A life that points to Christ
The Prodigal Son
From the prodigal son in Jesus' parable we learn how far we can wander, how completely the Father welcomes the one who returns, and that no repentance is met with reluctance but with running joy. This story teaches the heart of grace, and it points to the God who receives sinners in Christ.
“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 neck, and kissed him.”Luke 15:20
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,”Luke 15:18
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”Luke 15:24
“It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”Luke 15:32
Their story, honestly
In the parable Jesus told, a younger son demanded his inheritance early, effectively wishing his father dead, and squandered it all in a far country. Starving and feeding pigs, he came to himself and decided to return, rehearsing a confession, father, I have sinned, and hoping only to be a hired servant. But while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The father restored him fully with the best robe, a ring, and a feast, saying, this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found. The parable also shows an older brother who resented the mercy shown.
What their life teaches us
First, this story teaches how real our wandering can be, and that coming to ourselves and turning home is the beginning of everything. Second, it teaches the astonishing welcome of God; the father does not wait with folded arms but runs to meet the returning son, cutting off his rehearsed groveling with an embrace. God is not reluctant to forgive; He is eager. Third, the older brother teaches a warning against a joyless, self-righteous religion that resents grace given to others. The parable, told to explain why Jesus welcomed sinners, is the clearest window into the Father's heart in all of Scripture.
How their life points to Christ
Jesus told this parable to explain why He welcomed sinners and ate with them, and the running father is a picture of God's own heart. In Christ, God does exactly what the father did, He runs to meet returning sinners and restores them fully, not as servants but as sons and daughters. And it cost Him everything; the robe and ring and feast of our welcome were purchased by the Son who left the Father's house not in rebellion but in love, to bring us home. This story points to Jesus as the reason we can come home at all, and to a Father who is watching the road.
Questions people ask
What is the main point of the prodigal son?
The Father's eager, running welcome of the returning sinner. Jesus told it to explain why He received sinners. The father does not wait coldly but runs, embraces, and restores his son fully. It teaches that God is not reluctant to forgive but delights to welcome home all who turn back to Him.
What does the older brother represent?
A joyless, self-righteous religion that resents grace shown to others. He kept the rules but had no joy in his father's mercy. Jesus included him to warn the respectable and religious that they too need the father's heart, lest they miss the feast by begrudging the welcome given to sinners.