In the parable of the prodigal son, can you relate to the feelings of the older brother? Let us attempt to step inside the older brother’s head for a moment and hear the accusations he makes. The older brother had served his father dutifully his whole life. He never neglected one command of his father. He did everything he was supposed to do. In stark contrast, his younger brother insulted his father and devoured his wealth with wild living and prostitutes. The younger brother made an absolute wreck of his life. And when he finally came home, he was given a party! The older son never got a party! How is that right? How is that fair?
If you can relate to the feelings of the older son, it may be time for a serious heart check. I must confess that his complaints seemed valid to me at one time, and that’s a problem! You see, when we sympathize with the older son’s feelings, our feelings are running entirely counter to the feelings of our Father! Rather than standing with our Father, we find ourselves in league with the Pharisees and scribes who, when they saw the tax collectors and sinners coming to Jesus “began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:2 NASB95) But what were the feelings of the father when this sinner returned? Pure joy!He ran to his wayward son and embraced him! He celebrated! This is the attitude of our Heavenly Father, and of our Lord Jesus when a sinner comes home. So, why would we not feel the same?
Why, indeed. Perhaps we need to ponder the grace of God again. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves where He brought us from and where we could have been. Perhaps we need to realign ourselves with the purpose of God and of Jesus Christ, who came not to the righteous, but to the spiritually sick—to sinners like you and me. And when a sinner comes to Jesus, there is great joy in heaven. If we’re not taking part in that joy, then we have lost the fundamental meaning of the gospel and have forgotten his marvelous mercy and grace that we ourselves have received.
The Father rejoices when a sinner comes home. May we always be ready to celebrate with Him!
—Scott Colvin
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