son boldly demanding his father to release his share of the inheritance early.  In Jewish culture, this type of request implied that the son wished his father was already dead. Surprisingly, the father granted his son’s request.  He divided his life between his two sons. The younger son travels off to a far land to begin his journey of wild living and self-discovery.  

Eventually, his excessive living catches up with him and his resources and friends disappear.  The younger son rebelled against his father, sought his own interests and lost everything.  He found a measly job tending pigs and reached an ultimate low when the pods he fed to the pigs looked appetizing.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Luke 15:17-18

He came to his senses and realized that he had a better life in his father’s household. He needed to make things right with his father, and own up to his mistakes. The runaway son began his trek back home. 

The Bible says, that while the younger son was still a far way off the father ran to him, and embraced him. Patriarchs of this middle eastern culture never ran because it was beneath them. This father risked his reputation for expressing his love and joy over his lost son returning home.   

The son repents and asks to be a hired servant to work off the debt he owed. The father refused his request to repay the debt and restored him back to the place where he belonged, as his beloved son.  He gives him a new robe and ring on his finger and throws a huge feast in his honor.

Our Heavenly father is the same way. We may royally ruin our lives by our own doing, but when we repent He restores us to our true place as His children.   When we recognize our need for the Father, He welcomes us with open arms.