Another Look at the Prodigal Son

The story of the Prodigal Son has long been one of Jesus’ most beloved parables. Maybe its because it is easy to put ourselves in the shoes of the wayward son who came to his senses and returned to his Father’s house. We love to hear of the father in the story run to welcome him back with a kiss and a celebration. His love for his son eclipsed any hard feelings or grudges. He didn’t put him on probation or anything. He just had compassion and restored his son to the place he held before he left.

This did not set well with the older brother. It seems that this son harbored a deep resentment against his wayward brother. He also seems to carry a deep complaint against his father as well. It all comes to the surface when he says; '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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

When Jesus teaches a parable, He doesn’t always interpret the meaning for us. He leaves it up to us to process and work on it. This is how our hearts are changed by the Word of God.

In recent weeks, I have been seeing something in this story that I had never seen before.Have you ever thought about the father in the story? He has two sons who are miles apart from one another. One is irresponsible and immoral. He has the gall to go to his father and request his inheritance so he can run off and party. What a hurtful thing to say.

The other son seems responsible and serves his father. But there is a problem. In his heart he feels like a slave. He isn’t happy in the father’s house. He feels that he is missing out on something. When he sees his father kill the fatted calf and throw a party for his brother, he thinks his father has lost his mind. He thinks his brother deserves justice, not mercy.

When you think about the plight of the father, you also see that he has two sons who are really far away in their hearts from him. He loves his sons but they fail to connect with him in a way that is noble and praiseworthy. They don’t reflect well upon this good man.

Could Jesus be telling us a story about His Father in heaven? Of course He is. But the moral of the story runs deeper than the truth that the Father receives back the rebellious son.

If this story is about His Father, why are his sons at one another’s throats? Where does their discontent with their Father come from? Why does one want to leave home and the other feels like a slave in the house? What are they missing in their understanding of their Father’s love and plans?

I see people everywhere just like these boys. They claim that they are in the Father’s house but by their behavior, it is obvious that they are not “at home” there. They are looking for fulfillment in the world. Some “go to church” because they are expected to or feel that it is the right thing to do. But is it really where their heart is? Some have decided to just go their own way to look for their happiness somewhere else.

Maybe there is another Son in the story that is not mentioned in Luke’s Gospel. I know Jesus said specifically that “there was a man who had two sons.” However, there is another story that runs parallel to the Prodigal Son.

The Gospel is a story that could be read this way. God creates the heavens and the earth. He creates man with the intention that he would be given dominion to rule it. (Genesis 1:26). But Adam fumbles his dominion and Satan recovers it. Adam loses his exalted place and falls deep into darkness and sin. Instead of ruling, he becomes the one who is ruled over.

We must realize that Adam was the federal head of the human race. He represents the sum total of mankind so that when he fell, so did the rest of us. All of us are bearing the consequences of Adam’s sin. Death itself is the consequence of his sin.
But God had a secret plan. He would send His Son who would be born of a woman and become a man. He would be qualified to rule and have dominion as Adam was commissioned by God to do.

Lets go back to the story of the prodigal son. Is it not the role of the father to raise his sons so that they might be his heirs and continue to carry on the family legacy for generations to come? The father must train and discipline his sons so that they might fully comprehend the higher purpose for life. Without that, they are doomed to fail the purpose of God for their family. In the story, the sons were heirs but neither of them seemed to be captured by the glory and wonder of their father’s desire for them.

It is easy to see the consequences of the fall. Adam and his seed are corrupt to the bone. But God has another Son, His only begotten Son, in whom He is well pleased. Where Adam failed to follow through on God’s plan for humanity, Jesus is qualified and fully prepared to assume full sonship responsibilities and duties that are essential to ruling and reigning God’s creation. Christ has the necessary heart, love and righteousness that Adam never had. Jesus Christ has become the Last Adam and the Second Man, the federal head of the New Creation. (See 1 Corinthians 15). He is worthy to receive glory and dominion, forever and ever! (Revelation1:6).

The world is crumbling under the corrupt rule of fallen man. History is rife with disasters caused by evil kings, dictators, tyrants and rulers. Our founding fathers possessed a strong distrust of consolidated political power so they devised the Constitution to keep power in check and close to the people. The Bible predicts a one world government confederation will emerge and a wicked and cruel leader will have global dominion before the Lord returns. Christ’s return will be in large part and answer to prayer by those who cry out “Come quickly Lord Jesus, come and establish Your Kingdom on the earth.”

At this present time, God is laying the foundation for the Age to Come. The primary difference from the present age will be who sets the agenda for the earth. Finally, God’s original plan for His creation will see its fulfillment. Man, under the leadership of Jesus Christ, will have dominion, and will do so in righteousness and justice. He will lead the human race to its glorious destiny.

What does the story of the prodigal son have to say to us? We are supposed to rule and reign with Him. We are also heirs with Christ, sons of God, even His bride. God cannot be satisfied with a family who is constantly fighting with one another and does not find their highest joy and happiness in being in the Father’s house. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the church today. We are being trained and disciplined for our next assignments in the Age to Come. The Spirit is working on our character and at the same time, helping us connect to our Father’s love, so that the story of the prodigal son doesn’t repeat itself.

I would like to leave you with three questions to ponder.

First of all, how “at home” do you feel in the Father’s house? I did not say “in your church.” When we are truly “at home”, we are joyfully loyal and dedicated to the Father’s purposes and plans. We have settled it once and for all that we are going to do life His way. We are not secretly looking other places for fulfillment and happiness. We know that lasting joy and contentment can only be found the Father’s house.

Secondly, has it been settled in your heart that the purpose for this life is to prepare us for the Age to Come? If so, we should see our lives as a kind of internship, where we are learning the disciplines and ways of the Coming Age. Has this become a part of your prayer life?

And thirdly, what about your love and trust in and for the Father? Do you misread Him like the two sons in the story or have you come to the place where you can rejoice in His wisdom and purposes?

Jesus is the Son in whom the Father is well pleased. He is giving us the opportunity to follow in His steps.

The picture above is "The Return of the Prodigal Son" by Rembrant