Dare to Love

Dare to Love

Today's we think of one of the most loved of Jesus' parables; it is the "prodigal son (Luke 15)." Recently some have preached this parable as the "prodigal father." This teaching presented by Jesus is brilliant and overflowing with rich teaching and insight. We can understand the word play pivoting on "prodigal" in its two English essences - but it does not work in Greek. Certainly the son is "prodigal" - his request of his father was disrespectful, insulting and demeaning - he could not have insulted or hurt his father more in what he asked. Upon receiving his desire this prodigal son lived in wasteful extravagance - the word given by Jesus is ἀσώτως (asotos). To be blunt - this is not a nice word. It conjures up the worst kind of depraved licentious filthy debauchery. Do we get the point? The word cannot and should not be associated with the father in this parable - the father is not ἀσώτως - in this narrative we are the ἀσώτως.

The son in this parable is paralleling the fall in Eden - he represents our depravity, our grasping for what is God's alone and our separation from God. Modern "christians" seem reluctant to acknowledge and repent of our ἀσώτως - be that as it may - but if we are honest we acknowledge it is our state. If we are honest with ourselves we will glimpse the vast extent of God's love. Our ἀσώτως stands juxtaposed and contrasted against our God's great Love in Grace. If we moderate and downplay our ἀσώτως, then in essence we diminish our God's loving response. The beauty of this parable that brings tears to our eyes as we read, is that this father's love is so great that nothing - not insult - not depravity - not filth - not pride - not spite - not authority - not dignity - nothing will hinder the embrace and restoration of the lost child to his father. That is the beautiful wonder of Love unimaginable - that is the desire of our God for us.

And why did this father run? I remember reading of the release of Nelson Mandela from Victor Verster Prison in 1990; how Mandela moved with such dignity; his movements were measured and regal. Mandela was poised and dignified. But this father has none of this - he runs? Landowners don't run. Gentlemen don't run. The wealthy don't run. Princes don't run. Yet this rich, noble, landowning father runs? Why?

Jesus tells us why. "σπλαγχνίζομαι" - Jesus teaches that this father was filled with a gut wrenching passionate desire for the return of the fallen child. This father feared that if this moment passed, if this opportunity was squandered his son would be lost - he fought to rescue and reclaim that which was lost. This father was filled with a love above all loves - this love above all loves is a nature I pray we each will find in God's heart - we might call this nature compassion.

σπλαγχνίζομαι is our Father's response to ἀσώτως.

σπλαγχνίζομαι is the love God sends into the world through His Church.

σπλαγχνίζομαι is the love we live beyond our "yes" to God. 

σπλαγχνίζομαι is the love we have been given to give - the love we are reborn to live.

We thank God for all that He is and all that He does. He is completely and comprehensively sufficient. He is infinite, unquantifiable and beyond any means of measure. As His children, confessing Him we have received ALL that He is. We thank God for His limitless compassionate love for us. We pray and give thanks in the name of Jesus. Amen