Jesus of Nazareth told simple stories to communicate profound spiritual truths.  One of the most familiar and endearing examples is the parable of the prodigal son. It is a tale of self-destruction and redemption, told in two parts.  Part one goes like this:

And [Jesus] said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his 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.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.  __Luke 15:11-24

The initial focus is on a narcissistic, pleasure-seeking young man who can’t wait to get out from under his father’s roof and experience all that the world has to offer.  He is a selfish, inconsiderate, irresponsible ingrate.  This worthless son blows through his entire inheritance without a single thought, even for his own future.  When trouble comes (as it inevitably does), he is completely unprepared.

Jobs are scarce and he has no skills, so he winds up begging for work slopping hogs. Pathetically, he soon finds himself envying them their scraps of garbage.  Could he possibly sink any lower?  Feeling sorry for himself, he decides to go back home and apologize, in the hope that dear old dad will take him on as a hired hand.  At least that way, he won’t starve.  He practices a little speech while slinking back home, tail between his legs.

His father would have been completely justified in disowning junior.  He had every right to say, “I had two sons, but the younger one, the big shot, is dead or at least, he’s dead to me.  You look (and smell) like a swineherd.  You cannot possibly be my long lost son.  As it happens, I’m fully staffed anyway, so you may as well beat it.”

That’s what this kid deserved, but it’s not the treatment he received.  Why not?

It seems pretty clear that the father dearly loved his foolish and wayward son.  He spotted his filthy and half-starved boy from “a great way off”—a telltale sign that dad was already peering down the road, hoping for a glimpse of him. No doubt he had kept vigil every day since the young man took off.

Only someone with intimate knowledge of the lad could have recognized him at that distance, with little more than his gait and his size and shape to go on.  As the boy shambled along barefoot, hanging his head and dreading his father’s reaction, the father felt only compassion for the pitiful figure stumbling up the lane.

No longer able to bear the anticipation (and/or to spare his prodigal son further awkwardness and embarrassment), the father “ran” toward his dishonorable and disloyal son, and “fell on” him, embracing and kissing the filthy young man without restraint.  But this is only the start.  The father orders a servant to fetch the best suit in his closet for his son and shoes for his feet.  He orders the family ring to be restored to the son’s hand, a poignant symbol of full acceptance.  To the son’s great amazement and relief, there are no I told you so’s, no shaming, no recriminations, no punishment and no rejection.

More orders fly from the father’s lips—‘prepare the feast, we’re going to celebrate!’ “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”  Note that although dinner was a long way off, “they began to be merry” at once—it just couldn’t wait.  But there is a twist.  In part two we learn that not everyone is turning handsprings over the younger son’s return:

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.  __Luke 15:25-32

The faithful brother does not share his father’s eagerness to welcome back his erstwhile sibling, much less throw him a party.  He refuses to go in, unwilling to add his personal endorsement to this tawdry travesty.  So, the father leaves the festivities and goes out to him, pleading with him to join the celebration.  But the loyal son is indignant for both their sakes and accuses the father of favoritism. He hotly refers to his brother as “this son of yours,” and is quick to contrast his own behavior with that of the honoree, whom he alleges “hath devoured thy living with prostitutes.”

The “good” brother’s attitude while understandable, misses the point.  The father loves both his sons and explains this to the elder brother in the same words as he had used with the younger: “For this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” Notice, too, the gentle correction, from the older brother’s angry “this thy son,” to the father’s “this thy brother.”

What made the ne’er do well son worthy of forgiveness and full reinstatement?  In a word, nothing.  The merit was all on the father’s side.  This son, being morally and monetarily bankrupt, was powerless to support himself, much less to repay his father’s kindness.  His was a debt that could never be discharged.  Yet the father lavished his love on the undeserving son, granting him favor as a free gift.

The young man repented (turned back) to his dad and confessed his transgressions, admitting: “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.” He acknowledged his lost condition and the separation his offenses had caused: “and [I] am no more worthy to be called thy son.”  To his great astonishment, he received grace, instead of the judgment and wrath he was expecting.  Yet, in humbling himself and submitting to the father’s authority once again, this sinful son did not ask for forgiveness.  Why?

Clearly he did not feel worthy (and indeed, he was not).  But just as clearly, he didn’t believe a pardon was available.  Instead, he assumed that, given the magnitude of his sin and his wicked motives, there could be no absolution.  But, he had underestimated his father, and the father’s love and willingness to forgive.  His older brother did, too.

The elder son had misunderstood.  He thought that a place in the father’s household was earned, based on a strong track record of good conduct and attendance awards, of doing the homework and making high marks.  He was outraged at the seeming impropriety of the father’s clemency, and felt that it had come too cheaply.  Was the old man really going to take his shiftless brother back and go on as if the past were forgotten?  He was.

“But, that’s not fair!” we can almost hear the older brother wail.  No, thank God, it’s not.  Fairness would demand that we get what we deserve, that God should give us exactly what’s coming to us—no excuses, no appeals.  Yet God has chosen not to treat us as our sins deserve, but according to His compassion and unmerited favor:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).

What about you? Does the hope of eternal life burn bright inside of you?  Does the assurance of salvation fill your soul with comfort, joy, peace and the love of God?  Or, do you, like the prodigal child, need another chance?  If so, have you heard and believed the gospel: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (I Corinthians 15:3,4)?

You have every right and reason to believe it, according to the Bible: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Romans 1:16).

God the Father has compassion on you.  He stands on tiptoe even now, peering toward the horizon, His longing eyes straining for any sign of you.  He eagerly waits to forgive your sins, and He is just in doing so, because Jesus paid for all of them.  God is faithful to grant you a full pardon and to welcome you home with great rejoicing.

Will you come?  Will you humble yourself, acknowledge your transgressions, trust in Jesus as your Savior and confess that He is Lord?  Will you demonstrate your surrender to Him by repenting of (turning from) your sins?  Are you ready and willing to depend on the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out and produce His fruit in your life?  Call on the name of the Lord.  Call now, this very minute.

Then let me be among the very first to welcome you. The holy angels have looked forward to this moment for ages. Trust me—it’s going to be QUITE the party!