THE FATHER OF THE TWO LOST SONS
“Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on
his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf 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: 22-24).
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Jesus Christ was a master story teller. His parables contain dramatic action and interesting
characters that have touched people's lives of all ages for two millennia. Surprisingly, His parables offer
minimal details on what the stories are all about. Often, Jesus provided no clear explanation for His stories,
leaving them open to multiple interpretations by His readers.
Some respected writers of the Bible claim that one third of Jesus Christ's recorded teachings are in the
form of parables. Who could have not heard or read of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? The pearl of
Great Price, Counting the Cost, sheep and goats, the Rich man and Lazarus and the Mustard Seed which
pictures the spectacular growth of God's kingdom from a small beginning to ultimately encompass the
endless universal system of God's creation?
The numerous parables of Jesus Christ in the New Testament are among the most powerful ideas ever
to come out of the literary landscape around the world. Nearly 2,000 years after Jesus gave them to us they
still sparkle with simple yet sublime insights about life and a stunning revelation about the Kingdom of God.
Most often the parables of Christ centers on the most talked about subjects that fascinate the
people of his time. They come in the form of capsulized legends, epics, riddles, and wise sayings. Bible
scholars say they may also come in the form of Bible histories, short speeches and letters in the Bible.
But what exactly are parables? Bible interpreter C.H. Dodd in his 1935 classic Parables of the
Kingdom, defined a parable as "a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life arresting the hearer
by its vividness or strangeness leaving the mind sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into
active thought".
Some say, Jesus purposely used parables to hide the true intended meaning behind the story. There is
significant truth to this allegation because in Matthew 13 verses 10 to 12 it says, And the disciples came unto
Him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto
you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath to him
shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away
even that he hath".
"Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not and because they hear not neither
do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which saiath, “By hearing ye shall hear
and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive. For these people's heart is waxed
gross, and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed: lest at anytime they should see with
their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I
should heal them" (Matthew 13:13-15). "But blessed are your eyes for they see: and your ears for they
hear. For verily, I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which
you see and have not seen them: And to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them"
(Matthew 13: 16-17).
The parable of the two lost sons is actually a story of a father's forever loving heart. It gives us a
glimpse of God's unique tender love and care to His rebellious children. Jesus Christ openly revealed also to
His audience that part of His sacred mission was to introduce a new name for God, the greatest and the most
wonderful name of all - Father.
There were two boys in the story. Of the two, the wayward prodigal is by far the most adventurous,
the most honest and open minded. We might even venture to say, he is the most likeable, the most
attractive but also the most typical representation of a rebellious child. The other on the other hand, could
be the most religious, a homebody and a silent worker in the farm. It is however sad to note that the two boys
were equally lost- the prodigal amongst the pigs and the other in his pew. The father unconditionally loved
them both.
The story would give us, somehow, a background of the family's history. It would seem to show that
the mother died when she give birth to the youngest child or maybe she passed away when the
youngest child was yet in his tender years and the two boys had even stood with their grieving father on her
grave. But one thing we know for sure, with several servants around they must be better off in life.
The parable account tells us there was a certain man who had two sons. And the younger of
them said to his father. "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me". And he divided unto
them his living. And not many days after the youngest son gathered all together, and took his journey unto a
far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living (Luke 15:12-13). “And when he had spent
all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a
citizen of that country; and he sent him unto his fields to feed swine. And he would fain (be compelled) have
filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him" And when he came to
himself, he said, "How many hired servants of my fathers have bread enough and to spare, and here I perish
with hunger" (Luke 15:14-17).
In the midst of his affliction, the adventurous son was given enough time to make an inventory of
him in the pig pen. Never before had he ever felt so miserable and lonely. With no one else to turn to in a
foreign land so far away from home, his deplorable situation drove back his memory to the kind of life he
have had once in his father's house. Literally, in the midst of the intolerable smell of pigs wallowing in the
mud he was not only physically hungry but spiritually thirsty as well.
And for the first time, his heart engulfed with a feeling of emptiness coupled with an intense
longing for the love and affection of his father, he hungered once more for his warmth embrace every time he
hugged him closed to his heart even for those little things that caused him discomfort when he was still
young. Now he remembered how his father would personally attend to their need, cloth them with the best
apparel in town and even those uncalled for display of endearment that only a loving father can give now
vividly flashes back to his mind. It was a life he will always cherish and remember. He could ask for nothing
more.
