And he arose and came to his father. But while he was
still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and
embraced him and kissed him. Luke
15:20 (ESV)
In the story of the
prodigal son, we have three people: The son who left home, the father who
allowed him to leave, and the brother who stayed. The errant son chose to
return home. The father waited for that son.
He saw the shadow of his
returning son off at a distance. He ran to greet him. I picture that father
shouting the son’s name as he ran. As my southern-bred grandmother would say,
the father “hugged his neck” and greeted him very warmly.
The father also showed
compassion to the older son when he took the time to explain that he, the elder
son, had been with him but the younger son had been lost and was found. I
envision the father putting his arm around the older son’s shoulders, leaning
in close to him as he talked.
This is a picture of how God
greets someone who has sinned or backslid and repented. God shows compassion to
us when we sin and then ask for His forgiveness.
As believers in Christ, we are to display his
compassion to others: to those who hurt us, to those who might forget something
important to us.
I had a text conversation
with a dear friend recently. She was afraid that she and I had something to do
that day and that she had forgotten. This friend and I were acquainted in high
school. She babysat our son about four
decades ago. We have gone to the same churches for over three decades. I
reassured her that in the event she ‘spaced’ something, I would not hold it
against her. Because we are friends, almost like sisters. In fact, sometimes
people ask us if we are sisters.
When we go to the grocery store, I try to tell the
cashier and the sack person to “Be blessed.” This is my way of showing
compassion to those who work hard.
This what we need more of: compassion!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, in the story of the prodigal son I have always wondered about the mother... where was she? She must have been crying tears of joy as well.
Thank you, Marja, for your insight. As I understand the culture of the New Testament, women were not highly thought of. We can only imagine that this mother was highly overwrought by the her son's leaving and then overjoyed by his return and the father's response to both sons. Peace and Blessings to you.
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