THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS — Episode 5
"The Prodigal Son"
Based on Luke 15:11-32
I told this story because the religious people were complaining that I spent too much time with sinners. They said, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!" So I told them a story that silenced the room.
A man had two sons. The younger one walked up to his father and said, "Give me my share of the inheritance." Now you need to understand — that was like saying, "Dad, I wish you were dead. Give me the money now." Brutal. Disrespectful. Heartbreaking. But the father gave it to him.
The son took everything and ran to a distant country. Far from home. Far from his father. And he blew it ALL. Every coin. Wild parties. Reckless living. He burned through his entire fortune like it was nothing.
Then a famine hit the land. Suddenly this rich kid had nothing. No money. No friends — funny how fast those disappeared. He was so desperate he took a job feeding pigs. And he was so HUNGRY he wanted to eat the pig slop. A Jewish boy, sitting in a pigpen, starving. Rock bottom.
And then — he came to his senses. He thought, "My father's servants live better than this. I'll go home. I'll beg him to take me back as a servant. I don't deserve to be called his son anymore."
So he started the long walk home. Rehearsing his speech the whole way. "Father, I've sinned against heaven and against you. I'm not worthy..."
But here's the part of the story that wrecks me every time I tell it.
While the son was STILL far off, the father saw him. Which means the father had been WATCHING. Waiting. Every single day, scanning the horizon, hoping today would be the day. And when he spotted his boy — the father didn't stand there with crossed arms. He didn't wait for the apology. He RAN.
Grown men in that culture did NOT run. It was considered undignified. But this father didn't care about dignity. He hiked up his robes and SPRINTED toward his son. He threw his arms around him. He kissed him. The son tried to give his speech — "Father, I've sinned, I'm not worthy" — but the father cut him off.
"Bring the best robe! Put a ring on his finger! Sandals on his feet! Kill the fattened calf! We're having a PARTY! Because my son who was dead is ALIVE. He was lost and now he's FOUND."
The older brother heard the music, got furious, and refused to come in. "I've slaved for you all these years and you never threw ME a party!" The father said, "Son, everything I have is yours. But we HAD to celebrate — your brother was dead and is alive again."
That father? He's MY Father. And right now, no matter how far you've run, He's watching the road. He's waiting for you. And the moment you turn around — He's RUNNING toward you.
You're not too far gone. Come home.
Word count: ~445
Scripture: Luke 15:11-32
Series: The Teachings of Jesus, Episode 5
