Coming Home
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And 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 servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. ...” Luke 15:20b-24 (ESV)
It is too easy to read Bible stories and parables as nothing more than anecdotes or analogies and miss the deeper meanings.1 The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a perfect example of what is hidden in front of our eyes and which we should be alert to and recognize when it presents itself. As we read, we should always be asking: What is that about? Why is that there? What is hidden in this that makes it important? What is God really saying? For the overcomer, understanding the symbolic meaning of this story not only adds richness to the story but hope and faith to our own future.
The father ran toward the returning son, embracing and kissing him.2 He didn’t wait for him to arrive and grovel, he ran to meet him, cutting the distance and time between them. That can only be love, compassion, and rejoicing in action. His joy at his son’s return is so great that the pain of his leaving is set aside, and he demonstrates this by kissing him. In Hebrew, the word used here for kiss means to attach oneself and arm the recipient with weapons. In other words, the father is signaling to everyone that the son is returned to his full stature and place and is under the father’s protection. We can put ourselves in the returning son’s place. We may not be certain how those around us will react, but we can be fully confident that our Father in Heaven will drop all and run towards us when He sees us returning. We can anticipate His embrace and kiss as His sign of redemption and restoration, not just to us but also to all who witness His actions toward us.
He put the best robe on him.3 The son was returning as a complete mess. Everything he had taken was lost and he had nothing to offer his father as a gesture of love and respect. His father, however, offered gifts to him! The robe was a symbol of position. This was not just anyone––this was the father’s son! And it wasn’t just any robe. It was the best robe, richly made, finely detailed, colorful––the kind of robe a person of position wore. It said to everyone within eyesight that he was first in succession, rank, influence, and honor. Why did the father give him the best robe? To restore him to his former position, to change the way others saw him and responded to him, and to change the way he saw and thought of himself. To in effect tell him, “You think of yourself as worthless and useless; I see you as you were meant to be.”
He put a ring on his finger.4 A ring is a symbol of authority. It carries honor, purpose, and power, signifying the authority of the wearer to act on behalf of and in the name of the one who issued the ring. The ring was used to seal legal documents and treaties. It gave instant credibility to the wearer as an ambassador of higher authority. Your Heavenly Father has rings waiting to fit your fingers.
He put shoes on his feet.5 One of the father’s first actions is to put new shoes on his son’s shoeless feet. Shoes and feet represent our walk, our future, our destiny. We see the failures of our past and the troubles of our present. Our Father sees our future and begins to prepare us for our new destiny.
He killed the fatted calf.6 Remember, the sacrificial animal of old -- be it lamb, calf, or bull -- had to be perfect and without blemish. The sacrifice was a trade of perfection for imperfection. Jesus Christ offered Himself as that sacrifice for you and I, the Perfect One taking our place on the cross, offering Himself in trade as atonement for our sin.
In this parable we have a beautiful image of the forgiven son with his full inheritance restored. A new robe (position), a new ring (authority), new shoes (destiny), and the perfect sacrifice (freedom). The overcomer in Christ knows this joy, to be redeemed, restored with a new inheritance and destiny. Yes, that is what your Creator is offering you. Turn and you will see Him facing you, waiting.
Face Him, step into Him, and become lost in His embrace.
Shalom
Author’s Note: This post is an excerpt from Even Me, Even You, which is the story of my own journey out of darkness back into the Light of God’s mercy, and grace.
Listed below you will see Greek and Hebrew definitions of words, drawn from Strong's Bible Concordance (Strong's) and the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon Bible (AHLB). Generally, the ancient Hebrew definition adds depth and clarity to what was originally being communicated.
Strong's G2705: To kiss earnestly. AHLB H5401: A mode of attachment, to arm with weapons.
Strong's G4413: Foremost in time, place, order, or importance.
Strong's G1146: Finger ring. AHLB H2285: A seal, signet ring.
Strong's G5266: Slippers. AHLB 5274: To fasten up, secure.
Strong's G2380: To sacrifice by fire. AHLB H6999: Turn into fragrance by fire as an act of worship and sacrifice.