The greatest picture of a father’s love is found in the familiar parable found in Luke 15, commonly known as ‘The Prodigal Son.’ When the son comes to his senses and decides to return – it is to a person rather than a place. It seems that he expects rather a judgemental court martial type scenario – a scene of law rather than grace. He has his speech prepared. He is hopeful at least that he will be forgiven but expects that the relationship won’t be restored to how it was. He has accepted that after what he has done, he will no longer have the status of son, but of a hired hand.
Those listening to the story for the first time would probably have felt the same. The Pharisees may have expected an even harsher outcome, after all, by asking to have his share of his inheritance while his father was still alive was tantamount to wishing his father dead. They would not have expected what happened next:
But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion, he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
Then the son said to him, ”Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, ”Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one – and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate. Luke 15: 20-24
It’s clear that the Father is motivated by compassion. Splanchnizomai is the Greek word for being compassionate and includes the word splanchna – a term for guts. It’s easy to imagine maybe a well built corpulent patriarch pulling his wayward emaciated son to him, guts to guts as he gives him the bear hug of all bear hugs!! He’s not going to let him go again. Our word ‘compassion’ means to ‘suffer with’. This father has put himself in his son’s shoes and suffered with him. He doesn’t try to condone or excuse the son’s behaviour but he listens and tries to get to know him.
When the father first sees the son, he is a long way off. We have the impression that it was his habit to scour the horizon for his son’s return. We don’t know how long it had been – maybe years. As soon as he sees him, he runs towards him – not deemed a dignified thing to do for a middle-aged, possibly portly gentleman but he doesn’t care. He hoicks up his robes and runs as fast as he can – throwing humiliation to the wind as he goes.This scene reminds us of film scenes in which parted lovers are once again united, and seeing each other at a distance, drop their baggage and run into each other’s arms, delight written on their faces.
This is how God loves us. He’s just waiting for us to show a sign of coming to Him and He will be there for us. He can’t get to us quick enough. He will travel wherever it takes, suffer the humiliation of the cross and puts himself literally in our place. He will care for us from top to bottom and wants us by His side for all time.
‘I once was lost, but now am found.’