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Luke 15:25–32 (ESV)
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Have you ever had the experience of dealing with someone so angry that it’s impossible for them to see any other point of view other than their own? We often refer to someone in this state as being blinded by their anger. Have you ever been blinded by anger? If you have, you know that the only way for an angry person to be open to other thoughts and perspectives is for them to take a step back and calm down; only then are they able to re-examine the situation.
Please remember that this is part two of Jesus parable. In our passage, it’s clear that the older son has been blinded by his anger. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Imagine the hurt and pain the younger son has caused his father. Not only has the younger son humiliated his father by wishing that his father was dead so that he could have his share of the estate, but the younger son has also humiliated and ripped apart the family, recklessly sold away the property, and then spent the money on wild, impulsive living, gratifying every whim of a desire.
It would have been exceedingly difficult for the older son to put the initial shock and outrage behind him. It also would have been a source of constant embarrassment to have to explain to others what his younger brother has done, and each time the subject comes up, his anger again begins to flare, which forces him to have to quench the fire before it grows beyond his control.
But over time, the anger has faded, but it has never gone away. Then one day, the older son comes home and finds that a party is going on, and when he learns the reason for the celebration, his anger is immediately fanned into a blaze that overwhelms him.
His anger so consumes him that he too humiliates the father by refusing to go into the celebration. In his refusal, the older son reveals that the father has meant very little to him, even though he was the one who stayed home and dutifully continued to work.
But the humiliation of the father doesn’t stop with the older son’s refusal to join the celebration. The father actually humiliates himself and goes out to the older son as he tenderly pleads with his older son to come and join the party.
Speaking of the party, don’t forget that there are guests in attendance at this party! The whole village would have been invited and I think we can imagine the conversation taking place as the party guests talk amongst themselves.
“Wow, can you believe what the younger son did? Why on earth would his father welcome him home?
And did you hear what just happened with the older son? How disrespectful and dishonoring! If they were my sons, they’d get the beating that they deserved.
What’s wrong with these boys?”
And yet, the father is still generous; in fact, the father is just as generous with the older son as he was with the younger.
The older son was blind and self-centered, and yet, the love of the father persists to him. In this moment, we see Jesus’ heart for the Pharisees and scribes who have constantly opposed Him. Not only is God’s loving grace poured out upon the tax collectors and sinners, it’s also poured out upon the Pharisees and scribes as well.
If they insist on staying out of the party because it isn’t the sort of thing they like, that’s up to them; but it won’t be because God doesn’t love them as well. N.T. Wright.
So who are you in this story? I think it’s quite possible for us to see a bit of both sons within us in one way or another. How about your church, which son best describes your church?
But here’s the thing that I want you to consider today. God is throwing a party and you’re invited. Are you coming?
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott
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