THE PRODIGAL: THE BIGGER PICTURE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Luke 15:31-32

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The oldest son just couldn’t understand what was happening.

He was doing what he did every day, working in the fields for his father, when he heard music coming from the house. I’m sure he must of wondered what was going on because his father hadn’t mentioned anything about a celebration that day.

And so the eldest boy left the fields to go and see what all the commotion was about. Along the way, he ran into one of his father’s servants and asked him what was happening, at which time the servant told the son that his younger brother had returned home and that his father had ordered the fattened calf to be killed, symbolizing a great feast was about to happen since his lost son had returned safe and sound.

This was something the older brother could not stand for, not in the least. His father even came to him and tried to get him to come in from the fields to join the celebration but the son would have nothing of it. Instead, he became indignant with his father, disrespectfully questioning his judgment in deciding to do what he was doing for a son who had went off and squandered the property given to him. Of course, the older son framed this in such a way to make himself look superior to his brother because he had remained with the father, laboring in the fields. Consumed by his own self importance, the eldest son had hardened his heart in such a way that he was not willing to see the bigger picture of what was going on. As we finish this series on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we find the father trying to open the eyes of his angry, jealous boy to that bigger picture. Look at his words again here:

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  Luke 15:31-32

What do we see in these words?

The same level of love and compassion shown to the younger brother at his return. Just as he had before, the father could have become angered at his older son for his sinful, self centeredness but he didn’t. Instead the father reminded his son how much he cared for him, how much he cherished him. The party for his little brother didn’t change that but as the father reminds him, it was necessary to rejoice and be happy, for his brother who was once dead was alive; once lost, he was now found.

That was the bigger picture of things and indeed, the young son’s realization he had sinned against his father, his return to repent, and his father’s willing acceptance of him meant more than any party thrown, more than any robe and signet ring placed on the prodigal, more than any fattened calf sacrificed to provide the celebration feast.

This truth has remained through the ages since Jesus told this parable. For there is much rejoicing in the heaven when anyone who has been lost, destined for death because of their sins, choose to come to God the Father, repent, and seek His mercy, grace, and pardon through His Son, Jesus Christ.

And if the heavens can rejoice at this, so can we and we will if we simply keep our eyes on the bigger picture.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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