Oh, how I like to read about the parable of the Prodigal Son. The story characterizes the love of a forgiving father, who remains constant throughout the parable. Jesus sets the scene for us from the beginning as he says, “A certain man had two sons.” Let’s investigate shall we.

Starting with the younger son, we know his story, we’ve seen movie after movie, depicting foolish ambition to be independent, covetousness, and a lesson in the most valuable things in life are the things we cannot buy or replace. The story goes on to share that the younger son travels to a distant country. In this foreign land he squanders all his inheritance on selfish and shallow fulfillment that eventually leads to losing everything.

His financial disaster is followed by a natural disaster in the form of famine, which he never saw coming or planned for. At this point he hires himself out to a Gentile and finds himself feeding pigs. He was so hungry that he longed to eat the pig’s food. As he toils in the Pig pen, he came to his senses. It was at that point that he was going home to admit his sin and prepare to fall at his father’s feet and beg for mercy.

In the parable the father sees his son coming and was filled with compassion.  Can you hear him saying, “my boy’s home. Bring him the best robe, this is a sign of dignity and honor, Ring for his fingers, as a sign of authority and sonship, and Sandals for his feet.” Daddy didn’t stop there, as he orders the fattest calf to be prepared because they were going to party hardy in celebration of his sons return.

Now let’s turn our attention to the other son, who was obedient and never gave his father any trouble. In scripture we see him coming from the field, hearing loud music and saw dancing from afar. Can you hear him thinking out loud as he says, what we are celebrating today? He finds out from one of the servants that his youngest brother has come home, and what he was hearing was the sound of jubilation.

But what did the older brother do? He became angry and refuses to go into the house. It’s obvious that he wanted no part of this party, especially when he found out who the guest of honor was.  I can hear his thoughts in my imagination saying, “that brother of mine is selfish, reckless, and always giving our father the blues with his poor choices and demands. Who does he think he is telling daddy what he wants now! Why does he make such a big fuss about him coming home? I don’t see what’s so great about him showing back up! I don’t want to celebrate him. I wish he would just go back to where he came from.

But look at his father, who recognizes his eldest son’s displeasure, as he pleads with him to come in the house. We see this is the son’s chance to express out loud what his grievances are. He said, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattest calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

This reminds me of how God celebrates us when we come to salvation: from death to life, and from lost to found. When I think about it friends, isn’t that a reason to celebrate? It’s a new life, new way of doing things, new thoughts, and a whole new point view.

The son’s father shows them both compassion and understanding where they need it the most. Perhaps there is a deeper lesson to be learned for our star, the other son, one that requires him to think about important of forgiveness.  Yes, he was always following the rules. Yes, he made good choices that his family could be proud of. And yes, he didn’t give his daddy any trouble. Thinking deeper, John 2:9 comes to mind, it says, “anyone who claims to be in the light, but hates his brother is still in the dark.” Amen.

Remember we are each others keep, and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.