Back in the day, there was a popular Christian song by Benny Hester called, “When God Ran.” I enjoyed it at the time, but I didn’t really grasp its deep truth until much later in my life.
I had been taught that the story of the “prodigal son” in Luke 15 was a cautionary tale — “don’t be that guy!” Take note of his scandalous behavior and hedonistic values and instead, be like the older brother. It was some time before the “elephant in the room” was addressed: that the older brother also had his own set of issues. But that hit a bit too close to home! And then Tim Keller wrote a book called “The Prodigal God.”
This was an entirely new idea, that it was the father in the story who really had the scandalous and reckless behavior (which is what “prodigal” means). That an ancient near-eastern man of status and dignity would gather up his tunic and run was an outrageous part of the story I had missed. In an honor-shame culture, a man who had been wronged and would care only that his beloved son had come home stopped me in my tracks.
What is Jesus doing in this parable? The context gives us a big clue: “By this time a lot of men and women of questionable reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, ‘He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.’ Their grumbling triggered this story” (Luke 15:1-3). In a series of three parables, Jesus tells us what his father is really like. He is a God whose untiring love runs after us until we are found and home again.
May the breath-taking love of God fill us and overflow to those around us who are trying to find their way back home.
Carol