The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
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The final word of Rembrandt (Harmenszoon) van Rijn (1606-1669), a famous dutch painter, is given in his monumental painting of 「the Return of the Prodigal Son」 which was finished in 1669, the year when he died. In his painting, the main group of the father and the prodigal son stands out in light against an enormous dark background. Rembrandt in his personal life identified himself with the prodigal son who returned to the father.
Henry Nouwen in his book titled 「The Return of the Prodigal Son」 comments on this painting of Rembrandt: "The longer I look at the patriarch, the clearer it becomes to me that Rembrandt has done something quite different from letting God pose as the wise old head of the family.
It all began with the hands. The two are quite different. The father's left hand touching the son's shoulder is strong and muscular. The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son's shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but with its strength, also to hold. Even though there is a gentleness in the way the father's left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip.“
Nouwen continues: "How different is the father's right hand! This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender. The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son's shoulder. It wants to caress, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother's hand ....
As soon as I recognized the difference between the two hands of the father, a new world of meaning opened up for me. The father is not simply a great patriarch. He is mother as well as father. He touches the son with a masculine hand and a feminine hand.
He holds, and she caresses. He confirms, she consoles.
1. Afflictions, though they seem severe; In mercy oft are sent;
They stopped the prodigal's career; And forced him to repent.
2. Although he no relentings felt till he had spent his store;
His stubborn heart began to melt when famine pinched him sore.
3. What have I gained by sin, he said; But hunger, shame, and fear;
My father's house abounds with bread while I am starving here.
4. I'll go, and tell him all I've done; And fall before his face.
Unworthy to be called his son. I'll seek a servant's place.
5. His father saw him coming back; He saw, and ran, and smiled;
And threw his arms around the neck of his rebellious child.
6. Father, I've sinned - but O forgive! I've heard enough, he said,
Rejoice my house, my son's alive; For whom I mourned as dead.
7. Now let the fatted calf be slain; And spread the news around;
My son was dead, but lives again; Was lost, but now is found.
8. 'Tis thus the Lord his love reveals; To call poor sinners home;
More than a father's love he feels; And welcomes all that come.
(Chorus: Oh, I die with hunger, here he cries; And starve in a foreign land;
My father's house hath large supplies, And bounteous are his hands.)
This hymn titled 「The Prodigal Son」 was composed in 1779 (from Olney Hymns, vol. 1, hymn 104) by John Newton(1725-1807) who has been well known by his more famous song, 「Amazing Grace」 which was also composed in the same year and was included in the same hymn book called 『Olney Hymns』.
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear; And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear; The hour I first believed.
3. Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come.
The grace hath bro't me safe thus far; And grace will lead me home.
4. When we've been there ten thousand years; Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.
On May 10, 1748, an Englishman, John Newton, slave ship captain, agnostic and horrible person, found himself in a violent storm several miles off the coast of Sierra Leone, Africa. The squall was so bad that most everyone and everything not nailed down had been washed overboard. As a last resort, he offered a brief prayer, his first in many years, and begged the Lord for mercy and forgiveness. His answer came and he was delivered from the storm.
The gale which had nearly ended John Newton's life had instead changed it forever. Like the prodigal son in the parable, John Newton indicated in his "Amazing Grace", "I once was lost but now am found. ..." and "'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home."
It is also said that John Newton experienced a "religious conversion" while he was reading a book titled 「The Imitation of Christ」 by a medieval mystic, Thomas a Kempis on the ship.
Newton died at the age of 82 and never tired of telling the tale of how he was the prodigal son in the Gospel passage, and God, like the loving father in the story, took his stray son back unconditionally so that they might rejoice together and begin their relationship anew.
The story of the 'Prodigal Son' is one of the best loved parables in the Bible.
Many people readily identify with the prodigal son in the story.
We often sin and stray, yet God always takes us back and does so without any hesitation, totally and completely. Indeed, He rejoices at our return!
Jesus tells us in v. 7: "There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent."
The story is simple. A wealthy father had two sons, the younger son lived a licentious life and the older son lived a quite and loyal life. The younger son demanded his father that he should give him his share of the estate. When he was given his share, he set off for a distant country. The prodigal son wasted his inheritance there on food and women. He became hungry and started begging but received no food. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. The man realized that nothing was going to improve his situation and decided to return home and ask his father for employment as a servant.
Seeing his son coming back, the father ran to him and kissed him on the neck relieved by expression that his son had returned. The father told his servants to bring the best robe and to put it on him, and to put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. The father ordered the fatted calf to be killed and a feast be prepared. The father's joy was so great he exclaimed, "My son was lost and now he is found."
The prodigal son repented of his evil ways and chose to return to a life of righteousness. So Christ's grace gifted the prodigal son and he received eternal life.
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The Kingdom of Heaven is bursting with those saints who led sinful lives and then returned to God. This gives us a tremendous hope.
There are some who would have simply despaired and concluded that God's mercy was not big enough for them.
Yet we number among the greatest saints, people like Paul of Tarsus who once persecuted Christians, yet went on to witness Jesus Christ unto his death in Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, and even in Spain. There are others such as Augustine who was living a very sinful life, yet turned to Christ and told the world about returning to God in his book, "Confessions."
Who were we?
We were once prodigal sons and prodigal daughters. Yes, we were lost ones.
Paul in Ephesians 2:12 says: "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world."
Yet, by the grace of God, we came to God.
By the grace of Christ, we were found and saved in Him.
Do you feel the grace of God touching you? As long as you stay in Him and ask for His help, God will always lead you in His paths and protect you in all circumstances.
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