The Prodigal

After realizing how broken he was the son got up and went home with the plan of humbling himself before his father and repenting. The trip home must have been killer for this prodigal son. I wonder how long the trip was and how many times he went over his speech for his father in his head. I can only imagine that when the son was rolling over that last hill or that last corner before his fathers homestead came into view, that he must have felt utter dread for coming back into contact with his father after what he did to him. Then the father catches a glimpse of the son off in the distance and starts running towards the son. At this point the son has no idea why the father is running towards him. He is still far off. Maybe the son thinks the father is running towards him to throw him off the land and out of the country. After all he had blown his chance. Right? Should the son bolt and get out of there? Run the other direction before having some crazy violent interaction with his father? This has to be a serious moment for the son. He sees the father approaching, and he knows how he treated his father in the past.
Then the father gets closer and has a tears in his eyes and a big smile on his face. Before the son can even get a word out, the father his hugging him and welcoming him home. He's not even technically home yet, but in the father's eyes, this child has returned and there is no way he is letting go.
The son spews out the well rehearsed speech to his father. Why does he do this? Does he not see how pleased the father is to have him home? Does he not believe his father's genuine love for him? Does he doubt? Maybe he thinks he has to say something...
The father doesn't even flinch. It's like he doesn't even hear his sons speech. The past is utterly forgotten and just the fact that his son is standing here before him is enough repentance for the father. The son turned from his ways. His heart showed his repentance before his words spoke it. Can the son still doubt the love of the father? The father has brought him back into the family home and is throwing a party for him. All doubt is cast aside.
I love the story of the prodigal son. Such an awesome picture of repentance and salvation and love. We'll leave all commentary on the older brother for another time.

Created over 2 years ago