The young son’s homecoming is a compelling vision of the Exchanged Life. The young son came to his father with all that he had: dirt, filth, sinfulness, brokenness. Immediately, the father gives the young son all that he has: His love, blessing, and affirmation of the young son’s truest identity as the beloved child of the father.
The older son’s confrontation with his father is also a compelling vision of the Exchanged Life. The father, when he divided his estate between his sons, has already given to the older son all that was his. The older son is now sinning against his father by refusing to celebrate his brother’s return, and by denying his own kinship with his brother. But, the father goes out to him. The father continues to affirm the older son’s identity as his beloved child and affirms that “everything I have is yours.”
Jesus told this parable because the Pharisees objected to Jesus keeping company with tax collectors and sinners. When Jesus said “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” Jesus hoped the Pharisees would recall Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37). In that vision Israel, which was lost, is made alive again by the power of God. This is how Jesus saw the people accepting his invitation to come into the Kingdom of God: These children of God were dead but are now alive again. That, Jesus believes, is cause for exuberant celebration. After all, all of heaven is rejoicing, shouldn’t we join the party?
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
27-Jan-12 Luke 16:1-18
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