Monday, October 26, 2009
Lost and Found, Part 39 of 78
TEXT: "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry" (Luke 15:22-24).
IDEA: The atonement is at least “overheard” in the parable of the prodigal son.
PURPOSE: To underline in the listener’s understanding that God’s acceptance of sinners cannot be possible without the atonement.
As you read the parable of the prodigal son, there is no apparent reference to the work of Jesus, especially His death on the cross. When the father in the story welcomes the son, he seems to have no problem embracing him and forgiving him.
Some people see no problem at all. There are some who aren’t bothered by the problem because they don’t see the need for atonement. “It’s about time we got rid of a dead corpse at the center of our religion.”
Others dismiss the problem. This approach is simply to realize that no story can be the entire story. The purpose of the parable is simply to demonstrate that God loves sinners and welcomes them. What is more, this is merely a part of the gospel by Luke who goes on to write about the death of Jesus. He is the “third son” in the story.
Others see hints of the atonement in certain elements of the parable:
The father represents God. At the heart of the story, the father leaves his house and in a dramatic way gives a public display of unexpected love in humiliation. That act of the father running to his son is the turning point of the first half of the parable.
When the father leaves the house to come to his son in love and humility, he demonstrates at least in part the meaning of Jesus coming into the world and dying a public, shameful death on the cross. He took the shame of our restoration on himself.
What would have happened in the parable if the father had not presented a public display of unexpected love in humiliation? The result would have been another hired servant, but no son.
The father’s love was always deep and constant, but the boy didn’t comprehend it.
It was when he saw and experienced that love in the father’s shame that the boy was changed. It cost the father to take the son back.
That is part of the atonement:
When I survey that wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.
