Flashback Episode — Reason to Celebrate: Luke 15:11-32

Probably one of the most famous illustrations that Jesus ever shared can be found in the passage we are covering in this episode. The parable of the prodigal son is one of the clearest examples of God’s love and His character when faced with rebellious children.

However, while the name suggests that the son who ran away is the main character, when we read this parable with God in mind, it’s possible, perhaps even probable, that a different character in this parable is the real “main” character. In some ways, this parable might be more accurate if its title focused on the character Jesus intended us to focus on.

The prodigal son parable we will be reading is found in the gospel of Luke, chapter fifteen, and we will read it from the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 11:

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 

Let’s pause here after the first verse to point our attention to the detail that Jesus opens with. The first character that is identified is the father. He is the “man with two sons”. Let’s continue reading to learn what happens. Continuing from verse 12:

¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

This parable is powerful. In it we see the father in an almost no win situation. The youngest son basically insults him by asking for his inheritance before his father’s death – and with his inheritance, he leaves town which is a visible rejection of their family. For a time, the father is only with the older son.

However, after the younger son returns home, the older son reveals his heart by refusing to go in. When his father asks him why, the older son says that he basically feels as though he has been equivalent to an obedient slave, and nothing more.

In some ways, this parable should be titled “The Parable of the Loving Father”. This title would present a clearer meaning for those interested in seeing the focus.

But this parable’s current title is also significant. By drawing our focus onto the younger son who left but also returned, we place the focus on God’s power and willingness to forgive. Following what would have been the biggest insult a child could ever give to their parents, the father in this story forgives and celebrates the moment he has with his son who had returned.

Neither one of the children understand this. The older son is bitter because in his mind, the younger son should be punished not rewarded. But what the older son misses in his mind is the fact that the younger son has already been punished by the world. The reward the younger son receives is because he returned to his senses and decided to come home. That decision is one of the primary reasons the father wants to celebrate.

The younger son doesn’t understand this celebration either. He has matured enough to realize his offense and knows that he doesn’t even deserve to make eye contact with his father. While he begins his apology for his earlier actions, the father basically ignores what is said. The young man’s posture and attitude has said enough. The father can clearly see that his younger son has learned from his mistakes and that education is worth celebrating.

For each of us, we can learn from the father’s celebration. We can learn that celebrating can and should happen when people make a decision to return to God. When someone has turned or returned to God, either through a profession of faith or through baptism, heaven celebrates – and we can too. Also, when someone has learned a valuable life lesson and has decided to repent from their sin and mistakes, heaven celebrates – and we can too.

With both of these reasons to celebrate, as we close out our episode for this week, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally place God first in your life. If you see someone else make a decision for God, celebrate with them for their decision.

Also, as I regularly challenge you to do, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to continue growing your relationship with God. God wants a personal relationship with you, but He is waiting like the Father for us to return to Him. Other people cannot drag you into a relationship with God; it is instead 100% our choice whether we will return to Him and grow a relationship with Him.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or turn away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!