PARABLES OF JESUS || The Lost Son
This is the first of the series - Parables of Jesus
Most of us are quite familiar with this parable and may have at one time or the other referenced it in conversations with family, friends or even ourselves. However, we shall take an intricate dive into what this Scripture really teaches and how these lessons relate to us.
In Luke 15, we see Jesus tell three parables revolving around the idea of being lost and how different reactions after finding the lost items are significantly important. For the purpose of this text, we shall focus on the Parable of The Lost Son.
Definition of Lost
I find it interesting that the English Language has quite a number of meanings for this word. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, something (a person) is lost when it is missing, unable to find its way, or ruined physically and morally. Also, it could refer to a situation where the said item (person) has no knowledge of where it is nor how to get to where it wants to go.
Viewing this from the human perspective, we can agree that anyone who has no true sense of purpose nor direction is undeniably lost. Let us then highlight four major lessons from this story Jesus narrated.
HUMAN CHOICES AND THE CONSEQUENCES
Verses 11 & 12 give us a glimpse to the choice the younger son made. Because he felt he could be independent of his Father, he asked for his property share. Reading further to verse 16, we see how clueless he was in the affairs of living and chose to spend all he had foolishly. The effect of this prodigal lifestyle led to his hunger and want.
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. — Luke 15: 13–14, NKJV.
It is obvious that every action we take outside the Father’s plan has consequences; whether great or small. Indeed, we have been given the ability to make choices by the One who created us. Yet, it is clear that not acting in accordance to His will for us begets nothing as we do not find our true purpose, direction or completion outside Him.
PENITENCE AND REPENTANCE
Let us read the passage below in order to highlight two distinct points:
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father… — Luke 15: 17–20, NKJV.
From the texts above, two striking things are evident. They are:
The younger son regretting his action
His resolve to return to his Father and the efforts to put that resolve to execution
In our lives, there may be times when we fall into sin and the Holy Spirit convicts and shows us our mistakes. During this period, we are encouraged to make efforts to retrace our steps back to God, rather than dwell in our shortcomings and allow them push us farther from a reconciliation with Him.
GOD ACCEPTS US IN OUR STATES OF TRUE REPENTANCE
But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here 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: 20–24, NKJV.
I find it fascinating that the father spotted his son coming even though he was a long way from home. Personally, it shows me that despite the son’s absence, he (the father) never gave up but constantly anticipated and waited for his return.
We also see that the son confessed his sins to his father, who in turn forgave him and celebrated as though nothing had happened. From this, we can learn that God will forgive us our transgressions if we genuinely make efforts to go back to Him and confess all our wrongdoings in a humble and contrite state of heart.
Let us also reminded about the importance of confession by this passage from the First letter of John.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. — 1 John 1: 8–9, NKJV.
THE LESSON OF SELFLESSNESS
Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ — Luke 15: 25–30, NKJV
At certain points of our lives, we see ourselves in the elder son, who was more concerned about not being celebrated for his ‘righteous’ ways than the return of his lost brother. His character stemmed from a selfish heart that only cared about itself and nothing more. However, we are reminded to live selflessly and care for those around us just as Christ did during His time on earth.
In addition, there is also a need to be genuinely happy at the repentance and conversion of others; whether they exist in our offices, churches, community etc. Rather than seeing people as undeserving of God’s forgiveness, let us be encouraged to spread the Gospel and pray for those we know who may be held bound in sin.
Side Note
The beginning of this chapter in Luke enunciates the sanctimony of the Pharisees and Scribes who grumbled at the fact that tax-collectors and outcasts gathered around Jesus to listen to Him. It was for their attitude that Jesus gave these parables to illustrate certain lessons; including the importance of humility and taking the lowly place always.