The Father in the Yard - The Prodigal Son Part 3 of 3

It was never really about the prodigal.

Read the first line again: A certain man had two sons. The story starts with the father. It ends with the father. And every turn in between is something the father does.

He gave his living to a son who couldn’t wait for it. He let him go. He watched the road. And when that son was still a great way off, he ran.

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)

Before the apology. Before the speech. Before the boy got one word out. Then a robe for his shame, a ring for his place, shoes because he was no slave — and a feast, because he was dead and is alive again.

Then the father did something almost nobody notices. He walked out of his own party to find the son who wouldn’t come in. He went out to both of them.

Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 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 15:31–32)

“It was meet” — it had to be. The same “must” Luke uses for the cross.

Jesus didn’t tell us what the elder son did. Because He was standing at the edge of the crowd, saying the Father’s words to the men who wouldn’t come in. The door was open. It still is.

Whichever son you are — the one in the far country or the one in the yard — the Father has come out to you.

Don’t take our word for it. Be like the Bereans: they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so(Acts 17:11). Read Luke 15 from the first line to the last. Then decide what you’ll do with the open door.

Episode Series Links:

The Younger Son: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-son-who-left-prodigal-part-1-of-3/

The Older Brother: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-older-brother-the-righteous-lost-prodigal-part-2-of-3/

The Father: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-father-in-the-yard-the-prodigal-son-part-3-of-3/