Parables of Life, Pt. 7: "When God Ran"

THE DAY GOD RAN (LUKE 15:11-32)
The news that superstar Leslie Cheung committed suicide on April 1, 2003, in then SARS-hit Hong Kong was at first considered a cruel April’s Fool Day joke. Waiters recalled that the singer ordered an iced lemon drink, a glass of ice water, an apple and a packet of cigarettes. He then asked waiters to set up a table for him on the balcony and for a pen and a piece of paper on which he wrote his suicide note. At about 4 p.m., Cheung jumped from the 24th floor balcony of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Connaught Road in the Central district. The first word in his suicide note was the word “depression.” The note stated: “Depression! Thank you to the fans…In my life I have done nothing wrong. Why it has to be like this?” (Star April 03, 2003 Cheung cites depression in last note).

Worse was yet to come. Overnight, in nine hours, 6 people jumped to their death in Hong Kong, for reasons of unemployment, debt, and poor health. (World Journal 4/3/03)

Life has a way of befriending us, then bewildering us and, at times, betraying us, but a sad, tragic and doomed ending is always optional. The parable of the prodigal son is the crown jewel of all parables. It is the longest parable in the Bible, the favorite story of many readers and the climax of three parables Jesus told before the Pharisees and scribes, tax-collectors and sinners. The story concerns a wayward son, a waiting father and a whining brother. The prodigal painted the town red and was soon in the red, but he returned to red carpet treatment and to his older brother’s protest.

Where do broken hearts go? Where is the silver lining at the end of the road and the light at the end of the tunnel? Is there a happy ending in life? Who cares when you are down and out? Who and where do we run to? What timeless principles can we learn from this timeless story?

You Can Be Different But You Don’t Have to Be Difficult
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:11-16)

Everyone wants to be different. The last thing people want to be is boring. The list of things people on the Internet say are boring include:
“Life is boring”
“School is boring”
“Church is boring”
“Baseball is boring”
“My marriage is boring”
“Normal is boring”
“Math is boring”
“Perfection is boring”
“Summer is boring”
“Everyone is boring.”

At this rate, nothing left in life is interesting. A kid even said to his parent, “Breakfast is boring.” You can add eating, bathing and sleeping to the list and equation.

Rick Giolito, a video game producer, complains, “Every year, the players expect more and more and more. If you came out now with a game that looked like it was made three years ago, they'd say it's boring.” Psychologist Rex Julian Beaber says, “The human brain is wired to be attracted to novelty. Very shortly after we are exposed to something, it loses its power to move us. One of the things people have to understand is that boredom is a part of life. It can be controlled, but never eliminated.” (Los Angeles Times 2/22/03 “Is Boredom Bad?”)

As the saying goes, “What goes around comes around” and “What goes up must come down.”

Daring to be different is overrated. People try too hard to be popular, to be free, to be liked and loved. They look for the wrong things, mixed with the wrong company, travel to the wrong places and pretty soon, they fall off the edge, fall out of the radar and fall off the earth. In the end, they are merely “doing different,” not “being different.”

The prodigal son was a rebel without a cause or clue, bored and restless. He wanted to act out, break free and go crazy. His striving to do something different, try something different and even be someone different came to a dead end, a screeching halt and a dull anticlimax.

The cult of being different is overstated, oversimplified and over-glamorized; unfortunately, it reaches a new milestone every second, demands a new stunt the next time and claims a new victim at the finishing line, usually a young, naïve and mindless follower. The prodigals of the world are prone to wander, bent on destruction and driven to despair by the endless pursuit of being different. People think that nose rings, dyed hair, outrageous clothes, diet supplements, shortcuts, quick fixes and adverse risks will give them an advantage, although they are not really sure about whom to outduel, for what reason and for how long. Someone one said, “You are unique, just like everyone else.”

The prodigal used money like tap water, like Monopoly money, as if they grow on trees, like notes from a printing press. Pretty soon, the tree was barren, the ink was dry and the game was over. The prodigal “squandered” (v 13) his wealth far and wide, from place to place, with friends and strangers. The word “squandered” has been used to describe the scattering of sheep (Matt 26:31), the sowing of seed (Matt 25:24) and the dispersion of the church (John 11:52, Acts 5:37). His life was characterized by wild living, a life of excesses, depravity, obsession and negligence. He was a womanizer, a spendthrift, a jerk and a fool.

An African proverb says, “When you are rich, you are hated; when you are poor, you are despised.” The Chinese say, “When you are poor, near neighbors will not come; once you are rich, distant relatives visit.” When the money was gone, so were the playboy’s friends when a famine struck. He was penniless, homeless and friendless. Instead of living the good life, he was living alone, running scared but going nowhere.

The longing (v 16) the man had was the Greek word describing Lazarus’ longing for crumbs that fell from the rich man's table (Luke 16:20). His misery had company when a Gentile farmer sent him to feed pigs. To a Jew, feeding pigs was as bad as washing dogs. Pods – its only occurrence in the Bible - are the fruit of a Palestinian tree used for fodder and eaten only by poor people (I. Howard Marshall, Commentary on Luke 608, Eerdmans). The prodigal competed for pods, fruit husks meant as pig feed or animal feed, but even pigs had chop suey, get seconds, had company and digest well.

