Verse 12 Remember that this was basically the equivalent of saying “ I wish you were dead.”
- Upon receiving such a request it would have been customary for the father to beat his son or perhaps cut him off from the family.
- But it certainly would have been appropriate for the Father to have said no and refuse to divide his estate.
- If we choose to turn our back on God and His ways he will not prevent us from doing that.
Verse 13 Remember as we talked about last week this verse implies that the prodigal sold the land to raise cash before heading off. Further insult to the Father.
Verse 20 Remember from last week Even today a distinguished Middle Eastern patriarch in robes does not run, but always walks in a slow dignified manner.
- The Father sees past our sins, He sees past our scars, he sees past our broken identity, he sees past our pig poo. He sees past our physical appearance and uncleanness.
- The Father is so perfect in his own identity that He is not affected by our shame, guilt, and sin.
- Him giving grace to us does not take away or tarnish who He is.
- How you understand the heavenly Father and His radical forgiveness shapes our own identity.
Verse 22 All of these items that Father gives to the prodigal represent full reinstatement into the family.
- The best robe was probably the father’s own, since the patriarch had the finest robe in the house.
- The robe was a symbol of honor and royal authority.
- The ring was probably a signet ring indicating membership and authority in the family.
- Sandals distinguished sons from servants.
- The picture here is one of total restoration into the family and the Father’s house.
- This is before he proved he was “trustworthy” to receive this restoration. He didn’t have to earn any of this.
- When we think about coming back and having everything restored we might be tempted to think, “what if the Father runs out, there can only be so much ‘land’ left.”
- God the Father is without limit. So He can keep restoring everything as many times as He needs to.
Verse 23 Now if all of that has not been enough the Father now orders a big party.
- The preparations also appear to have been begun immediately. No waiting to see if the son ‘deserved’ this.
- This fattened calf represented a special animal that would have been selected and fed for a special occasion such as a wedding feast or religious holiday.
- The Father presents the son to everyone as fully restored, wearing the robe, the ring on the finger, sandals on the feet as if nothing had ever happened.
- The Father wants to show us off in our completely restored state.
- Joy, this verse also shows us the crazy joy the Father has for us.
This is where our identity comes from.
- Getting the proper view of who the Father is. How much He loves you.
- How much He wants to restore what life and the enemy haven taken.
- How much he just wants to rejoice over you.
- We just have to receive it, not work at it, not strive for it, not earn it.
Verse 24The son here has come back to life, you could literally say that he has been resurrected.
- When the son was living life his way he was dead.
- Of course, this verse is also a prophetic statement for what Jesus does for us on the cross.
Conclusion:
- It starts with that simple act of repentance turning back to God and acknowledging that our way was wrong.
- The Father runs to us, unashamedly, throwing himself around us and kissing us affectionately.