Beloved, if God so
loved us, we ought also to love one another.
I John 4:11
Many of us have
heard about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. A captivating
story about the magnanimity of a father’s love for his sons. There
was an interesting twist in the parable - the elder brother who was
unable to comprehend the heart of the father. He was very
unforgiving and unloving.
I would like to
tell another edition of this parable, which is a true-life
story.
A man had two
sons. When the younger told his Father, "I want my share of Your
estate now. I cannot wait till You die!" His Father agreed to divide
His wealth between His sons. A few days later this younger son
packed all his belongings and took a trip to a land far far away.
There he squandered all his money on parties and prostitutes.
About the time
his money was gone, a great famine swept over the land. He began to
starve, and persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs.
The boy became so hungry that even the food he was feeding the swine
looked better, delicious and yummy. Nobody gave him anything. Nobody
loved him nor took pity on him.
Meanwhile back
in his Father’s home, the Father was grieved over His lost child.
The Elder Son then asked the Father, "Dad, please send Me to seek
and find My lost brother. I will bring him safely back to You." The
Father was overjoyed at this request. He sent Him.
The Elder
Brother searched for a few years before He finally found His younger
brother in the sty -altogether filthy, foul-smelling and famished.
He threw off all restraints and went ahead to embrace him. Both
wept. The Elder Brother immediately gave him some food and water. He
then helped him to clean up and gave him His own clean elegant
clothing while He Himself put on the dirty and filthy rags. He even
gave him His jeweled ring and His leather shoes!
They then
returned home to their Father. And while they were still a long
distance away, their Father saw them coming. He was overjoyed with
loving compassion and ran towards the younger one. He embraced and
kissed him. About a thousand of His holy servants saw this sight.
They broke forth rejoicing and singing praises!
His younger son
then said to Him, "Father, I have sinned against You, and am not
worthy to be called Your son…" But his Father, as if not hearing
what he had spoken, said to His Elder Son, 'Quick! Kill the fattest
calf we have in the ranch. We must celebrate with a feast, for this
son of Mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is
found.' So the party began. The Elder Brother lovingly took great
delight in preparing the welcoming feast. There was unspeakable joy
as they celebrated dancing and singing through the night.
It is right to
celebrate. For the lost son was dead and has come back to life! He
was lost and is found!
Jesus
is our Elder Brother. He came to seek the lost. God so loved all of
us who are lost in our sins that He sent His only begotten
Son to seek us out so that we could return back to Him and live the
abundant life in Him.
The gospel is
not about believers going to heaven and non-believers going to hell.
It is about a loving Heavenly Father Who longs for His lost sons to
return back to Him. The Elder Brother had come. But some of the lost
brothers were unrepentant. Instead of being grateful, they turned
around and killed their Elder Brother. They crucified and hang Him
upon a cruel cross.