You May Be Disappointed But You Must Not Be Deceived
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 “But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:17-24)

One of the most touching stories I have read is Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, the story of a tree’s friendship with and love for a boy (adapted):
When the boy was young, he was content to play with the tree - to swing from its branches, eat of its apples and rest from its shade. One day the boy disappeared for a long time, only to return as a youth asking the lovesick tree for money to buy the things he wanted. The tree gave the boy all its apples to sell for profit to buy things, but again the boy was gone for a long while.

The next time, the boy returned as a man. The tree was beside itself with joy, except that the boy was not there to eat apples, play swing or laze around. He asked the tree for a house so that he can start a family. The tree told the boy to cut off her strong branches to build a house. The boy hauled away the branches and was not heard of again.

When the boy reappeared as a sad and old man after a prolong absence, he promptly asked the tree for a boat to sail away. The tree sacrificed the last thing she had – her trunk to make him a boat. Predictably, the old man sailed away in his boat.

When the boy returned as an elderly man, the sad, old tree admitted he had nothing to give anymore. The man, weary and tired by now, told the tree that all he needed was just a quiet place to sit and rest. At this, the tree perked up. “Come and sit on my trunk,” the tree said, “and I’ll give you rest.”

The Father’s home is the best place to be. Even the wage earners had enough to eat. The Greek word for “hired men/wage earners” in verse 17 is different from “servants” in verse 22. Wage earners earned little and had less than servants. They were on hourly pay and did not receive free food, lodging and other benefits as servants did. Even then, the wage earners had more than the prodigal; they not only had food to spare (v 17), they had lots of food to spare, or the word “abundance” in Greek. The confession “I have sinned” (v 18) is always powerful when uttered in sincerity and truth. Only Judas had said the same in the New Testament, but, unfortunately, not before God but to chief priests and leaders (Matt 27:3-5).

The father’s actions were breathtaking in Greek (v 20): His father saw him AND had compassion, AND ran, fell on his neck, AND kissed him – smelly, sweaty, sticky and all. The son smelled like a pig, like a skunk and like a shoe. This is the only recorded kiss God, as represented by the father, ever gave to anyone in the Bible. The whole picture of God as cool, calm and collected is completely overturned by the father’s body language. No eye (“saw”) was sharper, no heart (“compassion”) beat faster, no feet (“ran”) were swifter, no embrace (“neck”) was stronger, and no kiss (“kissed”) was firmer than the Father’s. He had no face to save, no reputation to protect and no love to hide. The son did not get to his last request to be made a hired man (v 19) when he was abruptly interrupted by the father’s words.

The biggest fuss and deal in the house was the fatted calf. Everyone talked about the fatted calf. The father commanded the servants to serve it. The servant mentioned it to the elder brother (v 27) and the elder brother mentioned it to the father (v 30). The celebration was the most joyous occasion in heaven, on earth and on record. The word “celebrate” or “be merry” is mentioned four times in the parable (vv 23, 24, 29, 32). This word is unique to Luke and not in other gospels; it occurs twice in this passage but only once in the two other passages it appears (Lk 12:19, 16:19). The father was so excited he talked non-stop this way in Greek: “Hurry. Carry out the best robe AND clothe him, AND give a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, AND carry the fatted calf; kill, AND let us eat, be merry.” The servants could hardly breathe, follow or write. He said, “My son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” The word “lost” is more serious than disappearance, confusion or disorientation. It is the word “perish,” “destroy,” “dead” in Greek.

Do not be deceived. God never closes the door, dims the lights or retires to sleep. He is always watching, waiting and weeping for the lost.

You Should Be Decent But You are Never Deserving
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 “'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'“(Luke 15:25-32)

When I was young I felt insecure, insignificant and inferior. My parents had three kids - two boys and a girl. Being the youngest was a disappointment. I did not receive the customary golden child treatment. The drumstick would always end up in my sister’s bowl, my brother would always have the last word and I’d always get the hand-me-downs. I didn’t feel like number one, two or even three; I felt like a nobody in the family – out of place and out of luck all the time. My parent’s divorced added to my misery and low self-esteem.

I saw my father for the last time when he attended my wedding. My brother and my father traveled to the States and were here for almost a month. My brother, particularly, did not want to return to Malaysia so soon, since this was his first trip to the States. He wanted to stay longer, but my father’s health was not good, having experienced dizziness on the plane coming here.

My cousin complicated matters when he dangled before my brother an all-paid trip from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. after the wedding to join him on his business trip. My brother managed to squeeze D.C. into the tight schedule before returning home, but not before he blurted out and complained bitterly to the astonished family, winning his case with ease: “Why can’t I stay longer? You both have been away for so long and I am the only one around for Father. When he is sick, I take care of him. When he quarrels with Stepmother, she scolds and ridicules me. Whenever there is a problem, I take care of it. I go out for meals with him a few times a week. When he is lonely, he calls for me, but he thinks of you. He complains about me all the time, but pines for you guys all the time!”

