During the season of Lent our devotions have been written by members of Faith Lutheran Church. Today’s writer is Clayton Faulkner.
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24
We are all familiar with the story of the prodigal son. We’ve heard it before and know it like the back of our hand. But what if I told you that the truly shocking part of this story is not the Father’s loving embrace of the wayward son, but what happens next.
The older son becomes angry. He complains that “this son of yours” doesn’t deserve the love and attention he is receiving. Why is this so shocking?
In the culture that this story takes place, a mediator would normally have resolved a village quarrel like the one between the father and the youngest son. The mediator would have been chosen based on their relationship to both parties; they would serve as a “go-between” the two parties. The older son would have been the ideal candidate. It would have been the older son’s job to mediate between father and younger son and keep the bonds of the family intact.
However, in this parable we see that the truly prodigal son is the older one. He refuses to accept the lavish love the father bestows on his children.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, our true Elder Brother, who reconciles us to you through faith in him. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
Leave a Reply