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Day 192

Luke 15: 11- 32 "WHEN WE CANNOT GO BEYOND OURSELVES"

Day 192 – Luke 15

Text: Luke 15: 11- 32

WHEN WE CANNOT GO BEYOND OURSELVES

The older son could not go beyond himself. He was convinced that he was right in his reasoning. He felt that he had done all that a good son should. He had not gone astray. He had stayed faithful and true to his father. He had done all that a father could expect from his son. What more could the father expect? Why was he not rewarded for his goodness to his father?

The older son was wrong in his reasoning. He had misunderstood and misinterpreted his father badly. The father was as loving towards the older son, as he was to his younger son.

“Son, you are always with me,
and all that I have is yours.”
Luke 15:31

The older son seemed to have taken for granted that he enjoyed “sonship”. The younger brother despaired of his sinful ways and felt that he had lost the privilege of being called “son”.

The older son always had the presence and company of his father. He did not have to suffer want. He did not have to hire himself as a swineherd. He did not have to suffer humiliation as his younger brother did. He had a “party” every day, while his younger brother had to endure much suffering.

Did the older brother also feel threatened that his inheritance might be compromised, and that his younger brother might be given “another share” of the inheritance? The father did not say that he would give the younger son anything else. All that the father had would be given to the older son, by their inheritance laws. The younger son would have no claim on the family fortune. The older brother did not need to fear that “history could repeat itself” if the younger brother were allowed back into the house… just like that!

Perhaps, he was also surprised that his father had not meted out any punishment on his younger brother. Surely, he deserved some kind of a punishment? Why did the father just receive his younger brother back at all?

The older brother just could not go beyond himself at all. He just couldn’t understand how his father could forgive a son who had sinned so grievously against his father. Perhaps, he did not hear what his younger brother said to his father,

“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.”
Luke 15:18-19

If he did know that his younger brother said those words to his father, he probably did not believe those words. How could anyone be forgiven after having sinned so badly? This was something that was beyond their understanding.

Jesus, in painting this portrait of the older brother, captured a picture of the hearts of the Pharisees and Scribes who had opposed His ministry to the tax-collectors and the sinners (Luke 15:1-2). They could not go beyond themselves. They had written off people like tax-collectors. They were prepared to write Jesus off too if He carried on being seen in the company of sinful people!

SEEING BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

In all the three parables, Jesus pointed out that the Shepherd, the Woman, and the Father experienced great joy when “the lost was found” (Luke 15:6, 9, 24, 32). In all three parables, Jesus sought to help the Pharisees and Scribes to find joy in seeing people who were “lost” come to Jesus to learn more about God!

There is every reason to be happy when people who are lost are found. There should be great joy in the heart when people who are “dead” have found new life (Luke 15:32).

Whereas the older brother saw only the sins of the younger brother, the father saw beyond the sins of his younger son. He did not dispute the indignant words of his older son, when he hurled those angry words into the face of his father,

“This son of yours…
who has devoured your livelihood
with harlots…”
Luke 15:30

The older brother was right when he described his younger brother’s actions. He had indeed devoured his father’s livelihood. The father must have worked very hard to amass a fortune which the son had wasted… with harlots!

The father was not upset with his older son. He understood his anger. He understood his sense of indignation.

However, wasn’t there anything BEYOND anger, frustration, disgust…? Wasn’t there any room for repentance? Wasn’t there room for forgiveness? Wasn’t there room for restoration?

THE HEART OF GOD BEAUTIFULLY PORTRAYED

What was Jesus thinking of when He painted the father in this parable? Was He not thinking of His Father in Heaven? Many were the promises in the Scriptures that spoke of a God who offered full restoration when people turn to Him in repentance. Isaiah was one of many prophets who preached repentance and full forgiveness,

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

How we must appreciate this great and magnificent love of God, our Father.