And I always thought I was nobody’s child and the ugly duckling of the family!

Decency is not the key to salvation. You are not saved because of your decency. G. Campbell Morgan said of the elder son: “He was devoted to his father’s law, and he was devoted to his father’s service; but he was entirely out of sympathy with his father’s heart.” (G. Campbell Morgan, Gospel According to Luke 184)

Bruce Larson said of the good brother, “He is the tragic one. He does not have any awareness of his lostness. He never strayed or broke the rules, and yet he missed out on the gift of the father’s extravagant love.” (Bruce Larson, Luke 230)

Of course, the older son was furious. He thought he was dutiful and deserving. Music infuriated and bothered him to no end for a reason. Luke 15:25 is the only reference to music or dancing in the New Testament - the only occurrence of its Greek words. Something extraordinary was filling the air and something loving was moving the ground. Music is not salvation, but salvation is music! No wonder his eyes popped out and turned red, his ears needed cleaning and passage, his heart turned bitter and envious. He did not believe his ears, ears and senses. Unlike the father, he didn’t run or rush inside; instead, he interrogated a servant. He could only hear the words “fatted calf” and nothing else; he didn’t hear the words “your brother” or “safe and sound,” but the moment he heard those words, he blew his top. The fatted calf must be something special – could be a prized calf, an award-winning calf, or a contented calf. He was angry - fighting mad, snorting mad, and fuming mad. We were not told how long he remained angry but he created quite a scene, caused quite a stir, and made quite a ruckus. Nobody could or dared pacify him. He would not go in and so the father went out, because the celebration was not complete without the elder brother.

The word “pleaded” (v 28) was incredibly hard for Jesus to say or use. He never pleaded with anyone in his life; on the other hand, others pleaded to him. The Greek word described the actions of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Matt 8:5), the sick who begged for a touch of Jesus’ cloak (Matt 14:36), the leper who begged to be clean (Mark 1:40) and Jairus, who pleaded for his dying daughter (Mark 5:23).

The elder brother shot back and his emphasis on his track record was clear – the years of service, the absence of wrongdoing and the demand for fairness. The elder brother cried unfair, cried foul and cried “poor me.” He punctuated the word “never” (v 29) strongly twice – “never disobeyed your orders” and “you never gave me.” The word “never” is not the usual light “no.” There are only 14 occurrences of this Greek word in the Scriptures and this is the only time it is used twice in a passage. It is the same “never” Jesus used – “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:23) and the same Peter stubbornly used twice, the second time concerning food - “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matt 26:33) and “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14). The same word declares that love never fails (1 Cor 13:8). The second use of the “never” in the parable spelled out and gave away the elder brother’s problem – “ME never you gave.” The elder brother was practically screaming, fussing and venting about his rights.

Comparing a calf with a kid, or a young cow with a young goat, was an act of defiance on the elder’s part. The elder brother griped that he had not even received a kid, lest say a goat, a calf and, perish the thought, a fatted calf! He continued his grievances: “this son of yours…has squandered your property with prostitute.” The label chosen was unmistakable – prostitute, the same word for Rahab in Greek(Heb 11:31)

The younger brother’s return struck at the elder’s paranoia about safeguarding his share and not losing another share. He didn’t care about the younger brother’s repentance, deliverance and salvation. It didn’t matter that the father did not reward the younger; he just received him. The father did not compliment, compensate or coddle the younger, yet now was not the time to chide or correct. Further, no money changed hands. The father did not promise the younger son another share nor did the father take from the elder brother’s share. It was all in the elder’s imagination and fear. The older brother harshly and defiantly said to the Father, “This son of yours,” but his father tenderly called the elder “MY son” and his servants told the elder technically, “YOUR brother has come.”

The Pharisees and scribes’ decency was good, but decency devoid of devotion or affection is hypocrisy, slavery and misery. No wonder the elder stated that he had been “slaving” (v 29) like the servant - the same root word for “servants” of verse 26 – instead of acting as a son.

Conclusion: Have you come or return to the Father’s open arms, outstretched hands and restless feet (v 20)? Is our friendly, fond, and fatherly God waiting on you and for you? Don’t think you are decent. All men have sinned. By grace we are saved through faith. Do you know that no matter what wrong you have been, what mistakes you have made, how far and how long you are gone, that God is willing to forgive, heal and receive you, that He misses you, welcomes you and embraces you?

Discussion Questions (Contributed by Daniel Hung)
1. Why did the younger son want to leave his father and his comfortable home to venture into a world that is alien and unknown to him?
2. What does it mean by “when he came to his senses” (v 17, NIV)? How can one come to one’s senses?
3. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (v 20). Was it just a coincidence that the father happened to be there? What does it tell us about the love of the father to his younger son and our Heavenly Father to us?
4. Why did the older son have such a strong response to how the father treated his younger brother? What has he missed in all these years with his father?

Reflection Question
1. Was there a time when you were like either the elder or younger son? Are you now enjoying the happiness and preciousness of God’s presence with you?