His soul-searching brought him back to his senses and saw things differently. His disgraceful
condition opened his eyes to the reality that it doesn't pay at all to close our ears from the advice of our
elders. His eyes roamed at the direction far away south where his beloved homeland lay in wait for his
return. Remembered his father by the roadside with tears flowing in his eyes the day he bid him farewell.
Now he knew how deep the hurt he must have caused his father's feeling. For the first time, he looked
up in high heavens and clinch his fist in a sincere gesture of repentance and asked forgiveness for all the sins
he had committed. He decided to turn his way back home and swallow the remaining pride he may still have
in his pitiful being.
"I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father I have sinned against heaven and before
thee and I am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants". And he arose and
came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran
and fell on his back and kissed him” (Luke 15:18- 20). All the while, since he went away his father would
gaze at the direction where they parted ways hoping and waiting for his return. That day, when he saw him
from a distance down the old familiar road his heart swelled to the brim for joy beyond measure. And the son
said unto him, "Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy
son".
But the father said to his servants, "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand,
and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, 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 15:21- 24).
Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near the house, he heard music and
dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, "thy
brother is come and thy father had killed the fatted calf because he hath received him safe and sound" (Luke
15:25-27).
And he was angry, and would not go in, therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he
answering said to his father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy
commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as
this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf"
(Luke 15:28-30). And he said unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet
that we should make merry, for thy brother was dead, and is alive again, and was lost and is found" (Luke
15:31-32).
All the while before the arrival of the younger brother, the eldest son was a picture of meekness, a
silent worker and trusted right hand of his father in the farm. His respectful behavior towards the elders
around gained for him their admiration that in more ways than one became the pride of his father.
However, his actions betrayed him that day. Blushing red in anger he would not go in when asked
to join them in the merrymaking. His argument betrayed him. His father never gave him a fatted calf that he
could also rejoice and be merry with his friends. His attitude betrayed him, "These many years I have serve
you, neither I transgressed at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I make
merry with my friends" (Luke 15:29).
The parable ended with lots of questions left hanging in the air. Did they reconcile in the end to a
happy ending? Did the eldest son stood his ground and remained stubborn to the point of running away in
disgust? Or did the persuading parental authority of their father prevailed over them and they became a happy
family again. In a parable, the hearers or readers are left open with several options of their own to end the
story.
The theme of the “parable of the prodigal sons” is closely associated with the metaphor of the Good
Shepherd. Like the parable of the two lost sons where the younger son had wondered through the wilderness
of Satan's world and finally returned in repentance to his father's loving arms the good Shepherded is also
willing to sacrifice and lay down His life for one lost sheep who has gone astray.
"My sheep wondered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over all
the whole earth, and no one searched and looked for them. I Myself will search for My sheep and look after
them .. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look for My sheep, I will
rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness ..... I will tend
them in a good pasture ..... there they will lie down in a good grazing ground, and where they will feed in a
rich pasture ..... I Myself will tend My sheep and have them lie down" declares the sovereign Lord. I will
search for the lost and bring back the strays, I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak" (Ezek 34:6,
11:12, 14:16).
The infinite love of God to His rebellious children is reflected on the exemplary love of the earthly
father to his two sons just as God the Father willingly gave the life of His only begotten Son that whosoever
will believe on Him should not perish but will have everlasting life. The central message conveyed by the
parables of Christ revolves around the theme of introducing who and what God is, His character and way of
life. It also includes vital instruction on how we may attain our awesome potentials as future members of
God's family in the Kingdom of God.
It is therefore but fitting and proper to understand, hear and listen to the underlying messages behind
the parables of Christ. They contain part of the answer to the questions of true Christian living. In the end,
they could also serve a very sound standard to pass judgment on ourselves on whether we are really worthy
of the supreme sacrifice Christ have done for us.
If you received a letter from a loved-one who had been away from home for so long, would you not
be so anxious enough to know what his message would be? It may be his Last will and Testament for you.
Certainly, you will be possessed with a strong desire and eagerness to know whatever it is he has bequeath
upon you as an inheritance. Promises made maybe that would ensure your incredible future?
The Holy Bible is God's love letter to us. It is God's-inspired messages that is "useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness that the man of God maybe thoroughly equipped for
every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Again, Jesus said in a parable, "the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:
45-46).
The people mentioned in the entire Holy Scripture are real personalities who have lived their lives
down through the stream of time leaving their legacy stamped on the pages of the Holy Book - a living
monument of the priceless lessons they left behind that will remain with us forever. ☜
Romeo Samudio