The Love of the Father

"But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him."( Luke 15:20) Most people recognize the importance of the father in Jesus' parable teaching about the prodigal. But the greatest emphasis is often placed on the story's title character, the rebellious son. Unfortunately, the prodigal is made to be the hinge of the story, the central point of understanding what Jesus is saying. The father should be our focus. He owes the wayward son nothing. He has every right to look away, go into his house, close and lock the door, and refuse all contact with his son. He has every right to forever banish him from the family. But he doesn't! As Erwin Lutzer notes in his book After You've Blown It, the phrase "a long way off" is the same word as "a distant country" in the original Greek text. Lutzer writes, "The father's eyes are searching the whole landscape, longing for a sign of his son's return." The father demonstrates a heart of love, grace, mercy, and compassion not only for the youngest, but for both of his sons. He willingly extends the hands of his tender heart to them. Our Father has done the same for us through Jesus. Our personal stories should not be told with the emphasis on us. They should be told with every word pointing to the incredible love of our Father. That was the intention of Jesus. It should be ours as well.